skip to main content
skip to search

Home
Post-Primary
Settling into Secondary School

Settling into Secondary School

Click into the presentation below to learn more about 5 ways that 1st year students can make friends when they get to secondary school

Building friendships & developing social skills

Teacher Supports

Classroom resources

Webwise resources

Further Reading / Resources

Curriculum Connections

SDG Connections – Settling into Secondary School

SDG Connections

Sustainable Development Goal	How This Spotlight Supports It
SDG 3 – Good Health and Well‑being	Supports emotional and social well‑being by encouraging positive friendships, participation in clubs/activities, and resilience during the transition to secondary school.
SDG 4 – Quality Education	Promotes inclusive, equitable education with practical strategies that help students integrate into a new school community and develop essential social skills.
SDG 5 – Gender Equality	Encourages equal participation for all students in activities and friendships, challenging stereotypes and ensuring everyone has a voice.
SDG 10 – Reduced Inequalities	Fosters an inclusive environment that values diversity and respects differences so every student feels welcome and supported, regardless of background or ability.
SDG 16 – Peace, Justice & Strong Institutions	Builds respectful communication, empathy, and cooperation — key to a positive, safe, and peaceful school culture.
SDG 17 – Partnerships for the Goals (optional, if involving parents/community)	Encourages collaboration between schools, families, and community organisations to support student well‑being and social integration.

Curriculum Connections – Settling into Secondary School

Curriculum Connections – Junior Cycle

Subject	Strand / Learning Outcome	Connection
SPHE	Understanding myself and others	Builds self-awareness and empathy to form respectful friendships and work well in new class groups.
SPHE	Emotional wellbeing	Develops strategies for managing feelings, stress and change during the transition to post-primary.
SPHE	Making healthy choices	Applies decision-making and boundary-setting to peer influence, clubs/activities and online conduct.
SPHE	Relationships and sexuality	Promotes respect, consent and inclusion as foundations of healthy friendships and positive class culture.
English	Oral language	Practises active listening, turn-taking and clear expression for introductions, group tasks and resolving disagreements.
English	Reading & Writing	Uses personal/reflective writing and informational texts about school life to support transition literacy and self-management.
CSPE (Short Course)	Rights & Responsibilities; Global Citizenship	Frames inclusion, anti-bullying and participation in the school community; encourages empathy and action.
Wellbeing	Indicators: Active, Responsible, Connected, Resilient, Respected, Aware	Transition and friendship-building activities align especially with Connected, Resilient and Respected.
Guidance (Junior Cycle)	Guidance-Related Learning Units	Supports organisation, help-seeking and engagement with school, easing the move into 1st year.

Curriculum Connections – Senior Cycle (where relevant)

Subject	Strand / Component	Connection
SPHE (Senior Cycle)	Health & Wellbeing	Focuses on resilience, stress management and help-seeking—useful for students transitioning into TY/5th year or changing schools.
SPHE (Senior Cycle)	Relationships & Sexuality	Deepens respectful relationship skills, consent and inclusion to sustain positive peer networks.
SPHE (Senior Cycle)	Into Adulthood	Emphasises responsibility, planning and navigating change—transferable from first-year settling to later school transitions.

Scoilnet Resources – Settling into Secondary School

Scoilnet Resources

Making the Transition into First Year

Full 7-lesson unit for incoming first years on self-management, social skills, and settling in.

My Pathways (First Year)

Lesson plan exploring stages of education and reflecting on personal goals for post-primary.

My Values (First Year)

Helps students identify role models and values to create a positive and inclusive class culture.

My S.M.A.R.T. Goals (First Year)

Teaches students to set Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Relevant, and Time-bound goals.

My School Supports – Part 1

Encourages first years to identify worries and explore who and what can help in school life.

My School Supports – Part 2

Follow-up activity to apply school supports and practise help-seeking strategies.

My Goal Setting (First Year)

Structured approach to setting achievable goals and tracking progress in first year.

My School Year (First Year)

Teaches timetable and calendar literacy to manage milestones and deadlines in first year.

Presenting Me! (First Year)

Supports speaking and presentation skills for building confidence in new peer groups.

Connected: Digital Media Literacy

Interactive modules on online wellbeing, safety, and respectful communication for first years.

RTÉ Resources – Settling into Secondary School

RTÉ Resources

How to help your child make friends at secondary school

Practical strategies for building friendships early in first year.

What do kids need for the move from primary to secondary?

Brainstorm explainer on visits, timetable literacy, school maps and supports.

A psychotherapist’s tips for starting or going back to school

Routines, independence and easing first‑week nerves.

Coping with starting and returning to school

Radio 1 highlight with guidance for families at term start.

Kildare pupils on starting secondary school

RTÉ News piece capturing feelings and expectations ahead of first year.

Starting Secondary School (Radio clip)

Advice and reassurance for new second‑level students.

7 ways to ease back‑to‑school worries

Concise tips to reduce anxiety at the start of term.

How can parents ease the back‑to‑school anxiety?

Brainstorm piece with six evidence‑based strategies for September transitions.

Coping with Back to School (Radio clip)

Short audio segment on avoiding common pitfalls at term start.

My Story: I’m Starting Secondary School

Short documentary profile — useful discussion starter in SPHE.

Add a resource