Going to a new school

These are some reasons young people change schools:

• I’m moving from primary to secondary school. Most of us change schools at about the age of 11, after year 6. There are a few schools in Devon that are called ‘All Through’ schools. This means you can stay at the same school for both primary and secondary school. 
• I’m moving to a new area of Devon or moving to Devon from somewhere else. Your school may be too far away to travel to each day, so it may be best to find a school nearer your new home. This can feel a bit worrying as you’ll need to make new friends and get to know new teachers.
• I’m starting school after being educated at home. Some young people go to school for the first time after learning at home. This can be during primary or secondary school. 

• I’m unhappy at my school and think a fresh start at a new school will help. There may be different reasons things aren’t working out at your current school. For example, not getting enough help with learning, bullying, or feeling left out. If the reasons can’t be sorted out then sometimes a new school might help. 

Choosing a new school can be both exciting and a bit scary.

We spend a lot of time in school each day this adds up to a lot of years while you’re young! So, it’s really important to try and find a school that feels right for you both educationally and socially. School is a community, as well as a place to learn, so it plays a big part in our social life.

Here are some things that can help when you’re thinking about a new school. 

• Your parents/carers can really help as they know you well. They’ll be able to find out what schools are in your area and find out what other parents and carers know about the schools. They can help you research by looking at websites, visiting on school open days or by arranging to visit at other times. 
• Talk to your friends. If you’re moving from primary to secondary school it’s likely others in your class will be looking at the same secondary schools. If you live in a small village you may have to travel by bus to your secondary school. This might mean one particular school is more popular with people in your area. 
• Look at school websites. You can tell quite a lot about a school by its website. If you’re particularly interested in sport, music or drama you can tell if the school has clubs or puts on plays and concerts. Some secondary schools specialise in science and technology or the creative arts. 
• If you have an EHC Plan the help and support you need to get the best out of school may mean one particular school in your area will be best for you. 
• School open days are a great and fun way to find out what different schools are like. They often happen in September when you’re in year 6. 
• Arranging a visit to a school is something your parent or carer might do if you’re changing schools because things haven’t worked out. That way you can ask questions about the things that are important to you.

• If you need to move school, sometimes there’s a choice of a few different schools. This might be because you live in a place where you can easily travel to different schools. If this is you, you might need some help thinking about how you choose a school that’s right for you.
• For some of us there isn’t much choice. There are a few reasons for this. There may only be one school that’s close enough to travel to by school bus, public transport or by car. If you need a specialist school because of your needs or a disability, there may be fewer of these schools and some may not be close enough to travel to each day.
• We’re all different and that’s a good thing! We have different interests, are good at different things, and we learn in different ways. So, if you have a few schools to choose from, check out the things to think about in the tab below.

Friends & siblings 

• If you’re moving school with the rest of your year group at the end of year 6 it might be important to go to a school where most of your friends are going. For some of us this is less important.
• If you have a brother or sister already at a school you and your family might think this is best for travel arrangements. It could also be good to have someone you know at the school.

Interests

• Some schools are known to be good for a particular subject or because they have specialist facilities, for example, specialist sports facilities.
• You can usually find out about this on the school website or by talking to other young people who go there.

School atmosphere

• Sometimes we like a school because of how it feels – the school atmosphere. This is a very personal thing. You can only get an idea of how a school really feels to you by visiting it, by talking to staff and meeting other students.
• Some of us like places that feel calm, others might like a busier place. What most of us want is a school that feels safe, where you can learn and make some friends.

Facilities

• Secondary schools generally have more facilities for more subjects. These could include things like a drama studio, sporting facilities, a big music department or lots of after school clubs. Some secondary schools have specialist workshops or laboratories for engineering and science. You can find out what facilities a school has from their website and by visiting.
• All schools need to have a plan to make learning accessible for students with disabilities or special needs. For example, using technology and other resources to help with visual or hearing disabilities. Some schools may be in buildings that may not be on one level, or the building might be old with narrow spaces and lots of steps. The best way to find out if the school is OK for you is to visit.
• Special schools and specialist units have facilities for students with different learning needs and or disabilities. To go to a special school, you’ll need to have an Education, health, and care plan. (EHCP)

Travel

• It might seem obvious, but it really is worth thinking about how you’re going to get to school. Devon is a big county; many people live in villages and hamlets. Public transport, such as buses and trains, aren’t available everywhere. If you’re in a town, travel may be easier as you have more options.
• Walking
  For some of us being able to walk to school is important. It can help you feel more independent and makes it easier to stay late for after school clubs or to meet up with friends.
• School buses
  Lots of young people in Devon get to school on the school bus. They pick up from arranged stops in the morning and drop you back in the afternoon. If you have an EHC Plan your transport options and plans will be discussed with you and your family.
• Public Transport
  If you live in an area that has a bus stop or a train station you may be able to get public transport to school. It’s worth remembering that using public transport might mean taking more than one bus or a train and a bus. You’ll need to think about how long it’ll take you and how much it’s likely to cost. 

If you’re moving up to secondary school or changing schools for another reason this is often called ‘transition’. The word just means change. 

Change can be both exciting and a bit scary so getting help and support can really help you settle in. 

Here are some things schools can do to help. Remember we’re all different so you might not need or want some of the help on offer. 

• Transition visits are usually planned for everyone moving from one school to another. If you think more than one visit would help you, you can ask your parent/carer if this can be arranged. 
• Short days or lesson visits can sometimes be arranged. This helps you build up to a full week over time. This can help if you’ve been out of school for a long time or if you’re very worried about starting at your new school. 
• Maps, plans and timetables can really help if you’re the sort of person that likes to know their way round and want to be prepared. You can see if these can be sent to you before you start at the new school. 
• Photographs of the classroom or other places around school can help you know what to expect. This can help if you like to visualise where you’ll be so you feel less anxious. 
• Prompt cards or checklists as reminders of new people and routines. 
• A go-to person is a member of staff who you can go to see if you’re feeling worried or are finding things difficult. This is usually agreed when you visit or when you first start at your new school. 
• Communication passport or About Me information is something you can prepare for the staff at your new school. It will say what you’d like people to know about you so you can try and get the best out of school. 
• If you use specialist equipment to help you learn, such as a laptop, coloured overlays, enlarged print or other equipment, it’s good to get your parent or carer to talk to the school about having these things ready for when you start. 
• Buddies are other pupils at the school that can help you settle in by showing you round. They can also be around at break times so you have someone to spend time with until you make friends or feel more confident. 
• A safe place is a room or area in school you can go to at break and lunch times. This is a space you feel comfortable in. There will be a staff member and other pupils you can talk to if you want to. It’s usually away from the busy parts of the school. Sometimes it can be agreed you can go to this safe space when you feel upset or worried. 

These are just some examples of things schools can do to help you. There will be other things that you know will help you that you or your parent/carer can suggest. The most important thing is talking to the school and arranging what’s best for you. If you need someone to talk to about moving school and how to get help please contact us. 

Here are the main type of schools for young people aged between 11 and 18. 

Mainstream secondary schools

• Most children and young people go to a what’s called a mainstream school.
• There’s usually around 30 students in a class. You have different teachers for each subject, and you usually move from one classroom to another for your different lessons.
• There are different sized secondary schools in Devon, the smallest has about 200 students, and the bigger schools can have 2500 or more!
• Secondary schools in Devon all offer similar subjects that can be taken up to GCSE. Some schools have a sixth form where you can stay on until you are 18 and do A levels and other qualifications.

 Special Schools

• Special schools have specialist staff and facilities. Some children and young people with special educational needs and disabilities may find this type of school is best for them.
• Special schools are generally smaller than mainstream secondary schools. Classes tend to be smaller too. Staff have usually done extra training as well as the usual teacher training course.
• Some special schools are all through schools. That means they can have students from age 3 to 19. 
• To go to a special school, you’ll need to have an EHC Plan. 

Alternative Provision schools

• This type of school teaches young people for short periods of time, maybe a few weeks, a term or up to a year.
• You might attend this type of school for a time if you have medical or mental health needs that makes going to school difficult.
• You might also go to an alternative provision if things just haven’t worked out at a mainstream school. So while plans are made to find out what sort of school is best, some young people attend this type of school.
• Alternative Provision schools and classes are generally smaller. These schools sometimes have specialist staff including mentors and counsellors.

 Independent Schools

• These schools are also called private schools. They charge a fee to go there so parents/carers will normally need to pay for this type of school.
• Some independent schools have entrance assessments or exams that you need to take before you’re offered a place.

Grammar Schools 

• Grammar Schools, also known as selective secondary schools set entrance tests. You need to take these tests before being offered a place. There are only about 5 of these schools in and around Devon.

This is what some of the names and terms we’ve used on this page mean. 

Bullying is the repetitive, intentional hurting of one person or group by another person or group. It can happen face to face or online.  If you feel you’re being bullied try and talk to someone you trust, like a parent/carer or other trusted adult. You can also get help on the National Bullying Helpline website. 

Education Health & Care Plan This is a legal document that says what you need to help you get the best out of school. This is so you can do your best and do the things you want to do in the future. You can find out more on our “What is an EHCP” page.

Elective home education is when you, your parents or carer choose for you to learn at home rather than go to school each day. You might join in groups with other young people who are also home educated. This way you get to learn things in a group. There is more information about this on our “Elective Home Education” page.

School Atmosphere This can be hard to describe, but it means how a school feels when you walk around. Is it calm? Is it lively? Is is friendly? Is it strict? Is it laid back? These are some of the ways people think about school atmosphere. 

School open days These are specific days you and your parents/carers can go and look around a new school. They usually happen in late September and October for secondary schools. There are usually talks by the Headteacher and other staff. You might get to take part in some demonstration lessons too. Other young people and their families will also being looking around at the same time. 

Starting at a new school. Some advice from the The Mix 

Advice from the people at Changing Faces, the charity that supports people living with a visible difference.

A helpful guide to secondary school from Childline

You can find some helpful information from the Cystic Fibrosis Trust about starting secondary school.