Malachi and Libby were both worried about making new friends. They talk about the challenges of moving to secondary school without existing friendship groups. Malachi found that joining a sports team was a great way to meet like minded people. Libby shared her concerns with her teacher and was encouraged to be brave and present a project in front of her entire class which helped her grow in confidence.
Tips:
Join a club or after school activity to meet new people
Be yourself and you’ll make friends with people like yourself
Smile and be approachable
Make an effort to speak to people even of it takes you out of your comfort zone
Don’t rush this: the most genuine friends come gradually as you get to know each other, not by trying to be instantly popular
You will be seated with different people in different subjects and will have to work together. This is a good opportunity to get to know your classmates and form new friendships.
More from BBC Bitesize Parents' Toolkit…
Parents' Toolkit
Fun activities, real-life stories, wellbeing support and loads of helpful advice - we're here for you and your child.
Things I wish I’d known before starting secondary school
Some seriously useful advice from students who've been through it.
Developing friendships
Talking to new people and being understanding.
Will I lose my old friends?
How to keep in touch and balance your commitments.
Watch CBBC’s Our School
Documentary series following a group of students as they go from primary to secondary school.
Starting Secondary School homepage
Free resources to help with the move to secondary school.
