The move from primary to secondary school is one of the most significant milestones in a child’s educational journey — and for many, it can be an emotional rollercoaster.
Suddenly, a child who felt secure and confident in their familiar primary environment is faced with a brand-new world: multiple teachers, changing classrooms, new subjects, larger peer groups, and greater expectations for independence. Even the most capable and enthusiastic students can feel daunted by the scale of change.
Research shows this period can have a real emotional impact. In a recent survey by The Children’s Society, over half of Year 6 students reported feeling anxious about the move to secondary school. What’s more, both happiness and life satisfaction scores saw a marked drop in the first year of transition.
It’s no wonder many children feel overwhelmed — but it doesn’t have to be this way.
As experienced providers of mentoring, Dukes Tutoring takes successful transition seriously and we work extensively with families to ensure that their child gets off to the best possible start to their secondary school journey.
Over the 10-hour sessions delivered by our experts, we will support your child with:
- Managing Change and Building Confidence
- Organisational Skills and Independence
- Academic Skills and Learning Strategies
- Navigating the Secondary Environment
- Emotional Well-being and Mental Health
However, this is a bespoke programme and we are happy to be entirely responsive to the needs of your child.
We will work with you and your child both before and during the transition to make sure that they start school on the front foot by giving them a trusted and experienced mentor to support them.
‘As my daughter navigates her senior school years, I can hardly picture her journey without Tania by her side. She’s a great sounding board and a supportive friend who offers wise advice and endless encouragement. My daughter is excited to continue her journey with Tania as she faces the challenges and opportunities ahead. As a parent, partnering with Tania has been reassuring, inspiring, and wise investment! It’s hard to label Tania as just a tutor—she’s made such a significant impact on our lives!’
Year 7 Mum!
Who is this programme designed for?
This programme is designed for children in Year 6 who are transitioning to secondary education. The programme is also valuable for students who are moving to a new school or you feel may struggle with adapting to a new environment.
When should we start the programme?
The programme can be started at any time, however we recommend starting 3-6 months before the start of secondary school in order to allow relationships to be established over the summer months.
How are the sessions structured?
The specific session structure can vary depending on the child, however each session would be delivered one to one and be highly discursive. That said, we would aim to cover specific areas such as personal organisation and adapting to change at times relevant to the transition process.
What will my child learn?
Your child will learn effective strategies to successfully support their transition to secondary education, as well as giving them a safe space to discuss their wellbeing with an experienced professional.
Is the programme one-to-one or in a group?
The programme is delivered entirely one-to-one.
Who delivers the programme?
The programme is delivered by expert consultants who have supported many students with their transition to secondary education and have been hand-selected to work with your family.
Can parents be involved in the process?
While the programme is designed to support students, we recognise that the transition to secondary education is something that the entire family is involved with. We therefore encourage families to be involved in the sessions, and all sessions are followed up with feedback reports for parents.
How do I know if my child needs this support?
If you are unsure whether your child would need this support we would encourage you to give us a call to discuss your needs, as we recognise not every student will require this level of support. All of our programmes are designed based on our decades of experience but we will always adjust our support to meet a child’s unique needs.
What if my child has SEND or additional needs?
We are experts in providing support to students who have additional needs and we can tailor sessions towards any additional requirements you have.
How do we get started?
Get in touch! We’d love to work with you and the first step is to either call us or to fill in the quick enquiry form at the top of the page, and we’ll get in touch with you.
Book a call with us today to discuss how we can support you and your family.