Secondary school starter

[EdgyOliveEagle]

Hello everyone my first born will start high school in September 2025, this year will be her last term in primary. I am very nervous as she will be my first attending high school and I have no knowledge or experience how she will find it.
Am hoping she gets her choice of high school she wants to go to thats another worry I have. She is a lovely pleasant child of mine but I do worry for her alot as she is very simple. I am very nervous and worried for her.
It must be a mum thing, am sure once she joined she will be ok.

I am sure she will be fine. Secondary schools as a rule have taster/settling in days in the summer where the new students can meet each other and find their way about a bit.

Some schools start with just year 7 in on the first morning. And most teachers are pretty tolerant of year 7s who get lost or similar.

What specifically are you worried about? What do you mean by “she is very simple”? That’s a curious turn of phrase. Do you mean she may have some SEN? If so then please flag it to the school once you know which one.

Wrt to the school she gets – was the first choice one she is likely to get into? Is it your catchment school (if there is one) or your closest school? Is it where most DC from your area go? If it was a long shot then make sure you are ready to talk up the school she is allocated if you get another one. Remember you can go on WLs and appeal as well. Best of luck to her.

Thankyou very much this post helps alot. She is a shy child doesn't speak up much. Where I live they go of post code area. You have helped me out alot. I guess am just being a mum. Am worrying for nothing. When the time comes am sure she will pick up and be ok. Because its my first attending hugh school thats getting to me. I have two daughters. She's eldest. Thankyou again.

In the meantime, it wod be good for her generally, not just with regard to starting secondary school, for both of you / you all as a family to work on overcoming her shyness. What does she do in her spare time? Is there something locally like Scouts or Brownies / Guides (sorry, no idea at what age they transition from the one to the other there, as ours all attended Scouts, up to Explorer/ Young Leader level) that she could join?

Totally relate to this. My DD is also starting secondary in September and I’m feeling so many of the same things.

Excited for her but also really nervous, especially as it’s all new territory and I just want her to feel confident and settle in ok.

I found this free webinar that’s specifically for parents of Year 6 girls – it covers things like friendship changes, school stress, and how we can support them through it all. It’s next Wednesday evening (July 2), cameras off, and there’s a Q&A too. Thought I’d share in case it helps (I'll be attending)

👉 https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/transitioning-to-high-school-navigating-academic-social-personal-change-tickets-1428022366339

You're definitely not alone! I think so many of us are feeling that quiet panic right now!