Children’s School Lives: Kids experience mixed emotions in transition to secondary school
9 September 2025
The move to secondary school is a balancing act for most children as they weigh their excitement for more independence against fears of losing friends, according to the (opens in a new window)latest Children’s School Lives report.
Looking past primary school, 84% of sixth-class students said they were excited about having greater freedom in secondary school, with many are looking forward to new sports and learning facilities.
Meanwhile 67% feared losing friends during the transition from primary to secondary, with worries over exams and coping with schoolwork the other main concerns for children.
Providing a nuanced picture of school life for over 4,000 students across 189 primary schools nationwide, the (opens in a new window)Children’s School Lives study aims to learn directly from children as they progress from junior infants to sixth class.
Commissioned by the National Council for Curriculum and Assessment (NCCA), the landmark project is led by (opens in a new window)Professor Dympna Devine, Associate Professor (opens in a new window)Seaneen Sloan, and Assistant Professors (opens in a new window)Gabriela Martinez Sainz and (opens in a new window)Olga Ioannidou, from the UCD School of Education.
Its ninth report, based on interviews with more than 2,000 pupils, examines children’s transition from sixth class to the first months of secondary school.
Findings show that while nearly half of children in sixth class (48%) feel a strong sense of belonging, one in three said they rarely or never get to make decisions or see their ideas used in school.
Just over three in four pupils believe they do well at schoolwork, and 72% think it will help them find a good job later in life.
Teachers expect around 70% of pupils to settle in well academically and socially, with slightly higher confidence for girls (78%) compared to boys (71%).
And parents are generally positive about the change but had concerns about social adjustment, hidden costs, and bullying risks.
A subsample of 67 students surveyed after starting secondary school reported feeling a stronger sense of belonging and making friends easily, though worries about tests and workload persisted.
Overall, the report shows that children approach the transition from primary to secondary school with a mix of excitement, nervousness, and anxiety, highlighting the importance of support for this key stage of their education.
By: David Kearns, Digital Journalist / Media Officer, UCD University Relations
To contact the UCD News & Content Team, email: newsdesk@ucd.ie
