Holly King-Mand is a writer, speaker, teacher, and literacy campaigner & advocate. She is widely recognised as ‘the nation’s favourite English teacher’ for her work to keep children learning English during the pandemic and for inspiring many more since.
Becoming 'Secondary-Ready'
As the Autumn term looms and butterflies settle into tween tummies, families begin to prepare for the back-to-school season. Some children will be making the transition to a bigger school for the first time, and this might take extra planning and preparation. It’s an exciting and transformative time!
Below is a helpful guide to prepare you and your youngster for the best possible start to their secondary education.
All The Gear
The practical side of becoming ‘secondary-ready’ is having the correct uniform and equipment for a new school. Schools provide kit lists way in advance, and if you’re on a budget, you’ll have plenty of time to shop around. Nearly new uniform sales are also a great way of keeping costs down: if you’re unsure where to find these, ask at your local children’s centre, local Facebook groups, or school office.
Although we hope children will be a little more organised by the time they reach secondary school, it’s still advisable to label everything. If you can hold on to items, they can be passed down to siblings or friends. Siblings can sometimes share a kit: I have two closely aged children who share a forest school kit used on different days—it has saved me a pretty penny!
Workbooks and study guides might feel like an overwhelming addition, but some good-quality reference books, dictionaries, and texts can provide the support your child needs to take their learning by the reins. You can also borrow many books in this category from your local library.
Connect with Teachers
And not just teachers! Take the time to meet the school office staff, the leadership team, bus drivers—anyone your child comes into contact with. A network of connected adults around a child in education provides them with the best support (and reassurance for their parents!)
The relationship between parents and school staff is different at secondary school, but key priorities like regular updates and information sharing remain. Secondary schools hold regular information evenings, a great chance to learn about your child’s new world. Contact will mostly be made through school diaries (sometimes called planners or link books), so ensure you and your child set aside time to look through this regularly together.
If you feel things are not going well for your child, an open and positive dialogue with their form tutor is usually the first port of call. This is the teacher they will meet with every day and the one who will be most able to check in on how they are doing. You can reassure your child that their form tutor will be looking out for them.
Space to Study
Being ‘secondary ready’ also means committing to more independent learning and managing homework schedules. For this reason, children will need space to study and somewhere to keep their schoolbooks and diary. Ideally, a desk best suits this situation. Providing designated quiet time at a kitchen table can be extremely helpful if this isn't possible in your space.
The library might be an option, too. It has desks, computers, printing facilities, and the peace and quiet many learners need. School libraries usually have homework clubs with the added benefit of a teacher on hand!
Safety First
Going from primary to secondary school is a big change for children, and it opens up their world. Keep an open dialogue with your child about their safety by using these top tips:
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If they travel to school alone, discuss the safest option and where they can get help if needed. If they are using bikes or scooters, check with their school for policies/arrangements.
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If they have a smartphone, consider the best option for their online safety. Monitoring apps or supervised use might suit your family. Internetmatters.org provides lots of advice for parents about how to keep their children safe online.
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Talk to your child about self-esteem and friendships, and make sure they know which teachers to talk to if they spot bullying (usually their form tutor, but some schools have anti-bullying officers).
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At secondary school, students receive lessons about relationships, drugs, diet, and mental health that are designed to keep them safe. Ask your child’s school what will be covered and when so that you can continue the conversation at home.
The Big Day
Before the big day arrives, make sure the uniform has been fit-tested, the bags have been packed, the water bottle has been chilled, and lunchtime arrangements have been confirmed. A positive and organised start will not only help your child make a sure and steady start at their new school, but it will also give them the self-esteem to know they can cope with change, new environments, and anything that secondary school can throw at them!