The experience of male adolescent refugees during their transfer and adaptation to a UK secondary school

Abstract

This paper outlines a study which investigated the experience of six male adolescent refugees during their transfer and adaptation to a secondary school in the UK. The research used a qualitative design. The approach adopted was Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis. The data generated three superordinate themes which reflected the participants’ sense of being in need of help during the early stages of their transfer, their process of adapting to school and developing a sense of belonging in this context, and their overriding need for safety. These themes are explored in relation to existing research and implications for practice are offered.

Keywords:

• refugee
• asylum seeker
• secondary school
• transfer
• language
• belonging
• family framework

Notes

1. In this context the term “transfer” is used to refer to the process of starting secondary school.

2. This form of therapy involves describing the difficulties one has faced to a therapist, who transcribes what is said and asks questions about the stories told, prompting narratives of survival and agency.