Transitions to secondary schooling: A social capital perspective

The social networks of students in the final year of primary school were analysed and the impact of transfer to secondary schools was compared by following up students near the end of their first year of secondary education. All young people examined had substantial changes in their peer networks as a result of the transition. Those with the more extensive networks in primary school reported fewer friendships after one year of secondary schooling, while those with the most limited primary school social networks all reported an increase in the numbers in their networks. It was noted that reported number of friends in the last year of primary school may be positively related to attitude toward school. It was also noted that, while all but one student in primary school identified an adult who they considered to be a friend at school, none of the students reported an adult friend after one year of secondary schooling.