Transition
Secondary School Applications for 2025-2026 are made via Essex County Council.
They can be made online via the ECC website:
www.essex.gov.uk/admissions-to-essex-schools-for-the-next-school-year
Applications close 31st October 2025
on 1st March 2026 emails for online applicants will be sent regarding offers.
From 1 March 2026, if you applied online, you can log into your account to see your allocation.
Moving to secondary school is an exciting time for Year 6 pupils who are now beginning to feel ready to become more independent, make new friends, experience new learning opportunities, develop more skills and take on more responsibility, but it can also be a time of apprehension and anxiety, as everything is new, bigger and different.
To support pupils and parents with any anxiety regarding the transition process, we have gathered together a range of links to books, articles and research around a range of topics, including how to support your child to develop organisational skills necessary for successful transition, build resilience to manage change and challenge, and support for parents whose child has a Special Educational Need. You will also find some useful links below aimed at children, which would be useful for Year 6 pupils to read, reflect on and discuss with their parents in their own time.
We very much hope this is useful to you in managing this transition,
Year 6 Team
Articles:
Building Resilience in Children – 20 Practical, Powerful Strategies
Resilience Guide for Parents & Teachers
Books:
Go Big: The Secondary School Survival Guide – Matthew Burton
Transition from Primary to Secondary School: Key things Parents need to discuss with their children – Trisha M Samuel
Building Resilience in Children and Teens: Giving Kids Roots and Wings - Kenneth R. Ginsburg
Academic Research:
Center on the Developing Child - Resilience
Identifying factors that predict successful and difficult transitions to secondary school
For Children:
Don’t Worry, Be Happy: A Child's Guide to Overcome Anxiety