A successful transition from primary to secondary school

Changes associated with the transition to high school

Some young people may have fears about the transition to high school. Some of the most common fears are:

• Losing friends and not being able to make new ones
• Not being able to open their locker
• Getting lost in the school and being late
• Being bullied
• Having too much homework and finding it too difficult
• Not succeeding

Young people have to adapt to a new reality. They have to form new relationships with other students and with the school staff. They must also adapt to different teaching styles and methods. Finally, they must learn to manage their time and find a balance between school, friends, family, and extracurricular activities.

6 impacts of the transition to high school

The majority of young people make the transition to high school well, despite their fears. Nevertheless, many of them will experience far-reaching impacts on various aspects of their lives, including school perseverance and personal achievement. In fact, some young people may experience:

1. A breakdown of certain relationships (e.g., with friends and staff at their elementary school)
2. A drop in grades
3. Decreased educational motivation 
4. Decreased self-esteem
5. The development of more negative attitudes towards school
6. Increased social anxiety and loneliness

The context surrounding the transition to high school, rather than the transition itself, brings its own set of challenges. At this stage of their lives, young people experience many changes, both physical and psychological. Their abilities and needs also change accordingly. 

3 needs of high school youth

Around the age of 12-13 years old, young people begin to express new needs, which are:

1. The need for autonomy, which manifests itself in a desire to be more assertive and to do things on their own.
2. The need for self-esteem, which is particularly fragile in young people, as they are in the process of building their identity and are therefore more sensitive to social comparison.
3. The need to belong, which is defined by closeness to adults outside the family and where friendships become the center of attention for the youth.

Thus, the environment, both family and school, must be attentive and must adapt to the youth's emerging and evolving needs.

5 risk factors associated with the transition to high school

Even if a young person is well-supported and surrounded by caring loved ones, certain factors can increase the risk for a more difficult transition to high school. These risks include:

1. Learning delays and difficulties in school, which often mean that young people are already demotivated when they begin high school.
2. Gender, which makes girls more susceptible to disruptions in their social networks and therefore more vulnerable during this transition period.
3. Behavioural problems, which sometimes make it difficult for young people to integrate socially in elementary school, and which persist in high school.
4. Inadequate parental support, such as not being involved or speaking negatively about school
5. Confinement due to the pandemic, which caused a drastic rupture our young people's social worlds. This meant that many of them did not finish Grade 6 in the usual way. Significant learning gaps are expected among students.

Some tips to help the transition to high school

The goal is to give young people every opportunity to make the transition to high school a smooth one. Parents can adapt their approach to their children’s emerging needs:

With regard to the need for autonomy, we suggest to:

• Encourage them to set short and medium-term personal goals;
• Be more flexible when it comes to completing school assignments;
• Encourage them to plan their study schedule so that they can progress at an adequate pace
• Invite them to participate in decisions concerning their educational path

With respect to the need for self-esteem, we suggest to:

• Review the pace of school work to allow youth to experience success
• Encourage youth to set realistic goals
• Encourage young people to set realistic goals
• Value self-improvement rather than comparison with others;
• Recognize the efforts, progress and successes of youth;
• Provide constructive feedback to keep youth motivated.

Finally, for the need to belong, we suggest to:

• Make social connections a priority
• Allow youth to meet in small groups
• Encourage collaboration between youth rather than competition
• Encourage contact between youth and meaningful adults in their lives
• Make meetings with counsellors available to youth when needed
• Personalize communications with the youth

Important reminders

Parents remain important figures in the eyes of young people, despite their need to develop their autonomy. Talking positively about school, listening to their concerns, and validating their emotions are examples of how to help your child view high school as an exciting rather than a scary change.

References (in French)

Gouvernement du Québec, Guide pour soutenir une transition scolaire de qualité vers le secondaire
Espace parent, Transition primaire-secondaire
Pratico pratiques, La transition du primaire au secondaire : nos conseils
Réseau réussite Montréal, Webinaire : La transition primaire-secondaire en période de COVID-19