The trial run

Moving up from primary to secondary school is made as easy and worry free as possible for both pupils and parents these days.

Here we have Miss C waiting for the high school bus along with her "old hand" brother to take her to day 1 of 2 days of a high school transition experience.
She had a fabulous time and came home excited about her new class, friends and teacher.
It was my turn in the evening. After sitting through a relatively impressive Beginners Band performance ( as an old hand mum, I too can value the promise of better things to come in a Beginner Band ) I was ushered into the school library to be reassured several times that I had made a good choice of school for my child. The staff promised to look after my child and I shouldn't worry. I wasn't, until I heard that I shouldn't!
As an old hand, I realised that the education system reaches down to the lowest common parental experience - fear and worry , instead of aiming high to inspiration and excitement. My first child has been at the same school for 2 years, although in an accelerated stream. He is truly exited and inspired, so I have high hopes that when the parents leave reassured, with their worries assuaged, the real work will begin.