THE Five Bags Project may sound like a bank heist but in reality it is the informal name for a joint initiative between York Theatre Royal, five schools and City of York Council's arts and culture department.

Officially known as the Partnership with Education and Theatre project - PET for short - it explores the transition year from year six to seven, or Key Stage 2 to Key Stage 3, with the participation of four primaries and one secondary school.

Unique to York, this project culminates in the Transitions day at the Theatre Royal from noon to 2pm on Monday on the main stage and in the theatre foyer, where there will be an art installation.

Jill Adamson, the Theatre Royal's director of education, says: "This year's focus is on the transition year, traditionally the weakest year in the school education system. It's trying to bring about greater communication between primary and secondary schools, because the transition year can be one of the most stressful times for pupils as they move on."

Derwent Junior School, Bishopthorpe Junior School, St Lawrence Primary School, Robert Wilkinson Primary School, Strensall, and Archbishop Holgate's Secondary School are taking part, working with Jill Adamson, education associate Stephen Burke, youth theatre director Sarah Brigham and Theatre Royal artistic director Damian Cruden.

Through drama and performance the Year 6 pupils are exploring their hopes and fears and raising questions about the changes they face. In turn, again through drama, the Year 7 pupils are responding to questions posed.

Each school has been issued with a rucksack - hence the Five Bags Project title - containing stimuli for performance, such as a tennis ball, school timetable, mobile phone and good luck card. "The idea is that the primary schools shape up their five-minute performances with a rough video of the performance, and the bag with the video will then be passed on to Year 7 pupils at Archbishop's Holgate, who then devise a response performance that addresses the issues raised. Four Year 7 groups work on one primary school bag each," says Colin Jackson, from the council's arts service.

Up to 250 people will join together for Monday afternoon's climax on the main stage, where a film documentary of the process of the project will be shown alongside the performances of the children.

Sculptor Lee Threadgold, 3-D artist Hilary Burt, hip-hop artist Tim Brooks and digital photographer Elly Drouet have all contributed to this year's project too.

The PET Project will continue in the next school year with the participation of Archbishop Holgate's, Burnholme Community College, Lowfield School, Scarcroft Primary, Knavesmire Primary and New Earswick Primary schools.

Updated: 09:14 Friday, July 08, 2005