Ask Sam letter

Hi there,

Going to high school is a big change and it’s understandable that you feel nervous. I’m wondering if your friends are worried too and if you’ve all talked about it. Talking about what we’re scared of and knowing that we won’t be alone when we face those things can help us to feel less afraid, and it’s likely that you’re not the only one who’s worried about high school.

Perhaps you and your friends could see if your new school has a website that you can look at together. This could help you familiarise yourselves with the main members of staff and explain some more about how the school runs. That way you’ll know a bit more about what to expect and who to speak to if you have any concerns.

It can also help to talk to an adult that you trust, so that they can help you think about what support you might need to make the change of schools more comfortable. This adult could be a member of your family, or perhaps a teacher that you trust at primary school.

If you have any older brothers and sisters at high school or know any older children who go there, it might also help to have a chat with them. There will be lots of people on the ChildLine message boards who have gone from primary school to secondary school, so you can ask them what it was like.

Lots of people have friends from primary school who go to the same high school, but the change can also be a great way to meet new people. Thinking about exciting things like this can help you not to feel so scared. Clubs and activities that take place at lunch times and after school can be a fantastic way to meet new people and starting conversations can be easier if you have something in common. 

If you’d like to talk some more about this you can chat with a ChildLine counsellor by calling for free on 0800 1111, logging on for a 1-2-1 chat, or sending an email. You might also find it helpful to take a look at the School page in our Explore section.

Take care,
Sam.