Secondary School & Me

Building Confidence for Secondary School and Beyond

Starting secondary school brings exciting opportunities, but it also introduces new challenges. Bigger buildings, unfamiliar faces, changing friendship groups and increased independence can leave many young people questioning themselves. This interactive social learning session designed to help children feel more confident and prepared for the move to secondary school. Through practical activities, discussion, and real-life scenarios, children will explore friendships, independence, confidence, and the unspoken social expectations they may encounter, helping them start this new chapter with greater understanding and self-belief.

💙 Why This Topic Matters

Starting secondary school is about much more than finding classrooms and remembering a timetable. It brings new friendships, greater independence, different expectations, and lots of unfamiliar situations. Many children feel excited one moment and worried the next. This session helps children understand what to expect, build confidence, and develop practical social understanding before the transition.

What Young People Will Learn

Understand what secondary school is really like.
Build confidence for new routines and expectations.
Learn ways to start conversations and make new friendships.
Recognise healthy friendships and positive social choices.
Develop strategies for managing worries and big feelings.
Build independence and confidence in speaking up and asking for help.

🎲 Activities

Children will take part in engaging, interactive activities including:

Secondary school scenarios and discussions.
Friendship and social situation challenges.
Confidence-building games.
Problem-solving activities.
Face It or Flip It decision-making tasks.
Practical strategies they can use from day one.

There is no pressure to speak if a young person. The aim is to create a welcoming environment where everyone feels comfortable learning together.

👧Suitable For

This session is ideal for children who:

Are preparing to start secondary school.
Feel excited, worried, or unsure about the transition.
Would benefit from building confidence before September.
Find change or new situations challenging.
Want to understand friendships and social expectations in a new school.
Would like practical strategies to help them feel more prepared and independent.

No diagnosis is required, children should be able to participate in a small online group and communicate at a level appropriate for the recommended age range.

⏰ Session length

45 minutes of interactive learning

Please allow up to one hour for your booking. An additional welcome period gives children time to settle in, get to know one another and feel comfortable before the structured learning begins.

✅ Prerequisites

Access to Nearpod is recommended (login details will be provided before the session).

If possible, use two devices:
- One device for the live video session.
- A second device (tablet, laptop, or another screen) for participating in Nearpod activities.
A quiet space with a stable internet connection will help children get the most from the session.

You could also add a reassuring note:

Don’t worry if you only have one device. Children can still take part using a single device, although two screens provide the best experience. These are standalone sessions, so children can attend just one topic or join multiple sessions throughout the summer.

Ready to join us?

Give your child the opportunity to start secondary school feeling more confident, prepared and socially aware.