On the evening before the first day back at school I lay out my uniform: a crisply ironed shirt, a brand new face mask and bottle of hand sanitiser.
Starting at a new sixth form or college can be nerve-wracking and this year students entering Year 12 are likely to have more worries than normal.
For many students, this week will be the first time they have set foot in school since March. It is no surprise that things might feel particularly unsettling for students who are starting at a new school.
So, what can teachers say and do to reassure new Year 12 students?
A levels: How to help your new Year 12s to settle in
Two years ago, I joined a new sixth form. Coming from a small high school, I didn’t know what to expect from a large sixth form. Although I didn’t have the additional worries of Covid-19 in the background, the jump from GCSEs to A levels, having to make a whole new set of friends, trying not to get lost in the building and being taught by brand new teachers made me feel apprehensive and nervous. Being one of a few external students in the year didn’t make it any easier.
However, as time went by, I settled in and soon, in the words of my chemistry teacher, became “part of the furniture”. It took some time, but by the end of Year 12 I was confident and ready to face the final year of my schooling - with a great circle of friends to support me along the way.
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To help other students get to this point, here’s my advice for teachers.
Normalise anxiety
In such concerning circumstances, where many students have been out of the educational loop for quite a while, it’s completely normal to feel anxious, confused and lost. Common questions such as “where do I start?” and “how do I cope?” will be floating in the air. Make students aware that their feelings are completely normal and legitimate - and that they will be able to overcome their worries.
Teach time management
Try to help students to master the art of time management from the onset. If they are able to use their free periods to keep on top of the increased work, there will be no need for them to cram every weekend full of coursework or to pull all-nighters. Encourage them to build study time into their college timetable, leaving them with enough free time outside of school hours to relax.
Encourage fun
You can even go one step further and remind students to just have fun! Just because they’ve started sixth form, it doesn’t mean they have to leave their other commitments on the doorstep. Yes, some adjustments will need to be made, especially around exam season - A levels are stressful and can quickly become overwhelming. But, by putting time aside to take a breather, go out with friends or watch your favourite TV show, you can actually help yourself to become more productive than ever. Some new Year 12 students will have no trouble doing this - others might need the reminder, and to be told that having fun is still OK.
In what are already such unsettling times, it is essential that students put their personal needs first.
But don’t forget the future
Students need to have fun, but they should forget that this is still an important year. If they are thinking of applying to university, then now is the time to start considering what to put in their applications. This particularly applies to courses such as medicine and dentistry, where universities like to see work experiences, hobbies and long-term volunteering. In Year 13, there isn’t enough time to do all of this alongside studying for A levels, which is why making the most of the free time you have in Year 12 is extremely important.
Students need to recognise that the jump from GCSEs to A levels is tough - my teachers were certainly quick to tell us this when we started Year 12. However, by encouraging them to take a sensible approach to studying and to put their mental health first - especially in the current climate - you will help students to really make the most of the year.
Zesha Saleem is a student at the University of Liverpool, studying medicine
