Royal Greenwich Students Build Confidence As School Change Approaches

by our Correspondent | Greenwich

Schoolchildren in the Royal Borough are getting a helping hand in making the transition from primary to secondary school - thanks to the Council’s Stepping Up Transition Programme. Consisting of a series of workshops held at local schools over the summer holiday, the programme aims to address some of the concerns pupils have about starting secondary school and prepare them for this big change in their lives.

Pupils and teachers on the Stepping Up programme.
(Credit: RBG.)

Over 50 children whose teachers felt they would benefit the most were invited to take part in the Stepping Up programme.

One theme running through the workshops is delivering literacy and numeracy in a fun and accessible way to pupils of all abilities. Other workshops cover safer travel to school, anti-bullying advice and community safety tips from school police officers.

The sessions, which are all delivered by qualified professionals, also cover confidence building, making new friends dealing with conflict, coping with change, peer pressure and the dangers of drugs.

Alisha Beadell, 11, attended this year’s programme at Thomas Tallis School. She said: “It is a great way to meet other children that have the same concerns about secondary school like me.”

Dani Havasi, 11, who will be starting at Corelli College next term said: “This programme isn't just the like programmes that other schools offer. I have learnt a lot from coming here and it is better than I expected.”

Cllr John Fahy, the Royal Borough’s Deputy Leader and Cabinet Member for Children’s Services said: “Last term’s year 6 pupils are set to leave the familiarity of their primary school and friends, to become the newest and youngest in a new school with different teachers and expectations of more responsibility.

“Our successful Stepping Up programme gives children the opportunity to meet others who are going to their new school. They are able to prepare for the transition and talk together about concerns and worries about leaving primary school.

“The Royal Borough has an excellent reputation for helping children make the transition to senior school, and the Stepping Up programme, which is now running successfully for a third consecutive year, is helping maintain this success.”

For more information on education in the royal borough, visit:

www.royalgreenwich.gov.uk/schools.