Written by Amanda Lecaude
Organising Students

Many Year 6 students start to think about secondary school as early as the beginning of Term 1. Some students are excited about what is to come and others may have some concerns or worries that they may not necessarily share with others. Students’ concerns are often mirrored in the family, with emotions swinging from excited to unsettled, particularly when a family is going through the transition to secondary school for the first time.

Some students' fears are compounded if there is initial uncertainty over which secondary school they will be going to. When they do find out, their concern shifts to what the school will expect of them. Fear of the unknown can be very powerful and the more barriers that can be removed the more this will allow students to embrace the new adventure and find success.

Common thoughts and feelings from Year 6 students

As a parent, you are no doubt wondering how best to support your child. In general, you will find that the transition is the smoothest when parents and schools (primary and secondary) work closely together to support a child’s learning and development.

It is important to remember that, as parents, it is best not to make assumptions about your child’s expectations. We have a plethora of our own memories, which can sometimes complicate what we expect our children to experience. It’s important to remember that they have never been in this situation before and their experience may be different. For some children, it might feel like walking into an abyss and for others they may be full of confidence.

What we want them to feel is that secondary school, whilst being a new experience, is not something to fear. By reading this article I would like to acknowledge that you are an engaged parent, taking the steps to assist and support your child.

Factors that contribute to a successful transition

Transition works best when the following are present:

1. A supportive family environment with a focus on positive attitudes - emotional stability is really important. Students are more likely to adjust happily to the new environment and be able to handle challenges when parents are interested in and involved with the transition.
2. The ability to adjust socially – resilience and having the skills to form new friendships are crucial to the adjustment to secondary school.
3. Being able to adapt and adjust to the new secondary school environment – again it is important for students to have a strong sense of resilience. Flexibility assists in adjusting quickly to new routines and school life. The more that students and parents understand about what to expect from the specific school, the easier this adjustment will be. School tours and talking with other students at the school will give your child more confidence in what to expect.
4. Having an ongoing interest in the curriculum and learning - the more prepared students are to adapt to more advanced work and new subjects, the more easily students will settle in at secondary school. Students need to be challenged (and usually want to be) so they can build upon their primary school learning.

What you can do to support your child

Communication – always keep the lines of communication open. Start talking with your child if you haven’t already about the positive aspects of going to secondary school and continue to support them as they grow and meet the new challenges and experiences both socially and academically. Once they begin year 7, it’s also important to discuss how they are feeling and regularly check in with them to see how they are coping with the increased level of work and homework.

Encourage independence – encourage them to take responsibility for their own learning which will assist your child to develop their own decision making and self-management skills. It is really important for teens to develop self-advocacy – learning to speak up for themselves and knowing how and who to ask for what they need.

Allow your child to struggle – as parents we all like to see our children succeed and we also have a tendency to jump in to try and solve problems and rescue our children. The greatest learning for all of us comes from mistakes. If we want our children to grow, we need to let them stumble now and again too. It is really important for students to take responsibility for their own learning and the decisions they make across all aspects of their education. They do need support and guidance along the way in some decision making so they know they are not alone and you are able to guide them on the path to achievement.

Students will know what the school expectations are and need to take responsibility for fulfilling those expectations. It is important you as their guide and support that you are also aware of the expectations so that you can support them in achieving their best. An example may be, if they forget to take their homework, this is an expectation they haven’t met and one they need to manage themselves. As their guide and support, your role is to remind them that this is their responsibility and ask them what they will do differently next time.

Be positive – your child is more likely to look forward to starting secondary school if you are positive about it. A student’s mindset is critical to their success. As parents, it is important to foster and increase your child’s self-belief that they are capable of rising to challenges.

Enable students take responsibility for their time – assist your child to manage their time and cope with multiple new subjects and priorities, as well as their extracurricular activities. I strongly encourage all Year 7 students to use a diary/planner (paper or electronic) to assist them with their organisation, time management and tasks they need to complete. In order to manage time, children need to be able to see time and this will assist with that aspect.

Homework environment/s – ensure your child has at least one designated place where they can study, with good lighting, desk space and a good chair. I usually encourage students to have one place where they keep their school work and belongings at home. This is usually on their desk and I recommend using a magazine holder for this.

Be interested and enthusiastic – encourage your child to get involved and take on new experiences and opportunities to expand their interests and talents. If you can familiarise yourselves with activities that the secondary school offers as well as other extra-curricular activities you can encourage your child’s participation at school. Let them know that these are opportunities available to them now and that they can help build their skills and confidence, allow them to make new friends and to have fun at school.

Stay informed and involved – whilst the level of involvement at secondary school can be very different to that of primary school, I strongly recommend that parents be involved where possible. There are various ways to do this like:

• attend parent information evenings,
• volunteer
• get involved in parent groups
• attend parent teacher nights and ask questions about how you can support learning at home.

The secondary school journey is a big change for you and many parents often struggle with this adjustment, particularly if it is their first child who is going to secondary school.

It can be useful to talk to other parents who have been through this process previously as they can often assist to answer any questions or concerns you may have.

Best wishes to your child, yourself and your family for a smooth transition into secondary school and beyond. May the experience be one that sets your child on a path for success! The most important thing for them is that they enjoy secondary school life and all that it can offer them.

For more detailed information, visit my website to download my eBooks on Taking the Leap to Secondary School – The e-books are for parents related to supporting your child and another for students on what they need to know in order to prepare themselves for the secondary transition journey.

Amanda Lecaude is an Academic Life coach and Organising Expert who works closely with schools and students to ensure they are equipped with simple and effective organisational, time management and study skills, which are key to their success and enjoyment at school and in life. She regularly speaks and conducts workshops for students from Year 6-12 and in particular with a focus on the transition of students between primary and secondary school.