Ger Graus OBE is one of the UK's leading educationalists. After a career in teaching, Ger has focused on creating opportunities for children to achieve things they never thought possible.

After creating school improvement programmes in Manchester, Ger founded The Children's University and is currently Global Director of Education for KidZania. In 2014 he was awarded the OBE for services to education.

This is a must-listen interview with a truly inspirational champion of the child.

In this second interview with Azeem Amir, Jo FitzGerald explores transition from a secondary school perspective.

Azeem achieved great GCSE grades at his secondary school, but the move was not without its challenges. In this interview, Azeem reflects on some of the issues he faced and provides some useful tips for teachers who have sight-impaired students in their class.

Azeem can be contacted by email at: azeemamir@live.co.uk, and on Twitter at: @Azeem_Amir99

In this episode, Jo FitzGerald is joined by Azeem Amir - a remarkable young man.

With significant sight impairment, Azeem went to mainstream primary and secondary school, achieving outstanding A-level results. He then graduated from the University of Salford, and is now studying for his Master's!

As if this wasn't enough, Azeem plays football for England and has toured the world on behalf of his country.

In this first of two interviews, Azeem and Jo discuss the transition challenges of the visually impaired, and also show how Azeem's incredible determination ensured success.

Azeem can be contacted by email at: azeemamir@live.co.uk, and on Twitter at: @Azeem_Amir99

In this episode, Jo FitzGerald is joined by Justine Williams, who is a Senior Assistant principal at Wykham Park Academy, a large secondary school in Oxfordshire. In addition to being a member of the senior leadership team, Justine is the school SENCo, so she has direct experience of some of the difficulties vulnerable children can face in the move to secondary school
Jo and Justine discuss how what Wykham Park has done to help prepare their new Year 7 for the start of term. The school website has lots of videos and other information, but Justine implemented MUCH more than that, setting the standard for secondary school transition management. Justine gives her insights into the transition process from primary to secondary school, and why parental engagement is so important in that process.

Contact Justine at:
Email:     transition@wykhampark-aspirations.org
Website: https://www.wykhampark-aspirations.org/admissions/year-6-transition

In this episode, Sue Atkins is joined by Jenny Ross, who is a mum to three boys, a successful blogger and writer and is a leading light in the move to establish parent councils for schools.
Sue and Jenny discuss how to set up a parent council and the benefits it can bring. Jenny also gives her insights into the transition process from primary to secondary school, and why parental engagement is so important in that process.

Contact Jenny at:
Twitter:   @JennyRo68074561
Email:     jennyross36@gmail.com
Website: www.trulymadlymum.wordpress.com

We're joined in this interview by Liz Stevenson, who is the Transition Manager at Sandwell Metropolitan Borough Council – a large local authority in the Midlands. Sandwell has about 90 primary and 20 secondary schools, so that keeps Liz pretty busy.

Liz is a real expert on transition and she shares her real-world insights into the transition process from primary to secondary school, and what could be done to improve the process.

Liz can be contacted by email: liz_stevenson@sandwell.gov.uk, or on Twitter : @lstevenson2410.

The move to secondary school is one of the most challenging that any child will face.
Moving from a small primary school to a huge secondary school can be difficult and both parents and children are often REALLY anxious about it.

Travelling to and from school, homework diaries, discipline and detentions, bullying, and more...

But anxiety is driven by the unknown, so there ARE strategies to reduce that anxiety BEFORE Year 7 begins...