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Does moving matter? Impact of residential relocations on school performance

15 July 2024

Moving during childhood, although common, is viewed as a potentially stressful life event associated with disruptions in learning and social networks. Relocations during the last years of primary school may have important consequences due to their potential impact on the results obtained from the final assessment. Educational institutions frequently consider this assessment when formulating their recommendations for secondary school type, thereby having a direct influence on a student’s academic trajectory. In this project, we will investigate the impact of residential mobility on the CITO test results. We will examine the effects of various types of moves, considering the timing, distance, motive, and neighbourhood characteristics. Furthermore, employing a novel approach—proximal causal learning—we aim to disentangle the impact of residential moves from that of school changes. The project results could offer valuable insights for schools contemplating how to support students who have experienced relocations, aiding in their catch-up with peers.