The Ultimate Year 7 Survival Guide for Parents

Our year 7 survival guide will help you navigate the transition from primary school to high school. This transition represents a major milestone in young lives as it’s the first step from childhood into adolescence. Preparing for high school is an exciting time, but it can also be unsettling for students, which is why parents need the knowledge and skills to manage this time smoothly.

The Victorian government’s Attitudes to School survey demonstrates why it’s vital to set a solid foundation in the first year of high school. The survey found that, compared to primary school, year 7 students felt less connected, their absence rates increased, and their academic outcomes declined.

To ensure this is a positive, productive time for your family, follow our tips for parents on how to survive year 7.

Year 7 Survival Guide Tips

• Be Proactive  

Most schools begin preparing students for high school in year 6. You and your child should have attended an orientation session and been given a tour of the school during the previous year.

Moving from a single classroom and teacher to multiple teachers and classroom changes throughout the day is very daunting. If your student has trouble finding their classrooms in the first week, contact the school and ask if they can get another tour outside school hours. Teachers will be happy to show them around.

To familiarise yourself with school rules and policies, visit the school’s website and social media pages. These sites have all the information on how to survive year 7 and will allow you to stay on top of what’s happening at the school. When you take an interest in school events, your child will feel more engaged.

• Make Connections

It’s a good idea to introduce yourself to the principal and your child’s teachers in the first weeks back. Having connections at the school will help to make this transition easier.

Don’t forget parents need emotional support too, and the best people to give you this are those who are going through the same experiences. Making the effort to connect and talk regularly with other parents who have students in year 7 can really help.

• Be Gentle

One of the most daunting aspects of starting high school for students is meeting new peers. Some students may struggle to find their place in a larger school. While it’s important for kids to make new friends, allow them to do this in their own time. Don’t push them or become anxious if they appear to be floundering socially for a while.

Encourage your child to become involved in school clubs and other activities as this will give them a chance to meet new friends in a more structured setting. Talk with them regularly about how they’re feeling and keep an eye open for signs of bullying.

• Get Organised 

When students begin high school, their daily routines will change significantly. Their new school may be further away from home, meaning longer commute times and more homework to complete after school.

Getting a routine in place early in the school year is an important part of your year 7 high school survival guide. This is an ideal time to give your child more responsibilities, such as preparing their lunch and packing their bag. It’s a good idea to involve your child in planning their daily routine as this will help them feel more involved and mature. 

• Stay Calm

As students are being prepared for the transition to high school, they will also begin to experience major hormonal changes. This can lead to some intense emotions and meltdowns. Many kids will start testing boundaries and asserting their independence around this time. They will also become more concerned with their peer group.

For parents, these changes can feel like rejection. It’s important to remember this is a normal part of growing up. It can be tricky to find the balance between giving your student space and privacy to grow while ensuring they follow the rules and maintain respect. With time you’ll work it out, so don’t be too hard on yourself.

How a Tutor Can Help

In addition to dealing with multiple teachers and classroom changes, students must learn to cope with new subjects, teaching methods and assessment styles. They’ll be expected to take more responsibility for their learning.

We recommend hiring a tutor as part of your year 7 survival guide, as a tutor can help make the transition to high school much easier by providing additional support during this stressful period.  Students who work with a tutor feel more confident and engaged with their schoolwork, and this can help your child avoid the slump in grades and motivation experienced by many students in year 7. 

Contacts us to discuss your student’s needs.