Worried about starting a new school soon?
Don't worry, lots of people feel like this. It can take time to figure things out and it's normal to be feeling a mix of emotions.
We spoke to some students about their experiences starting secondary school. They say: "Don't be scared" and share their advice and useful tools which helped them "adjust pretty fast" to their new surroundings.
Student 1:
I think the best thing about starting secondary school has to be doing different things.
Student 2:
My tip is don't be scared because when you get into secondary school, you realise that you'll actually enjoy yourself.
Student 3:
It obviously did get harder, but I adjusted pretty fast.
Student 4:
In reality, if you were really struggling with homework, then you can always go to the teacher and ask about it.
Student 5:
You get to do much more stuff, much more sports. And the most important thing, if you're kind and nice to everyone and you're gonna get lots of friends.
Student 6:
I'd say the best tip is to wait and see how you experience it and how you see high school for yourself. Everyone has a different view and everyone has different opinions, so it might be different for you.
Student 7:
It's really easy to overthink things, but at the end of the day, it's really not that difficult and you just have to get your head around it and have the understanding that everything's going to be OK in the end.
Feeling left out?
Here are Dr Amir Khan's top tips on what to do if you feel like you don't fit in at school.
Dr Amir Khan:
So you've started secondary school, and maybe it's not as easy as you'd hoped. That's okay. Let's talk about what you can do if you're finding things tough because you're not alone.
Change takes time, and it's common to feel lost, anxious, or even homesick for primary school. Be patient with yourself. No one expects you to have it all figured out in the first few weeks. Remember, small wins matter. Finding your way to class without getting lost, talking to someone new, or completing your homework. These are all steps forward.
Not everyone finds their people right away. If you're struggling to make friends, it may feel hard, but believe me, these things can help.
Be open. Say yes to invitations, join clubs, sit next to different people in lessons. Be proactive. Start conversations, ask how someone's weekend was. Small talk can lead to real friendships.
Be patient. Friendships form over time. Some people you meet now might become great friends months later. It's hard when it feels like you're the only one not fitting in. Sometimes we expect to fit in with a certain group, but friendships can come from unexpected places.
Not everyone will be super friendly. And that's not your fault. Don't take it personally. Try talking to another person, eventually, the right friends will come along. And if you're really struggling, talk to a teacher, form tutor or school support staff. You are never as alone as you think.
Be patient with yourself
Change and forming new friendships takes time.
Dr Amir says: "It's common to feel lost, anxious, or even homesick for primary school. Be patient with yourself. No one expects you to have it all figured out in the first few weeks."
He adds: "Some people you meet now, might become great friends months later."
Small wins matter
Remember to celebrate the small wins.
Finding your way to class without getting lost, talking to someone new or completing your homework. These are all steps forward, according to Dr Amir.
Be open
Not everyone finds their friends right away.
If you're struggling to make friends, Dr Amir suggests trying to be open.
He says: "Say yes to invitations, join clubs and sit next to different people in lessons."
All these things can really help you to find new friends and gives you a sense of belonging at school.
Be proactive
Why not be proactive and start some conversations with your mates?
Dr Amir says that small talk and starting conversations like asking 'how was your weekend?' can help you to find real friends.
Don't take things personally
Sometimes we expect to fit in "within a certain group", but friendships can come "from unexpected places", says Dr Amir.
"Not everyone will be super friendly and that's not your fault. Don't take it personally. Try talking to another person, eventually the right friends will come along."
Remember if you are really struggling, talk to a teacher, form tutor or a school support staff member and ask for help. As Dr Amir says: "You're never alone as you think."
Dr Amir Khan:
Secondary school means more homework, bigger subjects and higher expectations.
But that doesn't mean you have to be perfect.
Stay organised: use a planner, do homework in small chunks and ask teachers for help when you need it.
You might struggle at first. No one gets everything right straight away and teachers expect you to ask questions.
Also, if you're finding lessons hard or struggling with homework, there are lots of online resources available to help, BBC Bitesize for example.
You don't have to figure everything out at once. If you're finding things hard, take a breath. Focus on small steps and remember there are people who care about you and want to help.
Managing higher expectations
In the words of Spider-Man: "With great power comes great responsibility."
And with starting secondary school, OK you might not be given power… but you are given more freedom with things. For example, being able to attend more clubs, learn new subjects and even attend more cool trips!
With studying at a bigger school, comes bigger responsibilities like more homework… but as Dr Amir says, that doesn't mean you have to be perfect. He suggests getting into a good school routine and recommends:
- Staying organised: use a planner, do homework in smaller chunks and ask teachers for help when you need it.
- Be kind to yourself: remember nobody gets everything right straight away.
- If you are struggling with lessons or homework: why not make use of helpful online resources like BBC Bitesize?
- One step at a time: Take a breath and focus on small steps.
If you need support
You should always tell someone about the things you’re worried about. You can tell a friend, parent, guardian, teacher, or another trusted adult. If you're struggling with your mental health, going to your GP can be a good place to start to find help. Your GP can let you know what support is available to you, suggest different types of treatment and offer regular check-ups to see how you’re doing.
If you’re in need of in-the-moment support you can contact Childline, where you can speak to a counsellor. Their lines are open 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.
There are more links to helpful organisations on BBC Action Line.
How to make friends at school
How to make friends in high school: Read our guide on making new friends and finding new friendships.
What is the best thing about your school?
From learning in laboratories, playing more sports to having more freedom - what's the best thing about school?
How to cope with bullying and peer pressure in secondary school
Part of the school journey is learning to deal with challenges like bullying and peer pressure in positive ways. Bitesize is here to support you every step of the way.