How long to settle at Secondary?

[seaturtle21]

DD starting Week 3 at new school in Yr 7, state primary to private secondary, and she's struggling. Half of the year are new and half moved up from the Yr 6 in the same school.

She's extremely anxious about going to school. She's not quite sure what she's worried about, some of it is finding classes & the school day being longer. Mainly she doesn't like change and I remember her being the same in Reception. I'm just concerned because she's crying and saying things like she hates it and she doesn't want to go.

I've sat with her with a map & wrote down where to go for for each lesson. She's sort of made a couple of friends (she had a very best friend for 6 yrs in primary who's gone to a different school).

Where do I go from here?!

That doesn't sound unusual. It can take time to settle. Does she have a form tutor or anything? I'd get in touch and ask them to keep an eye etc.

Contact the form tutor the sooner the better. Her her involved in clubs at lunchtime and after school.

Thank you. Yes clubs start this week, she's signed up for two.

I'm not sure how to link/copy threads, but I started one a few days ago. Some good advice but mainly made me feel better that we are in the same boat and everyone's advice was give it time and it will get easier.

That's what I said to my DD too. I said that it won't be so easy and a bed of roses because I think we spent the whole summer saying how exciting it would be to make lots of friends and when it wasn't (that simple) she got anxious. Lots of friends with older children have said that even by the end of year 7 groups change.

Tell her it's all normal. Try being aquaitances with lots of kids not just to find her close ones. Chat to people in the lunch queue and ask to sit next to them at lunch or ask where they are heading afte they've eaten.

Took until about half term with ours

@MrsThaskala thank you!

@seaturtle21 my DD has made the same move as your DD and is struggling a little and keeps saying she wants to go back to primary school. I’m too hoping that with clubs starting soon, she’ll make a few more friends. I think it just takes time and it’s still very early days in yr 7.