Cross-sector links
What the research says
- Effective communication or partnerships between schools and teachers in the different education sectors has many benefits for a school community overall.
- Teachers who have the opportunity to spend time working or observing in another sector report being enthusiastic about the benefits of this; including better understanding the ongoing needs of their students and the ways in which teachers in different situations from themselves work.
- Cross-sector partnerships are particularly important when students undergo transition, such as from primary or intermediate school to secondary school.
- Effective liaison between teachers and schools at transition, amongst other things, helps ensure curriculum continuity, more accurate assessment of students’ learning needs, a wider understanding of different approaches to teaching and learning for middle years students, and greater scope for meeting students’ social and pastoral care needs.
Chapter 5 of Easing the transition from primary to secondary schooling: Helpful information for schools to consider provides more about developing better communication and liaison across the sectors:
Chapter 5 - Communication and exchange across the sector (PDF, 67 KB)