Wellbeing
Going to Secondary School: what to expect?
The transition to secondary school means big changes for your child. For example, your child’s friendships and peer group, schoolwork, uniform, and school environment and routines are all likely to change. Your child will adjust to these changes, but it might take time.
It’s natural for children to have mixed feelings about moving from the familiar to the unknown and learning new ways of doing things. For example, children might be:
- excited about new friends, subjects and teachers
- nervous about learning new routines, making new friends or wearing a new uniform
- worried about handling the workload
Preparing to Start Secondary School
You can help to ease any worries your child has about starting secondary school by preparing your child in the months and weeks before term begins.
Practical issues
Here are ideas for practical preparations:
- Make sure your child goes to secondary school transition and orientation programs in the last year of primary school.
- Involve your child in decision-making where possible. For example, you could discuss transport options to and from school.
- Practise taking the route to secondary school together, so your child feels confident about travelling independently.
- Get the school uniform, and make sure your child feels comfortable putting it on and wearing it correctly. For example, if your child needs to wear a tie, you can help them practise putting it on at home.
- Get your child familiar with the books or learning materials they need for school. For example, you could help your child set up folders or books for their subjects. Clear labels and a different coloured folder for each subject can help.
Friends
These ideas might help with worries about getting to know people and making new friends at secondary school:
- Reassure your child that it’s common to worry about making new friends. Let your child know you’re confident they’ll make friends eventually.
- Find out whether there’s a buddy system at your child’s new school and encourage your child to be involved in it.
- Help your child explore new opportunities. Learning a musical instrument, trying a new sport or joining a drama class are great ways for your child to meet new people and get involved in school activities.
- Encourage your child to keep in touch with their old friends so they still feel socially connected.
Feelings
You could try these suggestions for handling emotional ups and downs:
- Be prepared for ups and downs. Adjusting to change takes time, but if things don’t settle down after the first term, talk to your child’s home-room teacher or year coordinator.
- Remind your child that it’s natural to feel nervous about starting something new. For example, you could share how nervous and excited you feel when starting a new job.
- Talk to other parents to check whether your child’s experiences and feelings are similar to those of others. Sporting and school events are good opportunities to meet other parents.
- Stay calm. If you’re calm and reassuring, you’ll help your child feel confident about getting through the start of secondary school.