Moving on up
Making the move to secondary school
Progressing to Year 7
Many young people find moving from primary to secondary school exciting, but for some it can also be a scary time. That can often be the case if you have a vision impairment.
Everything’s familiar to you at primary school, from being in the same classroom all day with everything you need close by, to your teacher and the children in your class. And you’ll know how to get around school safely.
The thought of moving somewhere new and somewhere bigger could make you feel anxious. You might worry that you’ll get lost as you try to find your way around your new school, and be concerned about making new friends. Your new school might be further away, too, and you could have to travel there on your own.
All of these worries are can make you feel really nervous, but we’re here to support you.
Hints and tips for going to secondary school
- Write a list of your worries down, and talk them through with your parents or another adult.
- Think about how your strengths might help you manage the move to your new school, and write them down.
- As well as nervousness, you might also feel quite excited about making the move, so make a note of all the things you’re looking forward to.
- Most schools will give you a list of things to get before you start. Try to get organised beforehand so that you’re ready and have everything you need – doing it last minute can make you feel more stressed.
- Plan your route to school, and do a few practice runs before you start if you’ll eventually be travelling alone to school, to help you feel more confident. If you need any extra help, a Habilitation Officer can support you.
You’ll probably already have visited your new school on a transition day, and so you may have some idea of its layout. Before you start, take a look at the school website for maps and virtual tours. You’ll probably be given a school map on your first day, too, and you may be allowed to leave lessons a bit early to help you move around school when it’s less busy.
TOP TIP: If you’re worried about how you’ll find your way around, there’s an app called Clew which is designed for people who are blind or partially sighted and can be used indoors. It remembers locations, and helps you return to them.
- When you start school, don’t be scared to ask for help. You may get lost, but most Year 7’s do in the first few weeks! It’ll take time to get used to your new school.
- Your Vision Impairment Teacher should come and visit you soon after you start. Make sure they know if you’re finding it difficult to access learning resources. You should also know who the school SENDCo is. They can make sure that teachers know what your needs are and what they need to do to meet them.
- Making new friends can take time, but just be yourself.
TOP TIP: Try to join some school clubs so that you’ll meet others with similar interests and make friends with people just like you.
- Sometimes we need to make an extra effort to make friends, and this can take us out of our comfort zone. Genuine friendships can come gradually, so try not to feel down if you don’t feel you’re making friends quickly enough.
TOP TIP: Try to smile a lot, and make it your goal just to say ‘hello’!
- If friends from primary school have gone to different schools, make an effort to keep in touch and arrange catchups. You can compare notes on your new schools, and even introduce your new friends to your old ones.
Remember to give everything time. The first few weeks might feel difficult, but it doesn’t mean it’ll always feel like that – things will get easier. Always talk to your parents, carers, your tutor or teachers at school if you’re finding it hard. Most schools have a Wellbeing Centre, which you can pop in to and chat to the staff there. They’ll listen to your worries and work with you and the teaching staff to make sure you feel safe and happy in school.
Our Moving On Up group
If you’re in Year 6 and want to share your thoughts and chat to others who, like you, will be moving to Year 7 in September, then why not join our Moving On Up Group? As well as having the opportunity to talk to other young people about changing schools, one of our Family Practitioners will be on hand to answer your questions and help you work through the move.
You’ll probably have lots of questions about moving school and this group gives you the chance to talk through how you’re feeling so that your confidence is boosted before the school term starts! The sessions are fun and designed to be enjoyable as well as giving you the information you need. They’re safe space where you can discuss anything that’s bothering you and share your thoughts and feelings.
RSBC Family Practitioner, Jody, says, “I often work together with children who are quite worried about the move to secondary school. Things they’re concerned about can include how they’ll travel there, how they’ll manage in a big school, how they’ll cope moving between classrooms when it’s busy, and how they’ll ‘fit in’ and make new friends.”
“Family Practitioners help children talk these worries through. We build on their self-esteem and confidence, so that they feel more ready for the big steps they’ll be taking. We continue to support them through this transition, so that they know they’ll have advice and guidance when they’re at their new school. We can also help them manage any ongoing worries and difficulties that they might be experiencing.”
Thinking about your move to secondary school, asking questions, and talking about any worries that you may have can help you to feel more ready to make the big step to Year 7.
How do I join?
If you’re interested in joining the Moving On Up sessions or you have any questions, please fill out the form below.
You can also check the upcoming dates on our what’s on section.