One in four pupils in England ‘disengage’ when they move to secondary, report finds

A new survey found that girls in England are more likely to complain of feeling unsafe or worried after starting secondary school. Photograph: Peter Lopeman/Alamy

One in four pupils in England “disengage” when they move up to secondary school, with enjoyment, trust and a sense of feeling safe declining sharply, according to a new report.

After a largely positive experience at primary school where children report high levels of enjoyment, there is a “steep and lasting” drop in engagement after year 7 when pupils transfer to secondary at the age of 11, the survey of 100,000 pupils in England reveals.