Changing schools: the basics
Thursday 1 January 2004
People change schools for lots of reasons. As well as making the change from primary to secondary school, or middle school to high school, people join a new school because their family has moved house or decided to live in another part of the country.
Making new friends
Changing schools can be quite tough if you're the one who has to do it. As well as going through the difficult time of leaving your friends behind, there's also the added pressure of making friends at your new school.
For a lot of people, making friends just happens. It's not always something that you notice happening.
When people do make new friends, it's normally because they have something in common. That could be going to the same class, going to the same club or having the same interests and hobbies.
Sites like Kidscape, the children and young people's charity, has some useful tips on making friends. Some of these include:
- Be pleasant to people. People are more attracted to nice people.
- Make the first move. Join in school and lunch time activities.
- Ask lots of questions. A good way to let other people know you are interested in them is to ask about what they like and what they think.
- Don't be bossy or show-off. It gets really boring if someone always wants to be in charge or constantly brags about how great they are.
Being picked on
Being the new kid in school is never easy. If you're finding the change hard to cope with, don't suffer in silence. Tell someone.
Don't ever let it get to the point where it affects your schoolwork or where you don't feel like going to school at all.
Talk to someone you trust, like a brother, a sister or even your parents. If you think about it, virtually everyone you know has been to school at some point in their life, so they should know how to help.
If you're being picked on or bullied because you're new, you must tell your parents or a teacher. If you can't do that, tell someone else you trust in your family.
Sites like Bullying Online has loads of information on what to do if you're being bullied at school, as do Connexions Direct. As well as listing lots of helpful web sites, you can also get in touch with a personal adviser confidentially on 080 800 13-2-19.
For more information on changing schools, making friends or what to do if you're being bullied, take a look at our list of recommended links.
