CR spoke with Wayne Dixon

Wayne: Going back to the survey from the book, the top answer for what they'll miss most is their friends. One of the sad realities is that usually at the end of year six or year seven, if you have got a class of 30 or 60 or 100, they're not all going to be going to the same senior schools and that is a big wrench.

One true story last year - I went into a local school and I've been every year for the last six or seven years to do a presentation on the book and give out the book. I was warned by one of the teachers that they were very fragile and that was helpful because as I started my talk and as they came in, they were crying and sobbing and I thought I haven't even said anything yet. What it was, was they were just such a close group, so friendly, with a lovely vibe in the school and they knew that they had about two more days together in that environment, then it was the six weeks holiday and then bang into something completely different. Letting go of those kind of close knit friendships, those relationships that they've had at primary school is a big thing to let go of.

Rebecca: Is there anything that parents of children can do to help make the whole process easier?

Wayne: Yes; probably the biggest single piece of advice is to take time to listen to the genuine and real concerns that the youngsters would have; to take each and every one serious, however trivial it might be. I'm talking with personal experience and again that's one of the benefits of the book; there's lots of practical advice of people who've done the change either a year ago or five years ago or 25 years ago. Parents and other caring responsible adults taking the time to listen and then to offer some support, encouragement and practical advice to help them in that big change, because it's probably one of the big life changes.

Rebecca: For children who have a faith and are moving to secondary school, what are the challenges that they're going to face? What challenges are they facing in holding on to their faith?

Wayne: That's a big issue. Sadly not as many senior schools have Christian groups like for example universities. Pretty much most universities have Christian groups which can be a great support and oasis. The reality at the moment across the country is that there are some but not many and so you can feel quite isolated. Some young people might be a bit embarrassed or fearful of being, not necessarily outspoken, but making it known that they have a faith or are interested in Christian things.

For the schools that do have groups and certainly one of the things that we try to do in Scripture Union with our schools workers and associate workers is at the beginning of the school year, make introductions to the year sevens and if the school does have a group, saying the group is open to anybody; being clear about where it meets and when it meets. We look at introducing the leaders who might be older pupils or a staff member, or someone from outside, so that hopefully those who've come from a church background might think, well this will be one of the activities that I can get involved in, at a lunch time on a Friday or Wednesday, or whenever the group might meet.

Rebecca: Finally, looking back on the process, do young people generally look back on it with dread or are they happy and see the positives and say it's not that bad making the move?

Wayne: I'd say that once they've made the move, they can look back and say it wasn't that bad and you do generally speaking come out the other end.

There are stories of that September 5th, the first day, and the 11 year old not wanting to either get out of bed or go to school and it can be a huge challenge. I can think of one of the schools, way into September, chatting to the head of year seven and there was one particular pupil who was really struggling to just settle in and the school were brilliant and did what they could to help her make that big step and that big change. I would say for the majority of them, within a few days they're settled in.

Things they've heard from their parents, school, from their transfer day and we would like to think from the book, will reassure and really encourage them. There's hopefully a good network of teachers and older pupils who'll get alongside and help them from getting lost on the first few days so that within a week or so it'll be just like their old school, knowing their way around; they'll be comfortable and reasonably confident and then making the best of the opportunities that they have in their school.

You can buy It's Your Move! from Cross Rhythms Direct for only £2.84.