Skip to navigation links

Moving to secondary school

Moving on up

When your child moves up to secondary school, there will be big changes. They'll have more homework and they might even run into problems with bullying. Help your child settle in at secondary school with these top tips for a smooth transition.

On 19 July 2005, Senior Regional Adviser for the Secondary National Strategy Frances Bestley participated in an online Q&A on the subject of children moving to secondary school. Follow this link for more information. 

Getting into routines
You can help your child get into the swing of things at their new school by setting up a few simple routines that will ease their worries about adjusting to secondary school:

  • Encourage your child to pack everything they need for school before they go to bed - books, lunch money, sports kit and any other equipment.
  • Make sure they have a good, balanced breakfast before they leave. It'll give them the energy they need and they'll be able to concentrate better in lessons.
  • Get to know your child's timetable. Make a copy so you can remind them about things like packing their sports kit if you need to.
  • Find out about their homework timetable and check they're sticking to it.
  • Make sure you see all the letters your child is sent home with from school. Some parents find it works to set up a system, such as getting children to pin school letters to the kitchen noticeboard or fridge door as soon as they get home so they don't get lost.

Staying safe

You can make sure your child stays safe by establishing a few simple rules about travelling to and from school and what to do if they're home alone:

  • Make sure your child knows their home phone number, you or your partner's work number and the number of another trusted adult (family member, neighbour or family friend) and how to use 999 for emergencies.
  • Whether they're walking to the bus stop or all the way to school, make sure your child sticks to road safety rules like the Green Cross Code. You can help emphasise it doesn't just apply to little kids by sticking to it yourself.
  • It's always a good idea if they travel to school with friends or siblings. 
  • If they're cycling to school, make sure they study the latest edition of the Highway Code, which has got lots of helpful tips for cyclists. Pick up a copy in your newsagent or local bike shop. A helmet, front and rear lights (and spare batteries for them) are all essentials. 
  • If they're spending time on their own after school and before you get home, establish rules about locking doors, answering the phone and inviting friends over.

Dealing with homework
Having a lot more homework to do every evening is one of the big changes your child is getting used to now they're at secondary school. What they'll have to do depends on each subject, but it could be anything from reading carefully or solving problems to researching in reference books, CD-Roms or on the internet, or even making something to take in to a lesson.

  • Don't let your child do their homework in front of the TV because they won't be able to concentrate properly.
  • Clear a space somewhere, free of clutter, with enough room for their school books, specifically for them to do their homework on. 
  • Make homework part of their routine - help them learn that doing some every evening is better than letting it all pile up. 
  • Talk to your child about the tasks they've got to do as it'll show them you're interested and help them meet their deadlines. But don't nag because they'll get irritated and you'll feel wound up. 
  • The amount of homework your child is expected to do may be included in the home-school agreement (there's a rough guide below). Many also include details of how you can help as a parent (e.g. by making sure they get to school on time).

Tackling problems

Some children adjust really quickly to their new environment, others take a little longer to get used to the new challenges and demands of secondary school. So even if they've got over the hurdle of their first day, that doesn't necessarily mean they won't be running into any more problems.

  • Keep talking to your child about how they're getting on. You can often find out more by asking specific questions ("Who have you made friends with so far?") instead of general ones ("How was school today?").
  • Remind your child that everyone is adjusting in their own way. Children who seem super-confident can be just as nervous as everyone else, only better at covering it up. 
  • If you discover your child is being bullied, make sure the school knows what's going on and find out what they intend to do to stop it. They should have a clear anti-bullying policy - ask to see a copy. 
  • Be positive. Encourage your child to see secondary school as a real chance to try new things rather than a daily grind of fresh problems. 
  • If your child seems unhappy, encourage them to talk about their feelings. It might have nothing to do with school - after all, they're nearly teenagers.

Homework: how much should they be doing?

When children get to secondary school, they'll have to do some homework every evening. How much depends on what stage they're at. This is a rough guide to what to expect:

Years 7 and 8 (11 to 13 year olds): 45-90 minutes per day
Year 9 (13 to 14 year olds):  1-2 hours per day
Years 10 and 11 (14 to 16 year olds):  1.5-2.5 hours per day

Related links:

School and your family - a survey
Starting school and moving on to secondary school are times of great change not just for your child but for you too. UK charity Parentline Plus would like to hear your stories so that they can share ideas with other parents who are facing these family transitions. Please follow this link to complete the survey [External Site] Opens in new window.

Back to top