Mrs Hendy's Top Tips for Transition to Secondary School
Mrs Hendy’s Top Transition Tips for Children!
Sooner or later you’ll be thinking about the next stage in your school life, and moving onto secondary school.
This may seem daunting, exciting, strange, and possibly scary, but eventually you will look back and wonder what all the fuss was about!
This is a link to a video featuring some year sevens after they joined their new school:
There are lots of things that will be very different to primary school, and I hope this helps to answer some of the questions that may be floating around your head right now:
WHERE DO I GO ON THE FIRST DAY?
On the first day there will be teachers, adults and maybe older pupils meeting and greeting the new year 7’s and I expect you will be taken to an assembly or tutor group room to start the day.
Some children may be invited to attend the school on a day when other year groups aren’t in, so that they can get used to the school without crowds of people. In some circumstances, you and your parent/carer may also be invited to come and have a meeting with your tutor.
WHAT’S A TUTOR GROUP?
A tutor group is where you register every morning and lunchtime, a bit like the classes you are in at Hillcrest. You may all be in the same year group, but some schools have children from various year groups in a tutor group. Your tutor will be the same teacher every day, who you can talk to about anything. Parents can also email them with any questions and worries too.
WHAT LESSONS WILL I HAVE?
Your school will have a number of different subject lessons across the day, and each lesson will be in a different room. You will soon get to know your way around the school, quicker than you think! There will always be people who can help in the first few weeks.
You will learn a whole new range of subjects, not all schools offer the same subjects but you will do Maths, English, PE, Languages, History, Geography, Science, Music, Drama, Art and Religious Studies, amongst others.
GETTING ORGANISED:
*Take a few copies of your timetable, put a mini one in your lanyard, keep a copy in your bag or at home on the fridge. Take a photo on your phone too.
*You may want to colour code your timetable.
*Label all your clothes and shoes, especially PE kits, as it’s a mess in the changing rooms, with no-one to pick things up after you!
*Always have a pen.
*You may be given a locker to keep your work in during the day. Keep a copy of a timetable in there in case you lose it.
*Write down your parents/carers phone number and keep it safe in case you lose your phone (or forget to take it to school).
*Always put your uniform in the wash on a Friday….there’s nothing worse than not being able to find your clean uniform on a Monday morning.
*Your belongings need to be looked after by YOU!
WHAT HAPPENS AT LUNCHTIME?
Some schools have a canteen where you pay with your lanyard or a thumb print. Your parents will pay online and the money will be applied to your account. There is more variety of food and you have an option of hot and cold food. Each school is different, but will have some sort of outdoor space for lunchtime activities.
REWARD SYSTEMS
As in primary schools, children will be rewarded for effort and positive and respectful behaviour. Each school will have its own system, but most will award points and these will be shared with your parents or mentioned in your school reports.
DETENTIONS
People will only be given detentions if they have been warned more than once about negative behaviour, and parents/carers will be told about them. This could be due to regular disruption in class, not doing homework, arriving late or not wearing the correct school uniform.
WHAT IF I GET BULLIED?
This is very rare.
Remember our class assemblies about school reputations and not believing all the stories you hear.
All schools take bullying seriously, so you will need to tell an adult, whether that’s someone at home or in school. You can either talk face to face with them or email staff at school. There will be a pastoral team (like Tina and Sally) who will be able to help you get through any difficult times. Every school has a bullying policy so you may want to read that with your parents if you are really concerned.
Here are some interesting links you may also like to take a look at:
https://www.childline.org.uk/info-advice/school-college-and-work/school-college/moving-schools/
https://www.mentalhealth.org.uk/sites/default/files/moving-on-top-tips-for-pupils.pdf
Good Luck to all you lovely lot!
Here is a guide for parents of SEN children starting secondary schools. Please also contact Mrs Sewell if you have any concerns with transition for your SEN child.
https://www.mentalhealth.org.uk/sites/default/files/moving-secondary-school-17042013-d2146.pdf