This article has been brought to you by Slough Borough Council's Education Safeguarding Officer, Jatinder Matharu, for the attention of Primary and Secondary School Leaders, Headteachers, DSL's and Pastoral Care Teams.
The Department of Education have just issued some support initiatives to support GCSE help and transitions from primary to secondary school support for parents:
Exam results days
In August thousands of students will be receiving their exam results and considering their next steps.
Ahead of this, the DfE wanted to highlight the GCSE reforms web page and the exams results helpline, two resources that may be useful to point students or their parents towards during this time.
- The Exam Results Helpline: Callers will be able to talk through their options with experienced careers advisers, whether it’s in work, in education, or taking a vocational course. The helpline will be available on 0800 100 900 from 8am to 10pm, 7 days a week between the 15-29 August.
- GCSE reforms web page: Here you can find information about the new GCSEs and the new grading structure, covering how the new grades compare to the old ones and why the changes were made. You can also point parents to this explainer video, or use this Ofqual & DfE information slide pack.
Helping children make the step up to secondary school
We know making the transition from primary to secondary school can be a big step for some children. Place2Be, a children’s mental health charity, have produced a range of useful resources on this area for children and parents.
This includes tips and guidance on how:
- Parents can help prepare their child emotionally for their new school environment;
- Children can be supported through some of the common practical challenges of moving to secondary school; and
- Children can be supported as they develop into their teenage years.