From Primary Tots To Secondary School Cool Cats! - Starting Secondary School

You've been to see your new school and it's so big. Your friends say the teachers are strict and your homework will take you all night - Chill man! Secondary education is far better than most people make out; yes, there are big changes but you'll soon get used to them.

• NEW CLASSES - one of the main changes you'll find is the fact that subjects are separated into different classes, with different teachers in different rooms. This may sound daunting but it makes school a lot less boring and means that you can learn a lot more about the world.

• NEW SUBJECTS - you may be worried about learning French, doing Design Technology or blowing up the laboratory in science. But Teachers will understand that you're new and will take you through the new work step by step.

• NEW LAYOUT - secondary schools are big, They have to be. However you don't have to have a 'da gree' in map reading to navigate the corridors. In the first few weeks, you will usually be taken to your classes - and by half term you'll know the place like the back of your hand, no probs!

• NEW RULES - just because you're new doesn't mean that you don't have to obey the new rules. However the teachers are not going to bite your head off if you make a mistake. Many rules are there to protect you as much as anything. If you ever have any problems, do not hesitate to tell a teacher or friend, they'll know what to do!

• NEW FRIENDS - the best part about secondary school is the fact that everyone meets new friends. With the new found teenage freedom that you'll have, these five years will be some of the most memorable of your life!

-Matt E