Starting secondary school

If you’ve got an eleven year old child or grandchild, then this week is going to be one of the biggest in their lives so far. It’s the start of secondary school!

Secondary school is a massive change for schoolchildren. They’re no longer big fish in a small pond but the babies of a big school community. There will be new subjects to learn and new people to deal with as well as a new daily journey – not to mention the shock of seeing eighteen year olds walk around the corridors.

Here are our tips for you to help you smooth the transition for your child or grandchild:

1. Do the journey to school and back with your child before term starts, or on the first day of school. Make sure they know which trains or buses to get.

2. Get a copy of the timetable in advance from the school and talk through it with your child. Ensure that they know what each subject means.

3. Make sure your child feels able to talk to you about any issues that might arise. Starting a new school can be frightening and your child will need your support.

4. Ensure that your child has the right uniform and equipment for school and that everything is labelled with their name on.