Starting Secondary School

Starting secondary school is a big change for most children. After the cosy familiarity of primary school, transitioning into a much larger school with hundreds of students, different teachers, new subjects, more homework, and unfamiliar surroundings can feel pretty overwhelming.  

When young people feel apprehensive about something, it can be really helpful to hear how other young people have coped with the same experience. Tellmi is a multi-award winning digital solution that is funded by the NHS to provide anonymous, peer, and counsellor support to young people aged 11-25. Because Tellmi is age banded, children aged 11+ are connected to a community of peers who are within two years of their own age. That means they are speaking to people who are either making the transition to secondary school themselves, or who have made the transition within the last year or two and can therefore offer authentic insights about how to navigate the transition successfully.

Unlike social media platforms, all posts and replies are checked by a trained moderator before going live and qualified counsellors intervene preemptively if they have any concerns about a young person. By providing young people with a safe space to anonymously discuss their worries with each other,  Tellmi gives young people the tools they need to tackle anxiety before it undermines their confidence. 

To find out more about common concerns around the transition to secondary school, Tellmi talked to Year 7 students at Ansford Academy in Somerset. In this heartwarming little film, Harry, Darcey, Enya, Grace, Mia, Olivia, Noah and Taisy-Lily talk about getting lost, being late, making new friends, and finding themselves at the ‘bottom of the food chain’ again. As their first year draws to a close, they reflect on how much fun it has been and use their experience to offer advice and reassurance to new Year 7 students who are starting in September.

You can watch the film on Vimeo.

If you would like to find out more or get a quote for commissioning Tellmi in your area or school, please contact us and we will be in touch.