The transition between primary and secondary school is a major moment for pupils. But we must also remember that the move from key stage 3 to KS4 can be equally momentous, as students enter the world of high-stakes exams - just as they start to reach puberty, too.

GCSEs: The transition from key stage 3 to KS4

So how can we ensure that we best help students at this point in their education journey? Here are some tips.  

1. Help them pick the right options

Conversations about GCSEs generally start in Year 9 with students choosing their option subjects. These choices are crucial and so there needs to be plenty of opportunities for students to experience any new subjects before they make those choices.

How many times have we, as teachers, had to speak to students about choosing a subject they love, not just what their friends or parents want them to choose?

One way to help students make informed choices is to perhaps offer taster lessons for the new subjects not offered at KS3 so they get more of a sense of what it is like. Or perhaps get a current KS4 student to discuss their options, or maybe those Year 11 leavers can share their experiences.

2. Make KS4 exciting

As students get older, there should be more new and exciting opportunities to get involved in, such as the Duke of Edinburgh’s Award, the Leadership Development Programme, trips abroad or in-school events and competitions.

For example, in our school we have an amazing talent show called “The Paramount Championships”, which is all run and organised by KS4 students only and it’s the highlight of the school year.

It’s important then to make sure students know what will be on offer. Unless they’ve had an older sibling in the school, they may not even be aware of some of the things they will be able to get involved in.

GCSEs are daunting enough and so it’s great to be able to promote some of the perks of being in KS4 to make sure they know it won’t all be about exam pressures.

3. Don’t scare the students

“This is GCSE now” and “the pressure’s on” are phrases I’ve heard teachers use throughout my teaching career.

Especially in the current climate, where exam seasons have been a rollercoaster of cancellations and fear of getting Covid before an exam, no one needs the added pressure of being terrified about examinations and what lies ahead.

Students know these exam results will follow them for the rest of their lives. Yes, impress upon them the importance, but do this through support, not fear.

Instead, make sure they know who will be their support systems in school. We have a really strong pastoral team and an amazing school counsellor - form tutors play such an important role in checking in on the wellbeing of our students.

Make sure you choose your KS4 pastoral and academic team well.

4. Prepare the students

How different is KS3 to KS4? Think about what this looks like in your school. In my school even the school day is different. Lunch and break times change and this might affect some of the students’ social circles.

Using this last term to finalise KS3 assessments should be a time to reflect on everything they’ve done in their school career to this point.

Celebrate their successes and build upon them as the starting point for the next part of their academic journey. Keep that love of learning alive by asking students what they have enjoyed and also what they are looking forward to next year.

But also find out what they are worried or scared about. Choosing option subjects might mean they’re worried they won’t be with their friends, worried about having a new teacher,  worried about the pressure to pass exams and the amount of work they will face.

These concerns aren’t going to disappear but it’s our job to explain to students how they can manage them - simply helping them to feel safe to articulate these concerns is often half the battle.

5. Communicate with parents

For many parents, it’s also a daunting experience having their child start GCSEs. We hold a Year 9 options evening where we talk to parents about the choices and explain the GCSEs but at my school we also have a session called “Tea with the Principal”.

This is a more intimate and informal setting where parents, new and experienced, are invited to come and chat with us about how their child will be supported during KS4. They get to meet the senior leadership team, heads of year, the tutors and other teachers.

They get to ask personalised questions and leave feeling reassured, knowing how and who to contact when needed.

Throughout the year, we deliver parental workshops about KS4 issues and write weekly updates in the school bulletin.

Let’s hope that our KS4 students next year have a bit more normality - GCSEs are tough enough.

Maddy Jones is key stage 4 director at an international school in Malaysia