Transition KS2-KS3

Historical Association surveys show that when it comes to transition from Key Stage 2 to Key Stage 3, only around 6% of primary and secondary schools work together or share information concerning history. This often results in secondary schools being unaware of what children from their primary feeder schools know and can do in history and sometimes children moving into year 7 can feel like they are taking a step backward. In this section, you will find articles that will help you to think about and plan for history transition as well as supportive project resources that could form the basis of a history transition project with secondary schools.

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  • Assessment and Progression without levels

    Article

    The new (2014) Primary History National Curriculum is finally upon us. The first thing you might notice is that the level descriptions have gone. These were first introduced in 1995 and became the mainstay for assessing pupil progression and attainment in Key Stages 1, 2 and 3 across schools in...

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  • Before 1066 & All That: Transition between KS2 & KS3

    Multipage Article

    This e-cpd unit models how primary and secondary teachers of history might improve transition between KS2 and KS3 through collaboration on a transition unit aimed at Year 6 pupils on the Vikings. It contains original teaching and training materials written by Andrew Wrenn, former Cambridgeshire Humanities Advisor and funded as...

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  • Effective Primary History Teaching, Challenges & Opportunities

    Article

    Please note: this article pre-dates the 2014 National Curriculum and some content may be outdated The last edition of Primary History published the first part of the report on the KS2 to KS3 transitions project. Part 1 illuminated the first four of produced eight key ideas or guiding principles for...

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  • Extended Writing in History

    Multipage Article

    This is the third of 5 sessions arising from the 2005 KS2-KS3 History Transitions Project: Transition training session 1: Historical Enquiries & Interpretations Transition training session 2: Using ICT in the teaching of history Transition training session 3: Extended writing in history Transition training session 4: Joan of Arc - Saint, Witch...

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  • From Home to the Front: World War I

    Article

    Events which encapsulate family, community, national and global history provide rich opportunities for engaging children. Some of these draw on positive memories associated with past events: the coronation of Queen Elizabeth II, how people responded to the first flight to the moon, the Millennium celebrations. Yet it is perhaps gruelling...

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  • Geosong: a transition project

    Article

    How do we engage young people with their Heritage, answer curriculum needs and make that big leap of transition from primary to secondary school that bit easier? English Heritage's Geosong treasure hunt website went some way to providing answers. What does the website do? Using handheld GPS devices, groups must...

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  • Global Learning Programme

    Multipage Article

    The Global Learning Programme (GLP) is a ground-breaking new programme which will create a national network of like-minded schools, committed to equipping their students to make a positive contribution to a globalised world by helping their teachers to deliver effective teaching and learning about development and global issues at Key Stages 2...

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  • Historical Enquiries and Interpretations

    Multipage Article

    This is the first of 5 sessions arising from the 2005 KS2-KS3 History Transition Project: Transition training session 1: Historical Enquiries & Interpretations Transition training session 2: Using ICT in the teaching of history Transition training session 3: Extended writing in history Transition training session 4: Joan of Arc -...

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  • How cruel were the Victorians?

    Multipage Article

    Please note: this resource pre-dates the 2014 National Curriculum. This unit centres on Victorian crime and punishment. This resource is free to everyone. For access to hundreds of other high-quality resources by primary history experts along with free or discounted CPD and membership of a thriving community of teachers and...

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  • Interpretation and poor Victorian Children

    Multipage Article

    Please note: this resource pre-dates the 2014 National Curriculum. This unit centres on the portrayal of poor, Victorian children. While factual knowledge about conditions in workhouses is an essential component of the unit, the main focus is on contrasting portrayals of one fictional Victorian child, Charles Dicken's Oliver Twist. The...

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  • Joan of Arc - Saint, Witch or Warrior?

    Article

    This is the 4th of 5 sessions arising from the 2005 KS2-KS3 History Transitions Project: Transition training session 1: Historical Enquiries & Interpretations Transition training session 2: Using ICT in the teaching of history Transition training session 3: Extended writing in history Transition training session 4: Joan of Arc - Saint,...

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  • Key Stage 2 – Key Stage 3: Transition

    Article

    Often, primary schools and secondary schools are seen as separate entities. But why? At primary, is it our responsibility to nurture our children and to encourage them only until they finish their primary education after the Year 6 SATs? Do we then just wave goodbye as they embark on their...

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  • Key Stage 2-3 History Transition Project

    Article

    Please note: these resources pre-date the 2014 National Curriculum. For more recent resources on Transition KS2-KS3 please see: Transition KS2–KS3 (Primary History article, 2021) Smooth Transitions: Key Stage 2 to 3 (Primary History article, 2020) Transition Key Stage 2 and 3 (Primary History article, 2016) Before 1066 & All That: Transition between...

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  • Living Museums and Victorian Britain

    Multipage Article

    Please note: this resource pre-dates the 2014 National Curriculum. This unit centres on ways of portraying life in Victorian Britain. While factual knowledge of aspects of Victorian life in Britain are a vital component of the unit, the main focus is on exploring the way living museums present the period,...

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  • Myths and War Evacuees

    Multipage Article

    Please note: this resource pre-dates the 2014 National Curriculum. This unit centres on the evacuation of children during the second world war. While the factual knowledge of evacuation is an essential component of the unit, the main focus is on exploring the varied feelings and experiences of children sent to...

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  • Remembering Agincourt: Bilingual Enquiry

    Multipage Article

    Do they learn about Agincourt in France? 2015 was a year of anniversaries. As part of our funded commemoration projects surrounding the 600th anniversary of the Battle of Agincourt, we have commissioned an enquiry looking at the battle and how it has been remembered, particularly aimed at pupils in years...

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  • Smooth transitions: Key Stage 2 to 3

    Article

    Transitions. Pivotal points in a child’s life and a phase in the educational journey that should be celebrated. How do we ensure that transitions are efficiently prepared for, when an ever increasing list of school pressures means that transitions can feel like the poor relation in the list of priorities?...

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  • The New Elizabethans

    Multipage Article

    Please note: this resource pre-dates the 2014 National Curriculum. This unit centres on life in Britain at the 1953 coronation and how people at the time looked back to the reign of Elizabeth I. This is one a set of Year 6 schemes of work arising from the 2005 KS2-KS3 History Transitions Project.

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  • Transition Key Stage 2 and 3

    Article

    It can sometimes seem that the primary and secondary phases of education live in isolation from each other. After all, most primary teachers are generalists (despite sometimes having specialist experience of a particular curriculum area), having to turn their hands to all subjects on the curriculum whatever they feel about...

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  • Using ICT in the Teaching of History

    Multipage Article

    This is the second of 5 sessions arising from the 2005 KS2-KS3 History Transitions Project: Transition training session 1: Historical Enquiries & Interpretations Transition training session 2: Using ICT in the teaching of history Transition training session 3: Extended writing in history Transition training session 4: Joan of Arc - Saint, Witch...

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