Secondary School – The transition has started

The transition to secondary school can be a scary and daunting prospect. With our eldest having gone through it over 3 years ago, it will be the turn of our youngest child in September 2017.

Secondary school transition
First day in year 6

Thankfully the transition to secondary school has already started for her. The school which she is hoping to attend is her brother’s school, and they start the transition from October. This will give her a full 11 months of being involved with the school, before she officially starts next September (we are 99% certain she will get in under the sibling rule, and that we also live 3 minutes walk away from the school).

11 months of finding her way around the maze of corridors.

11 months of getting used to the teachers she will meet along the way.

11 months of getting to know the other boys and girls, who will also be starting the secondary school journey with her.

The ‘Around the World’ Saturday club does all of these things. Each week Katie will learn about a country, which could see her making a traditional dish in the kitchen, or learning circus skills when she studies China. And on Saturday she went on her first trip to a traditional Japanese restaurant in Chester.

In the coming weeks she will have the chance to go to the Manchester Markets on another trip, learn all about the USA and cook a tasty lunch. Plus enjoy a Christmas celebration where parents are invited to the school. And once the ‘Around the World’ club finishes next July, the transition still continues. She will have 3 full days of experiencing the school during the week day, plus a week of summer school in the 6 week holidays.

And come September when she puts her blazer on for the first time, I hope that my little girl will have no secondary school worries. She will walk into the school knowing her way around, recognising some of the teachers, and will have made new friends before she has even started. And if she needs a reassuring pat on the shoulder, she will no doubt have her big brother in year 11 looking out for her.

 

8 thoughts on “Secondary School – The transition has started”

  1. Exciting times and I love the idea of the all around the world club. I kind of want to do that bit myself :). I hope it’s a fun transition for her so that she feels right at home for when the time comes x

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    • Every week I am very jealous of the fun things she gets to do. Tomorrow she is learning all about Brazil, which involves making a glittery headdress. She is going to LOVE that x

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    • I have a friend who’s daughter is 3 tier and works well for her. I am so grateful to the fantastic transition she is getting x

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  2. I love that they begin transitioning them a whole 11 months in advance – how forward thinking of the school. This must help no end with settling in come September. She’s looking ready already!

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    • They put so much effort into the process over the 11 months, and hopefully she will be fine come next September. Oh yes she is so ready now, attitude of a high schooler already lol x

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  3. This is an amazing idea, Lancashire has got it so wrong, the school application process is so stressful, there are so many really poor schools in the area and when you live so far out and have no catchment school they try to infill you into these schools where you honestly wouldn’t send your worse enemy. And they aren’t even near us. Jack got one such school and then begins the appeal process. I cant wait until the whole thing is over and hopefully Joe will be luckier that Jack. I so want Joe to go to Jacks School. fingers crossed, but there must be a way of making it so much less stressful, because every child should have the right to get a good education. x

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    • Oh Sarah it sounds an absolute nightmare for you, and I really hope you get the school you want for Joe. I agree that the whole process of choosing schools is so stressful, whether it’s for primary or secondary. Our nearest school, where Morgan goes to, was a terrible school years ago. Thankfully it became an academy and has totally changed in appearance and in the fantastic results they now achieve. I am so grateful for the time, effort and money they put towards making the transition as stress free for the children. Morgan really benefitted from it and I know Katie will too x

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