20 March 2026
The move from primary to secondary school is one of the biggest transitions in a young person’s life. New teachers, new classrooms, new routines and new friendship groups can be exciting, but they can also bring uncertainty.
For many pupils, the biggest questions are not about homework or lessons. They’re about relationships.
Will my friends still be my friends?
What if I don’t know anyone in my class?
What if people change or I feel left out?
That’s why conversations about friendships, confidence and healthy relationships are among the most valuable ways schools can support young people before they leave Year 6.
To help teachers start these conversations, LMK has created a new classroom resource to support Year 6 pupils preparing for secondary school.
Supporting an important conversation in a simple way
This short, ready-to-use activity helps pupils explore how friendships, routines and social situations may change when they move to secondary school – and how they can manage those changes positively.
The resource gives pupils space to talk about:
- Excitement and worries about starting secondary school
- What might happen if friendships change
- How to make new friends
- How to support others
- Who they can go to for help if they feel worried or upset.
By normalising these feelings, pupils can see that many of their peers share the same concerns, talk out their worries, and learn helpful techniques.
What the resource includes
The activity will take 15-25 minutes, or longer if you have more time to spare and includes:
A starter discussion
Pupils share what they are excited or worried about when starting secondary school.
Scenario discussions
Students explore real-life situations they might experience, how they might respond, who could help and how different people might feel in these situations.
Whole-class reflection
The class discusses why friendships sometimes change and how they can make others feel welcome during transition.
Confidence-building strategies
The resource introduces simple approaches for making new friends, managing changes in friendships and asking for help when something doesn’t feel right
A reflection activity
Pupils are given an opportunity to reflect on what they’ve learned in the session, and where they might go to seek help if necessary.
Why this matters
Many safeguarding, behaviour and wellbeing concerns in early secondary school stem from relationship challenges.
Giving pupils the opportunity to talk about these issues before they move schools helps them to feel less alone in their worries, have the confidence to face challenging situations and know where to seek help.
The primary school transition classroom resource gives teachers an easy-to-use framework to talk to their pupils, so children can start secondary school with a stronger understanding of healthy, respectful relationships.
Supporting schools and teachers
The classroom resource supports several key school priorities, including:
- Personal Development and wellbeing
- Meaningful RSHE delivery
- Transition preparation
- Emotional readiness for change
- Safeguarding awareness
It’s designed to be simple, practical and easy to deliver, making it a useful addition to transition lessons or PSHE sessions in the final term of Year 6.
By helping pupils talk about relationships before they leave primary school, we can support them to step into secondary school feeling more confident, prepared and supported.