Starting high school is a significant event for both students and their parents. Whilst some students feel excited by their impending transition from primary school to secondary school, other students may feel concerned and overwhelmed by the prospect.
Secondary school is a very different learning environment to primary school, and by preparing students for high school and ensuring that they feel supported, reduces the risk of them disengaging from school moving forward.
Students commencing secondary school need to adjust to many changes, including those highlighted below:
RELATIONSHIPS
Students starting high school will meet a lot of new people, make new friends and develop relationships with many teachers. They will also need to adapt to different peer group combinations.
SCHOOL WORK
Students need to learn and adjust to a variety of teachers, teaching and assessment styles, teacher expectations, as well as being taught in different classrooms. Secondary students are expected to be more independent, self-reliant and self-motivated than they were in primary school. Students need to manage a heavier homework schedule and follow an unfamiliar, complex timetable.
SCHOOL CAMPUS
At secondary school, students have a number of different teachers and their classes are in different classrooms that are usually spread about a much larger campus than they are used to in primary school. Students are expected to arrive at each class on time, with the correct books and materials. Some students need to adjust to new transport arrangements to travel to and from secondary school.
ADOLESCENT CHANGES
Students starting secondary school experience normal developmental changes at this time, including physical changes. Some students going through puberty experience emotional swings and an increased desire for independence.
Students commencing high school have a lot to manage! Those who have not reached expected standards in each subject area by the end of Year 6, have even more to cope with! These students are at risk of falling further behind at secondary school.
We focus on ensuring students have a positive start to secondary school by helping them to prepare academically, introducing them to a range of study tips, assisting them to develop study plans and familiarising them with expectations during our ‘Transition to Secondary School’ program.
Your year 6 child would benefit greatly from joining our ‘Transition to High School’ program next term. Spots are limited though, so you will need to be quick! Read more here https://optimiselearning.com/online-workshops/high-school-transition/ or email us today at info@optimiselearning.com!
Tracey Hand
Optimise Learning Co-Founder
