Survey on Junior High School Transition for Families with Non-Attending or Reluctant Students: Over 80% of Parents Express Anxiety, with Academic Readiness as Top Concern

Benesse Corporation (Headquarters: Okayama City, Okayama Prefecture; President and CEO: Daisuke Iwase; hereinafter 'Benesse') operates Benesse Higher School Middle Division, a free school for junior high students. The school conducted a survey titled 'Survey on Junior High School Transition for Families with Non-Attending or Reluctant Students,' targeting 461 parents of current elementary school students in grades 4–6 who are non-attending or showing reluctance, including 139 sixth graders, and 545 parents of current middle school students in grades 1–3 who experienced non-attendance or reluctance in sixth grade.

Alongside the increasing number of non-attending students, the trend is also affecting younger children, and many families face anxiety during the transition from elementary to junior high school. This survey was conducted among parents of students about to enter junior high and those who have already experienced the transition, aiming to clarify the realities of family concerns and desired support during this critical period from both pre- and post-transition perspectives.

*Note: Hereinafter, 'elementary school parents' refers to parents of current grades 4–6 students with non-attendance or reluctance experience, and 'middle school parents' refers to parents of current grades 1–3 students who experienced non-attendance or reluctance in sixth grade.

Survey Summary

- Over 80% of elementary school parents reported feeling anxious about junior high school entry. Among sixth-grade parents, this figure rises to approximately 90%.

- The most common concern is whether their child can keep up academically (about 60%). Academic readiness is a major source of parental anxiety.

- Approximately 70% of elementary school parents have consulted someone about their child’s worries or concerns. The most common consultation sources are 'school teachers' and 'family/relatives.'

- Both elementary school parents’ desired pre-entry support and middle school parents’ retrospective 'wish this had been available' support are 'personalized learning support' and 'a safe, welcoming environment.'

- When middle school parents were asked about reasons for continued non-attendance or reluctance after entry, 'ongoing emotional or mental anxiety' and 'difficulty adapting to the school environment' ranked highest, followed by 'academic anxiety' as the third most common reason.

- Regarding information gathering, about 70% of middle school parents responded that it would have been better to start consultations and information gathering from sixth grade.

Over 80% of elementary school parents feel anxious about junior high school entry. Among sixth graders, this reaches about 90%

When asked about anxiety regarding junior high school entry (single response), 84.0% of parents of non-attending or reluctant students in grades 4–6 answered 'feel very anxious' or 'feel somewhat anxious.' Among sixth-grade parents, this proportion rises to 88.5%, indicating that more families feel anxious as the transition approaches.

Concerns focus on 'academics' and 'adapting to a new environment'

When asked about specific anxieties regarding junior high school entry (multiple responses), 'keeping up with schoolwork (59.9%)' was the top concern, followed by 'building good relationships with classmates (57.9%)' and 'adapting to the atmosphere and rules of junior high school (50.8%)'. In addition to academic concerns, anxieties about peer relationships and adapting to a new environment ranked high, showing that many families are anxious about the overall environmental changes associated with the transition.

About 70% of elementary school parents consult someone about their child’s concerns, but challenges remain

When asked whether they consult someone about their child’s worries or concerns, 70.3% of elementary school parents answered 'yes.' The most common consultation source was 'school teachers (60.2%)', followed by 'family/relatives (46.6%)' and 'school counselors (33.6%)'. In the 'other' category (21.6%), responses included psychiatric clinics. On the other hand, 29.7% answered 'no,' with the most common reason being 'didn’t think it was serious enough to consult (40.1%)', followed by 'didn’t know where to consult (32.8%)'.

Desired support: 'Learning support' and 'safe environment' align before and after transition

When asked what kind of support would be helpful before junior high entry (multiple responses), 'personalized learning support based on the child’s situation (67.2%)' was the top response, followed by 'a place where the child can feel safe and comfortable (55.7%)'.

Additionally, when middle school parents were asked retrospectively what support would have been helpful during sixth grade (multiple responses), the most common response was 'a place where the child can feel safe and comfortable (57.4%)', followed by 'personalized learning support (48.3%)'. Although the rankings were reversed, the top two items were consistent, showing that the support desired before entry aligns with what parents later feel 'would have been helpful.'

Need for support: 'Academic anxiety' remains a top reason for continued non-attendance after entry

Among middle school parents who reported that their child’s non-attendance or reluctance continued after entry, when asked about the reasons (multiple responses), 'ongoing emotional or mental anxiety (74.1%)' was the most common, with 'academic anxiety (35.0%)' ranking third. In the previous question, 'personalized learning support' ranked second as desired support. Together, this indicates that academic anxiety is one of the key factors contributing to continued non-attendance or reluctance after junior high entry.

Information gathering: About 70% of middle school parents believe it would have been better to start consultations and information gathering from sixth grade

When middle school parents were asked retrospectively, 'Do you think it would have been better to start consultations and information gathering for junior high entry from sixth grade?' (single response), 73.7% answered 'strongly agree' or 'agree.' This shows that many parents recognize the importance of starting transition-focused consultations and information gathering as early as sixth grade.

Consideration of free schools for junior high transition

When elementary school parents were asked whether they have considered using a free school for junior high entry (single response), 'have not considered' was the most common response at 59.7%. However, among sixth-grade parents specifically, 'have considered and currently using' was 7.2% (5.6% overall), 'have considered but not using' was 30.2% (26.2% overall), and 'currently considering use' was 14.4% (8.5% overall), all exceeding the overall elementary school average.

Challenges in considering free schools

When elementary school parents who considered but did not use a free school were asked why (multiple responses), 'the child did not want to go (49.6%)' was the most common reason. Among factors other than the child’s own will, 'felt the cost was high (38.0%)' was the most common, tied with 'decided to wait and see (38.0%)'.

Voices from users of the junior high free school 'Benesse Higher School Middle Division' — attending