A good school transition

The tradition me and my family always do at the start of each academic year is to take a photograph of me outside our front door. However, this year was different. I was in my high school uniform ready to start with my friends. At this time, I was so nervous, and I was worrying about things like how big the school was going to be and would I make any new friends.  

My primary school was so supportive with my transition to high school. They provided groups for me and helped me with things like how to handle your emotions and what to do in a situation between classes. They gave some of us booklets about what our specific high school would be like and how many people were in a year. My primary school only had two classes per year group, but my high school has ten.  I visited my new school, before we all did the day long induction day , with my mum to meet my new Safe Worker to explain a few things they would need to know about me and my triggers. We also got to ask some questions that I felt were important. They took me to the most important places in the school: Welfare, Reception and toilets. I got to meet some of the Assistant Heads and Deputy Heads, they were really kind and told me if I ever needed to talk to someone, I could go to them. Overall, my primary school was very supportive, and although it was emotional leaving, I found out that high school wouldn’t be too bad once I had settled in.  

I had so many things on my mind moving to high school. What would people be like?  Would I find my way around?  Would I be able to cope with all of the work?  Some nights I would go to sleep and have some sort of worry about school, mainly me getting lost in school and not finding a way out but the next morning I would talk about my worries to my mum or my dad and they would help me understand that there were people all around the school that I could go to, to ask where a specific room is or how to get there. Something else I was worried about was the other students. I was scared about whether I was going to make any friends or make the wrong friends. Something I have learnt during year 7 is that I have made so many true friends and have made friendship groups with them, but I had also become friends with the wrong people, and I eventually learnt how to drop them and continue with the good people I had started with. They have been amazing with me, helping me if I’m upset but we also enjoy the good times we have with each other.  

Sometimes I would be scared if a teacher shouted a lot for no reason  or  if a certain teacher wasn’t in and I needed someone to talk to, where would I go? Slowly I have been learning the teachers’ names and because I join a lot of the after and before school activities, I have gained a close relationship with most of them and every time I see a teacher I know, we either give each other a smile or even say “hello”. Gaining friends and getting to know the teachers you don’t quite recognise yet can be difficult at first but after a while you will know every person in the school and will have a great many years with them. Never be scared to open up otherwise it could affect your mental health and the way you learn. Talking, asking questions and joining multiple clubs is a perfect way to let people know who you are.  

Most people can agree with me that the school trips are the best part of the whole term. The part I love the most is going to a whole new place to explore, being with your friends and just having fun. For me security is the most important thing when I am out of the school site. When I am in school, I know that the gates are locked, and a person is there keeping all of us safe. On the trips we have lots of staff members with us,  there are three teachers assigned to each form (all year groups go on a school trip to a different site so about 140 teachers go).  The main teacher that is assigned to my form knows about security, so they will always keep an eye on me and ask if I am ok. This goes the same to when we go to our school field. Our field is pretty big as we have a racing track for when we do running. PE is my favourite subject and because I am considering doing it for GCSE, I do a lot more sports and go down to the field a lot. All the PE teachers know me really well and they do know about my security, The two female PE teachers always make sure I am out front walking so that they can see me and keep an eye on me. All this from my teachers makes me feel extremely safe in my school and when I am out of school. My teachers and I have built up a great relationship so I can relax and enjoy the activities that they have prepared for me more. 

When I look back and think about my first year at high school I realise that yes there are lots of new things to get used to and lots of people to get to know but I also achieved so much in that year: I was captain of the netball team, I played in the football team, I gained enough confidence to be in the drama production in the summer, sang at Wembley with Voice in a Million, won an award for my attitude to learning and ….. I am looking forward to going skiing next year! 

If you are starting high school, I am wishing you the best of luck but always remember the points I have made.