What primary school students think about secondary school

Dr. Anna Colton: For many parents, the first day of secondary school is a long lost memory. Understanding what it's like to be eleven years old again, the youngest kid in school. Not knowing what you're doing or where you're going. It's really very challenging. But we'll all remember it was a huge adventure. And it can be an exciting world of opportunity with the right support. A time to learn, to meet new people, explore new places and new activities, and develop new friendships.

Lucas: Well, I kind of think it's gonna be like my dream school becuase I'm gonna have… I'm gonna make new friends, learn new subjects and gonna be happy.

Dr. Anna Colton: Some kids are ready to go. They feel they've totally outgrown their primary schools and the move can't come soon enough. But others are terrified and wish they had another year left.

Disha: Well, I think it will be really, really big and there'll be loads of people like walking around to get to their form classes.

Prithi: There's different teachers. You change different classes. You're moving into a higher level of education.

Dr. Anna Colton: School transition should be a wonderful celebratory time of growing up, of discovering who you are, finding new friends and gaining independence. And if children feel they've got the right coping strategies and skill sets, they'll fly.

Faris: I feel like if I lose friends, I'm gonna be sad. And then if I get new friends, I'll be happy back again.

Dr. Anna Colton: Fitting in and friendships are the two biggest concerns children have. And after those, anything else is tolerable. If you've got friends and you're three minutes late for a lesson, well really, who cares? But making friends can take time. Sometimes the whole first year. So give them time. And give them a place to hang out when they want to.

Marianne: Probably, I feel it's gonna be a lot stricter and I'm not very good with being told off.

Rohit: I think secondary school will be harder than primary school because it's got more homework and subjects are probably harder.

Jonas: The teachers are a lot more strict and you can't just say… …this is right, like… 'The dog ate my homework,' is just straight detention.

Dr. Anna Colton: All those anxieties are completely normal. But they will pass. Let's meet last years new starters.

Jayden-Lee: They think secondary school is gonna be way harder than primary school. But actually it's not.

Mary: High school is really fun and it's really good. But you have to get the hang of things at the start.

Tom: Bullying is what I was worried about but now that there's the staff around school, I felt more safe.

Charlotte: We all came into a new school so we're all in the same boat. Wanting to make new friends, wanting to make bonds with each other. So everyone clicked and we all laugh about the same things so it's really nice.