Transition to High School

Supporting a Confident Transition to High School: What Really Makes a Difference

Transitioning from Year 6 to Year 7 is a pivotal moment—not just academically, but emotionally and socially. For many young people, especially those with identified worries or SEND, the move to high school can trigger significant stress.

Over the past year, Salford’s MHST led Summer Transition Programme and the wider whole‑school mental health offer including our Emotionally Friendly Settings team have shown how the right mix of relationships, structure and targeted support can make a measurable difference.

A Summer Transition Programme Built Around Belonging

Each summer, IReach in Salford run a targeted transition programme for Year 6 pupils who are particularly worried about starting high school. In 2025, 25 young people took part in a multi‑agency programme based at the Beacon Centre.

What made it work?

Each day was divided into three carefully planned sessions, led by trusted local partners:

• Salford Community Leisure (SCL)
  Outdoor sports and group challenges focused on teamwork, confidence and peer 
  connection—helping pupils form friendships before September.

•  Salford Youth Service (SYS)
  Indoor, practical activities that developed problem‑solving skills and supported 
  young people to work safely and positively with others.
  
  
•  I‑Reach Team
  Creative arts and crafts sessions paired with psychoeducation about anxiety—what 
  it is, how it feels in the body, and practical ways to manage or overcome it

The goal was simple - Help young people feel capable, connected, and understood before 
they start high school.

Measuring Impact: What the Data Tells Us

Each week, pupils completed an Outcome Rating Scale (ORS), allowing emotional wellbeing
to be tracked across the programme.

Average scores improved across every area from the start to the end of the intervention:

• Overall wellbeing: 7.8 → 9.0
• How am I doing? 7.2 → 9.1
• Family life: 8.6 → 9.1
• Feelings about school: 6.6 → 7.5

These gains show that early, preventative work can meaningfully reduce anxiety before it 
escalates.

Transition Support Doesn’t Stop in September

A key improvement this year was extending support into secondary school, recognising 
that transition challenges don’t end on day one of Year 7.

Follow‑up support included:

• 8 pupils received check‑in calls after their first half term
• 9 pupils were supported through consultation with their new school
• 8 pupils received extended one‑to‑one anxiety support in school

Pupil feedback after the first term:

• How has the first term gone? – 7.6 / 10
• How anxious do you feel about school now? – 5 / 10
• How helpful was the Transition Project? – 9.75 / 10

For schools, this reinforces the importance of continuity and communication between 
primary and secondary settings.

What’s Coming Next: Summer 2026

Plans are already underway for Summer 2026 transition programmes, including:

• SEND‑specific offers at the Beacon Centre
• Forest School transition groups
• Transition groups delivered with Youth Service, i‑Reach and SCL
• Stronger collaboration with Salford’s SEND Leaders, who support other cohorts of 
  children at transition, and parent/carer forums
• Transition Pyramid Clubs – collaboration between high schools, primary schools, and
  the Educational Psychology Service to support the Year 6 to 7 and Year 7 to 8 
  transitions

When schools and services work together, transition becomes an opportunity for young 
people to thrive rather than something to be afraid of!