6 December 2006

Prize winner crosses the great divide

A probationer primary school teacher from Fife will be presented with the prestigious George D Gray CBE MA Award by the General Teaching Council for Scotland today (Wednesday 6 December 2006).

The annual award is presented to the author of Scotland's best BEd thesis. Jane Chiverton's entry - 'Crossing the Great Divide: An Investigative Study into Children's Self-Perceptions over the Period of Transition from Primary School to Secondary School' - won widespread praise from the judging panel.

The research was wide ranging, using randomly selected schools from both the primary and secondary sectors in Fife. The findings revealed very real issues, positive and negative, affecting pupils as they move into S1.

Mrs Chiverton, who graduated with First Class Honours from Dundee University and is now undergoing her induction at Letham Primary School in Fife, will receive a certificate and cheque to mark her achievement.

Chief Executive of the GTC Scotland, Matthew MacIver, said:

"What the panel found most interesting about Jane Chiverton's thesis was the fact that she came to conclusions which seemed to contradict present views of the transition process. She found, for example, that girls' self-esteem decreased quite dramatically when they moved to secondary school. Boys were far more confident than girls were."

"What she also found was that far from treading water on moving to S1 pupils found it very exciting and far more stimulating than P7. That is not the kind of message that we have been receiving in the recent past especially from HMIE Reports."

"The panel was also hugely impressed by the fact that Mrs Chiverton has already started following up her university research and hopes to continue the research until the cohort of pupils leaves their High School."

"This was found to be a very impressive piece of work which could have national implications."

"The standard of theses submitted this year was very high but Mrs Chiverton deserves special praise for her efforts - she demonstrated an excellent grasp of the subject and impressed all the judges greatly."

Mrs Chiverton said:

"The first indication I had that I was being considered for the George D Gray Award was when I was invited to meet the Award Panel at Clerwood House and I was more than a little nervous at the prospect of being interviewed by them. However I thoroughly enjoyed being given the opportunity to discuss my "labour of love" with such an enthusiastic audience who were genuinely interested in my work."

"I chose transition from Primary to Secondary School as the focus of my research as my own daughter was about to enter this phase in her school career. The investigation provided many opportunities to develop a greater understanding of the transition process and its possible effect on the pupils' involved. My findings were not wholly consistent with previous studies and for this reason I have made arrangements to investigate this subject further."

"Having undertaken this piece of work I am now thoroughly convinced of the vital role research plays in Education and I hope to be involved in both in my future career. I would like to thank my tutors at the University of Dundee, Mr David Miller and Dr Jim Ewing for their support and direction and also my family without whom this would have been an impossible task. I am delighted to accept this award. Thank you."

NOTES TO EDITORS

* The George D Gray CBE MA Award was launched in 2001 by Doctor Ethel Gray in memory of her late husband and the first ever Registrar of the GTC Scotland, Doctor George D Gray CBE MA.

* The George D Gray CBE MA Award Panel consists of:

Matthew M MacIver, Chief Executive/Registrar, GTC Scotland

Dr Ethel Gray CBE, widow of the late George D Gray

Professor Ron Elder, Retired recently from the University of Dundee

Dr Ivor Sutherland, ex Registrar of the GTC Scotland

Neil Munro, Editor of the Times Educational Supplement Scotland

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