Primary school to secondary school transition books for children
Primary to secondary school transition books help Year 6 pupils get ready for Year 7 without making the whole thing feel scarier than it needs to be. They cover bigger buildings, new routines, homework, friendships, independence and the worry of not knowing what comes next. Through practical tips, workbooks or relatable stories, they give children a way to ask questions, talk things through and feel more prepared. This list features books by Matt Goodfellow, Anne Fine, Katie Kirby, Rosie Jones, Lisa Williamson, Libby Scott, Rebecca Westcott, Jeffrey Boakye, Yassmin Abdel-Magied, and Tolá Okogwu.
School transition books for children – our recommendations
The Final Year by Matt Goodfellow, illustrated by Joe Todd-Stanton
The end of Year 5 through to the end of primary school is told through fragments of life in this unique and powerful verse story. Nate thinks he’s ready for his final year, but that’s before his best friend since nursery drifts towards the school bully and his youngest brother falls ill. But his teacher, Mr Joshua, offers hope, by encouraging Nate’s creative writing. Accessible, powerful, and highly relatable. Year 6 children will empathise with Nate and the challenges he faces at home, his struggles with bullying at school, and deciphering what really matters between the ages of 10 and 11. Highly recommended for reading with UKS2 classes, The Final Year is 285 pages of verse story genius. Read our full review.
The First Year by Matt Goodfellow, illustrated by Joe Todd-Stanton
Now in Year 7, Nate tackles the ups and downs of secondary school, alongside family struggles and his battle to control his emotions. Life seems to be looking up after his brother recovers, but a surprise shakes Nate’s newfound stability, and his anger returns. This sequel to The Final Year continues in heartfelt free verse, exploring themes of hope and growth. Illustrated by Joe Todd-Stanton, The First Year is powerful, real, and uplifting. Highly recommended. Read our full review.
Moving Up: How to Ace Secondary School by Christian Foley
Rapping teacher Christian Foley offers invaluable guidance for students transitioning from primary to secondary school in this confidence-building and myth-busting guide. Daunting new classrooms, new friendship groups, increased academic expectations, social media and bullying are all covered in this comprehensive guide that will empower students to approach Year 7 without fear. The accessible text and clear structure will help readers develop resilience and look forward to success in their new schools. Highly recommended. Read our full review.
Go Big by Matthew Burton
Wide corridors, new routines, homework, friendships and exams are handled with steady reassurance in this secondary school survival guide by headteacher Matthew Burton. A useful option for 10-14 year olds, it speaks directly to children who are about to start secondary school or still finding their feet once they are there.
No Worries: Your Guide to Starting Secondary School by Jenny Alexander
What if you get lost, do not fit in or meet unkind older pupils? Built around the everyday worries that often arrive before Year 7, this guide for 9+ year olds uses tips, jokes and quizzes to help children think through friends, homework, social media and the first weeks of secondary school.
Can You See Me? by Scott, Rebecca Westcott
Follow 11-year-old Tally’s journey through Year 7 as she navigates the challenges of school, friendship, and self-discovery, providing readers with a unique and empathetic perspective on autism. Can You See Me is an empowering read and an excellent book choice for book clubs in lower KS3.
Finding My Voice by Aoife Dooley
Frankie and her best friend Sam are both finding secondary school tough, but the chance to enter a Battle of the Bands contest gives Frankie a reason to speak up. This funny, frank graphic novel works well for 11+ year old readers, especially those drawn to stories about neurodiversity, friendship and learning how to stand out on your own terms.
Amazing Edie Eckhart by Rosie Jones
Edie Eckhart is ready to start secondary school with Oscar beside her, until different tutor groups leave her feeling suddenly adrift. Ideal for 9+ year olds readers, Rosie Jones’s illustrated story follows Edie, who has cerebral palsy, as an accidental part in the school play opens up new friendships, confidence and a love of performance.
The Boy Who Made Everyone Laugh by Helen Rutter
Billy Plimpton wants to be a stand-up comedian, but his stammer makes the idea of holding an audience feel almost impossible. For 9+ year olds, Helen Rutter’s prize-winning story balances jokes and nerves with a generous look at confidence, speech, family support and finding the courage to be heard.
The Extremely Embarrassing Life of Lottie Brooks by Katie Kirby
Lottie Brooks is 11¾, starting secondary school, worrying about friends, hair, bras and almost every awkward detail of growing up. Perfect for 9+, Katie Kirby’s illustrated diary format catches the funny, mortifying and very recognisable business of early adolescence without talking down to its readers. Highly recommended.
Bigg School: Best Friends Forever by Lisa Williamson
Chloe and Evie, inseparable best friends, face a challenging new school year when they realise they have no classes together. As they navigate the tricky transition to secondary school, their close friendship is tested. Lisa Williamson’s insightful portrayal of Year 7 girls’ emotions makes this a valuable read for children dealing with life in a new school. Best Friends Forever will be thought-provoking book for UKS2 and LKS3 book clubs. Read our full review.
Bim Blake’s Hot Takes: My Pencil Case Doesn’t Define Me by Tolá Okogwu
Bím Blake’s first weeks of high school bring an uncool pencil case, body worries, one very cute new boy, family chaos and a dad who has discovered TikTok. For 9-12 year olds, this highly illustrated diary-style story offers a bright, funny take on Year Seven friendship wobbles and the messy business of fitting in.
Alice & Megan Forever by Judi Curtin
Alice and Megan are starting secondary school, where new teachers, new subjects and new friends make everything feel less certain than before. A reassuring read for 10+ year olds, this sixth Alice and Megan story mixes mishaps with more serious worries about fitting in, bullying, peer pressure and staying close when school life changes.
Kofi and the Rap Battle Summer by Jeffrey Boakye
When Kofi discovers that his closest friend Kelvin has a photographic memory, they devise a scheme to gain a lot of money in this engaging music-themed pageturner for children aged 9 to 11. Kofi and the Rap Battle Summer is great for KS2 libraries, with laugh-out-loud humour and characters that children will identify with. Read our full review.
Everything All at Once by Steven Camden
One week in secondary school becomes a chorus of voices, with poems moving between friendship, lessons, gossip, worry, falling out and trying to get through to the bell. For 12+ year olds, this CLiPPA-winning collection is especially useful for classrooms where students are ready to unpick instances of school life caught in sharp, accessible verse.
On the Wall by Anne Fine
Finley Tandy spends his first year at secondary school sitting quietly on the playground wall, yet pupils and teachers gradually find themselves drawn to him. Suitable for more confident Year 6 students, Anne Fine’s subtle school story values stillness, listening and the different ways children make sense of a new place.
Moving on Up by Rosie Jones
Friendship fails, bullies and cringe-worthy moments all get a comic but practical treatment in Rosie Jones’s guide to growing up. Perfect for UKS2 children, it pairs humour with reassurance for children who are moving through upper primary into the more self-conscious world of secondary school.
Maths, English and Reading Workbook by Shelley Welsh, Hilary Koll, Steve Mills, Graham Fletcher
Year 6 skills in reading, grammar, punctuation, spelling and maths get a focused refresh before the step into Year 7. Perfect for 10-12 year olds, this workbook is a practical bridge for summer practice or the first weeks of secondary school, with activities that build confidence without feeling like a full SATs paper.
You Must Be Layla by Yassmin Abdel-Magied
Layla’s scholarship to a private Australian school should be a fresh start, but standing out in her headscarf and long skirt means she is judged before anyone really knows her. A strong choice for Year 7 readers, the story follows her sharp humour, setbacks and invention-competition ambitions as she works out who she is and where she belongs.
Ella on the Outside by Cath Howe
Ella arrives at a new school with no friends and a secret she badly wants to keep. Ideal for Year 6 pupils, Cath Howe’s debut explores how quickly friendship can become complicated when popular Lydia takes an interest in Ella and quiet Molly seems to be part of a much bigger problem.
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School transition resources for teachers
- Anna Freud’s Moving Up! includes a free animation, lesson activities and an assembly plan to help Year 6 and Year 7 pupils discuss worries, confidence and the move to secondary school.
- The DHSC School Zone transition lesson provides a teacher-developed PowerPoint to help pupils explore the move from primary to secondary school and identify practical strategies for managing change.
- The PSHE Association offers an Embracing Change and New Challenges lesson pack for supporting primary pupils as they move to a new key stage or secondary school.
- Barclays LifeSkills has a primary-to-secondary transition toolkit covering resilience, transferable skills, inclusivity, parental support and preparation for future learning.
- The National Literacy Trust’s Anchors and Sails uses Sita Brahmachari’s When Secrets Set Sail as the starting point for Year 6 to Year 7 activities about reading, identity and change.
- The National Literacy Trust’s Tales from the Inner City project offers a book-based literacy transition resource built around Shaun Tan’s illustrated short-story collection.
- Place2Be’s River Journey is a creative wellbeing activity pack designed to help pupils reflect on leaving primary school and preparing for secondary or high school.
- ELSA Support provides Year 6 “What if?” worry cards based on real pupil questions, useful for small group work, pastoral sessions and transition discussions.
- The Careers & Enterprise Company has a primary-to-secondary transition guide for Careers Leaders and school staff, with ideas for linking transition work to careers education and parental engagement.
- Leeds for Learning hosts SENIT’s Moving on Up resources, including Year 6 transition activities for pupils who may need additional support with the move to high school.
- Buckinghamshire SchoolsWeb provides a SEND transitions toolkit with guidance, planning resources and templates to support pupils with additional needs as they move between settings.
- Autism Central gives practical advice for preparing autistic children for secondary school, including visual supports, route practice, social stories, sensory preparation and worry diaries.
- The West Partnership offers P7-S1 classroom resources for Scottish schools, including teacher notes, transition films and tasks linked to skills and future pathways.
- Hwb’s Welsh Government transition guidance sets out information for secondary schools and feeder primaries in Wales on planning the move from primary to secondary school.
- Childline’s moving schools advice is useful for pupil signposting, covering worries about getting lost, making friends, homework, timetables and asking for help.
- Teachwire has gathered practical Year 6 and Year 7 transition-day activities, including icebreakers, goal-setting tasks, subject introductions and first-week resources.
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