A shared leadership hub 

Primarily, the Consortium operates as a shared leadership hub. Partners from research, policy, practice and the third sector will work together to align national expertise and jointly coordinate action, reducing the fragmentation that is currently pervasive across existing primary-secondary school transitions initiatives. This includes establishing regional Communities of Practice to facilitate knowledge exchange, share and scale effective transition practices, and develop evidence-informed guidance. By pooling interdisciplinary expertise and grounding action in lived experience, the Consortium aims to accelerate the equitable translation of research evidence into high-quality provision — strengthening alignment, reducing duplication, and embedding collective ownership to ensure sustained impact. 

A national hub of research excellence 

A secondary aim of the Consortium is to function as a coordinated national hub of research excellence in primary-secondary school transitions, showcasing our combined expertise, infrastructure and facilities to support the translation of research outputs into real-world impact. In doing so, we aim to strengthen existing relationships and foster new partnerships within our strategic priority areas, building a critical mass around this pressing issue and exerting meaningful influence on policy and practice. 

In summary, the Consortium aims to improve the experiences of primary-secondary school transitions for 750,000 pupils every year, improving outcomes and minimising the duplication of effort currently occurring across 25,000 schools — replacing fragmented, locally-interpreted provision with a single, coordinated national approach. 

Why we developed the Consortium and the underpinning evidence-base 

A systemic, evidence-informed approach to primary-secondary school transitions is urgently needed, supported by the development and dissemination of best-practice guidance. To address this gap, our team co-developed an evidence-based framework with key policy recommendations for a primary-secondary school transitions strategy in England, drawing on the multidisciplinary perspectives of 75 experts leading on transitions provision across educational practice, research and policy nationwide. 

The National Consortium for Excellence in Primary-Secondary School Transitions was established to build on this work — bringing together evidence, expertise and lived experience to create a unified, national approach. It provides the sustained national infrastructure needed to implement our co-produced policy recommendations, drive system-wide change, and formalise cross-sector partnerships through a shared governance framework uniting researchers, practitioners, policymakers, health professionals and third-sector partners. 

Our long-term ambition 

By pooling interdisciplinary expertise and coordinating action nationally, we aim to accelerate the translation of research into high-quality, equitable provision — improving the mental health, attainment and life chances of children across the UK in the long term.