Helping the transition to secondary school is of primary importance

My son is in Primary Six and is getting stressed about moving to secondary school. He already struggles to organise himself, and he's worried about having to go to lots of different classes and having more homework. He also worries that he won't be with his friends.

The transition from primary to secondary school is a big change for students. The demands on your son's organisational skills will certainly be higher in secondary school because he will be working with a more complicated timetable, dealing with a range of different teachers and moving from room to room for different classes. It is important that he prepares himself for this.

Most secondary schools have significantly improved their transition programmes in recent decades. Compare this with the current adult generation - many of whom had never set foot in their new secondary school before being thrown into the lion's den on the first day. These days, pupils often have more than one visit to their new school to experience the structure of the day and get used to the new expectations. Sometimes they attend talks by former students on difficulties they had when entering secondary school and how those can be avoided or at least be prepared for. There is also a good deal more liaison between primary and secondary teachers, sharing detailed information about students so they can receive extra support if necessary, whether academically, socially or emotionally.

Although children lose the security of having one main teacher, most secondary schools have developed good pastoral systems, and pupils often have a home room or tutor group teacher with whom they have contact most days.

The next couple of years are crucial for your son socially. Identification with peers is very important for boys around the age of 12 or 13. (For girls, this crucial age tends to be even younger.) Moving to secondary school is a great opportunity for your son to meet new friends from different schools, as well as keeping in contact with his primary school friends if he chooses. The close friendships he develops in the first years of secondary school will possibly be for life.

The next three years, as your son makes the transition from child to young man, is a time when he will need your support. Try to make family life stable and happy. Make sure he knows that you are there and try to remain connected to him. Boys going through pre-puberty or puberty have a great need for love and support even if they are not verbal or open about it.