Towards a more successful school-university transition : insights from a case study

An investigation into the transition between senior secondary school and university was undertaken. Specifically, this research is a case study examination of the preparedness of a select cohort of high school graduates to successfully negotiate their first semester of university education. The method of written questionnaire was used to obtain the perceptions of first-year university students, school teachers, and university lecturers trom the participating school and university in this study. It is the principal finding that many university bound Year 12 graduates were lacking in the appropriate skills required to smoothly navigate the transition between high school and university. The school in this case study failed to equip students with the appropriate academic skills and techniques required for students to reach their academic potential. Within the current educational climate this research is timely and implores the stakeholders in both senior secondary schooling and first-year university education to unite and assume responsibility for providing a seamless academic pathway.