FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
October 28, 2025
The Association for Middle Level Education (AMLE) is pleased to announce that the recipients of the 2025 Tom Erb Outstanding Article Award are Clay Simpkins, Donna Pendergast, Belinda Hopwood, and Rachel Rossiter for their article, “Transitioning into Secondary School: A Systematic Quantitative Review of Literature in the Australian Context” published in Research in Middle Level Education Online (RMLE Online, 48(2), 1–24).
Led by Clay Simpkins, Junior Secondary Head of Department at Mackay North State High School in Queensland, Australia, the paper represents an important contribution to the field of middle level education. Using a systematic quantitative review methodology, the authors examined the evidence base surrounding students’ transition into secondary school within the Australian context. Their analysis identified four key areas of focus: student perceptions, mental health, academic motivation and success, and students with learning support needs.
While the findings largely align with international research, the authors also identified a distinctive “locality factor,” revealing how geographic contexts—such as metropolitan versus rural settings—affect the applicability of research findings. This insight underscores the need for educators and policymakers to consider local contexts when designing and implementing transition programs.
Reflecting on the recognition, Mr. Simpkins said: “We are delighted our article has been selected by AMLE’s Research Advisory Council for the 2025 Tom Erb Outstanding Article Award. This is an incredible honor, even more so having read the work of Tom Erb after whom it is named. As my first publication in the educational field, receiving this award fills me with immense gratitude and pride. I would like to thank AMLE and my co-authors—Rachel Rossiter, Donna Pendergast, and Belinda Hopwood—without whom this article would not have been possible.”
Mr. Simpkins explained that his motivation for the research stemmed from a lack of comprehensive, peer-reviewed studies on school transitions in Australia. “Our review confirms that transition remains a space for attention and action across schooling systems,” he noted.
In congratulating the authors, Toni Williams, Chair of the AMLE Research Advisory Council, said: “This article exemplifies the thoughtful, rigorous, and contextually grounded research that advances our understanding of young adolescents and their educational experiences. AMLE was particularly impressed by the authors’ systematic approach, the clarity of their findings, and the practical implications for improving transitions into secondary school. We extend our warmest congratulations to Mr. Simpkins and his co-authors for their outstanding contribution to the field.”
The Tom Erb Outstanding Article Award is named in honor of Dr. Tom Erb, a prolific author and staunch advocate for middle level education. He served as Research in Middle Level Education Online’s editor from 1981 – 1983 and Middle School Journal’s editor from 1994 – 2009, the longest tenure in the editor position. He was inducted into AMLE’s Legacy Circle in 2019 and his influence on the field will be felt for years to come. To honor Tom’s legacy and recognize an outstanding article published within the last three years in one of AMLE’s two peer-reviewed periodicals, the AMLE Research Advisory Council began granting this award in 2019.