Not feeling ready for big school

[RitesForGirls]

It is the last day of term and for most eleven year olds it is the last day of primary school. Next September ? big school! It is presented as a big-new-exciting-thing, as often new things are to children. But actually, for many the change is daunting and not terribly welcome.
I work with groups of girls as they come of age, and not feeling ready for big school is a common issue.
I tell them to be themselves - and to look for friends like themselves - rather than trying to be however it is they imagine 'big girls' are supposed to be.
Is there any other advice that people could offer?

This is one reason why I live our 3 tier system!

Lower
Middle... Like I mini secondary yr5-8
Upper

*love!!

I agree, 3 tier system is the way to go!

Except that achievement tends to plummet in middle schools, considerably disadvantaging the students when compared to those in standard two tier systems. In addition it is very difficult to get good subject specialists to work in middle schools, but few generalists will have the level of knowledge required.
Give the year sixes until October half term and 99.9% of them will be having a wonderful time at their secondary.

DD only just finished y5 & I can't wait to boot her butt up to Secondary. She is so so so ready already. Needs to be knocked down a peg or two, as well.

I disagree, having working in an outstanding middle school where progress of the children was significant in their time their. I don't think that getting good subject specialists is a problem - we certainly never found it hard to recuit good subject specialists.

Agree with don'teatthevoles - as well as those who aren't ready, there are plenty who have really outgrown primary and desperately need a bigger pond to swim in.

I am head of year 6 in a middle school (age range 10-14). I can honestly say that although they are nervous and worried about to the move, and might say they dont feel ready, generally they thrive in a secondary setting. I have been to a few meetings with parents who are on the brink of pulling their children out of education because they are so worried about them coping with the transition. However, the pupils are so supported by the teachers and the induction process that they tend to do brilliantly. I have just said goodbye to a young lady who, when she first started, would hold my hand in the playground because she was so worried about everything. For the first couple of weeks I didn't have a break time, I spent my break holding her hand and walking around the playground! However, within three weeks she was running around like she owned the place! The key to getting a child excited about secondary school is a good induction process, good communication with the upper school and a visit. xx

Just to add, our year 6 and year 9 results are the second best results in the country. Our school is rated as outstanding and our teachers are specialists within their given subjects. Historically their have been concerns about middle schools not performing as well as primaries in the year 6 SATS. The reason for this is because we do not suspend our timetable in the run up to the SATS and teach only Maths and English. The pupils continue to learn French, Science, ICT, PE and so on. However, the margin is getting smaller with every year that passes and by year 9 our pupils generally out-perform pupils in 'through' secondary schools.

how do you know your y9 results are the second best in the country??
national ks3 SATS were abolished 4 years ago - be honest you have no idea where you rank,maybe you used to be in that position, but no-one knows now.
It's irrelevant anyway, kids are judged on their ks4 and 5 results in terms of getting jobs and uni places.

Apologies, I didn't re-read and check what I'd written. To clarify, our KS2 results are second best in the country. Our end of KS3 data is tracked alongside FFT and a;sp compared to other schools within our family of schools. Our KS3 data is second best in our family. Year 9 results are, obviously, teacher assessments rather than formal exams. The thing is, a pupil can not go on to achieve highly at KS4 or 5 if they do not have good quality previous learning. I have worked in both a through school and a middle school, we are all doing the same job at the end of the day. It isn't fair to say that achievement plummets in middle schools, that is a sweeping generalisation. I have no doubt that it will in some schools, but that is down to the school and not the tier system. I can honestly say that every member of staff at the school I work in is a specialist in their subject areas. Not many teachers teach their second subject. I can honestly say that our attainment results are outstanding and that our pupils go on to do very well at GCSE and higher.

hi - my son is about to start a big high school over 250 miles away from where we live now - very daunting. He has just had a week at the high school in a very well organised summer camp - an utterly brilliant idea. THe week involved all the year 7s to be attending the school with no other year group there. They work in their form, they do all sorts of fun activities, sport, food tech, illustration, drama etc and get to socialise with the teachers and learn about the geography of the school so that in September they are comfortable about where they are going etc. I really cannot understand why more high schools don't do this - although realise it is quite tough on the teachers who have to be in school an extra week - my son had a really positive and happy time, has come away with lots of contacts, feels very upbeat about the transition, it was an extremly uplifting and positive experience.

I was wondering in what capacity OP works with year 6 girls (no boys?) and whether that might have a bearing on how they approach change.

guineapiglet you wrote: I really cannot understand why more high schools don't do this - although realise it is quite tough on the teachers who have to be in school an extra week
You've answered your own question, haven't you. Would you do an extra week's work for no pay? Or if they are to be paid, where will the money come from? Will it mean fewer resources for the rest of the school?
I realise it has been lovely for your DS, but the majority of children cope really well. I think too much is done to make the overage child 'comfortable' in secondary school - it doesn't always help discipline in Y7.

*average.

My youngest is starting High school and was very upset finishing primary school.
So I made a conscious decision to take her out for one to one time each Wednesday of the holidays.
On each occasion we buy some uniform or equipment and got for a drink together.
This is a chance to chat about positive and negative thoughts she's having.
She's talking lots about coping mechanisms for building new friendships.
She also had a transition programme delivered by her primary school which she loved this will include being invited back during her first term for a short party and chance to chat over how she's settling in at her secondary school.

remember to tell them
EVERYONE is going through the same experience

YOu can feel sad about leaving your friends and teachers and the comfort of knowing everyone and everything at Primary, without being upset or worried about starting Secondary though - the one doesn't necessarily follow the other.
Being a bit nervous is natural with any change, but it doesn't mean you are not ready, just aware enough to know it will take you a few days to settle in.

I highly recommend your child reading 'Going Up!: The No-worries Guide to Secondary School'.