Introduction

Continuity of learning helps students build on what they already know as they move from primary to high school.

The Continuity of learning framework supports Stage 3 and Stage 4 teachers and school leaders to work together to strengthen continuity of learning during the transition to high school. It provides practical guidance and tools to help schools plan learning experiences that build on students' knowledge, skills and understanding.

This framework is designed for schools that have established collaborative partnerships and are ready to deepen cross-school collaboration and strengthen continuity of learning. It can be used by individual schools or networks of primary and high schools to support collaboration across Stage 3 and Stage 4.

Why continuity of learning matters

When students move to high school, they experience new learning environments, increased expectations and greater curriculum complexity. Working together helps primary and high schools build on what students already know. This helps students experience connected learning as they move into high school.

Continuity of learning supports students to:

• build confidence
• strengthen their sense of belonging
• experience connected learning across Stage 3 and Stage 4
• develop the knowledge and skills needed for a successful transition to high school.

What the framework includes

The framework supports schools to strengthen continuity of learning through a collaborative planning process. It includes:

• guidance on continuity of learning
• a 4-step collaborative planning process
• key design principles for cross-school curriculum planning
• a continuity of learning mapping tool
• an example of a completed mapping tool
• a blank planning template that schools can adapt to their local context.

Who should use this framework

This framework resource is designed for:

• Stage 3 teachers
• Stage 4 teachers
• curriculum leaders
• transition coordinators
• school leaders
• networks of primary and high schools working together to strengthen transition and continuity of learning.

How to use this resource

1. Reflect on current transition practices.
2. Identify a shared curriculum focus with your partner school.
3. Use the framework and mapping tool to plan together.
4. Design, implement and evaluate a continuity of learning approach.

Related resources

This framework complements the department's Transition from primary to high school resources and can be used alongside the Transition practices reflection template, transition workshops and illustrations of practice.

• Transition from primary to high school
• Transition guidance for school leaders
• Transition workshops
• Transition through a key learning area illustration of practice
• Transition from primary to high school
• Transition to high school – What Works Best in practice
• Enhancing the transition to high school for students (staff only)