Why?
Ask almost any young person preparing to move from primary to secondary school what they are most worried about, and one of the most common responses is simple: getting lost.
The transition from primary to secondary can be an exciting time, but it can also create anxiety and uncertainty for many learners. For some young people, particularly anxious learners and those with attendance challenges, concerns about navigating a larger building, finding classrooms, and understanding their new environment can become significant barriers to a positive start.
Delivered collaboratively with James Prowse, Transition Teacher for the Broughton Learning Community, and the Edinburgh Learns Digital Team; this course explores how Minecraft Education can be used as a tool to support transition. By enabling learners to collaboratively recreate and explore their future secondary school in a safe, familiar, and engaging digital environment.
Participants will discover the how, why and what of using Minecraft Education to support transition. Through practical examples developed within the Broughton Learning Community, attendees will see how involving learners, teachers, and support staff in creating a digital version of their school can help build confidence, reduce anxiety, strengthen relationships, and improve readiness for the move to secondary school.
Who is this for?
- Primary and Secondary school teachers
- Transition teachers and support staff
- Digital learning leads
- Guidance and pastoral care staff
- Practitioners interested in supporting anxious learners and improving attendance
- No prior experience of Minecraft Education is required
Outcomes
By the end of this session participants will:
- Understand the challenges many learners face when transitioning from primary to secondary school.
- Explore how Minecraft Education can support positive transition experiences.
- Understand the benefits of using game-based learning approaches with anxious learners and non-attenders.
- Learn how a collaborative school-building project can help learners develop familiarity with a new environment before they arrive.
- Explore examples from the Broughton Learning Community transition project.
- Understand how Minecraft Education can support collaboration, creativity, communication and learner engagement throughout the transition process.
Format
Online via Teams – Wednesday 10th June 2026 – 4-5pm
Elements of Highly Effective Practice
This course covers the following elements:
- Planning
- Teaching
- Learning
- Assessment
Edinburgh Learns Digital | City of Edinburgh Council 