This week marks the start of a new school term for most young people across the UK. For those entering secondary school, this is a step into the unknown, when everything from school uniforms to friendship building can seem strange.
Dealing with the complexities of homework, travel, detention and personal safety for the first time can be an overwhelming experience. Indeed, last year's Ofsted report on 11-year-old pupils confirmed that there are a number of difficulties associated with the transfer, such as loss of motivation and progress. Moving from primary to secondary school is a stressful time.
John Coe, general secretary of the National Association for Primary Education, says young people are often unprepared for the upheaval involved in the transition from primary to secondary school. "Primary schools are generally unstreamed, so children are used to relating to one teacher in a mixed-ability class," he says. "After a brief period of orientation, they will be streamed and for some children this can be a very damaging experience."
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