I’ll never forget sitting on the sofa with my mum when my twins were just a few weeks old. She looked at me and said, “Before you know it, they’ll be starting secondary school.” I remember thinking, Really? Can we just survive this newborn phase first? But she was right, those years flew by in a heartbeat.
Back then, it felt like the baby days would never end – endless double feeds, juggling clashing nap schedules, the chaos of settling one while the other cried. Those days were long… but somehow, here we are, standing at the edge of a brand-new chapter: the end of primary school and the leap into secondary.
It’s a big transition and honestly, one I wasn’t fully prepared for. That’s why I’m sharing what I’ve learned, in case it helps you feel a little more ready than I did.
🎓 Saying Goodbye to Primary: Top Tips for Year 6
Saying goodbye to primary school is more emotional than I ever expected. It’s not just a change of schools – it’s the end of a whole era of their childhood.
Year 6 is packed with moments that are magical, overwhelming, and (let’s be honest) a little pricey. Here’s what to expect and what helped us manage the journey:
📚 SATs & 11+
We kept it simple: no tutors, no pressure. Just lots of encouragement, early nights, and small rewards for effort.
If you’re considering the 11+, most families start prepping around Year 4/5. We chose not to go that route, and honestly, I think it helped build their confidence without added stress.
🎁 Leavers’ Gifts
We chipped into the class collection and chose our own small, meaningful gifts for the teachers who really made a difference (we’d always done it this way throughout primary.) For us, it’s main teacher, TAs, Pastoral and Reception who have been a constant support network at the school.
👕 Leavers’ Hoodies
A must-have! Every child’s name printed on the back – and yes, they wore them constantly, even on warm days. Just remember, for twins, you’re buying double but they’ll get the wear out of them.
🎭 End-of-Year Play
One of mine landed a lead role; the other played two parts. Cue extra rehearsals, late-night line-learning, and proud tears on the big day. Our school made sure the first 2 rows are reserved for Year 6 parents/family – which I thought is a really nice touch. All the kids did so well and left us all feeling super proud of them all.
💃 Leavers’ Disco
One of the parents arranged a big group photo with all the kids before they went into the school – this was such a great idea. They all raced into the school ready to party and dance with their friends – it was beautiful and bittersweet and a huge reminder of how ready they all are for this next chapter.
🚌 Final School Trips
Many schools plan a special day out or even a residential. Mine opted out of the residential, and that was totally okay. We made the decision together, and they still felt included. But there are a couple of lovely Y6 trips the school arranged so there was definitely no feeling of being left out.
📸 Final Class Photos
Frame it. Treasure it. This one will tug at your heartstrings for years. Our school did 2 different ones, a more traditional picture of the class and a fun one – honestly, when I taking them out of the packaging, I burst into tears. I just know how much they’ll miss their teacher this year – she’ll always be that teacher they’ll never forget for making such a huge and positive impact.
⚽ Sports Day
Their last primary sports day – full of chants, races, and big cheers – I love the camaraderie of a sports day. After, we all got to enjoy a picnic together and the kids played enjoying another chance to soak up the last moments of primary.
🎤 Leavers’ Assembly
Bring tissues. Seeing your children up there, saying goodbye to their primary journey… there wasn’t a dry eye in sight. Our school had an awards ceremony too, and both my twins won awards – it just made the whole emotional journey even more special.
📅 Transition Days at Secondary
This one caught me off guard. I kept it together at the gate… but cried in the car. It really did feel like we were closing the door on their little world.
☀️ Summer and birthdays
My twins are September-born, the eldest in their year – so the shift felt extra significant. It’s also meant juggling birthday plans, summer activities and back-to-school prep. We’ve aimed for a mix of downtime, fun, and independence-building over the holidays!
🎒 Saying Hello to Secondary School
The jump to secondary school is huge—for them, and for you. And with twins? It’s double everything: prep, emotion… and yep, cost. I will be doing a more detailed tips post to give as much of a chance to get ahead of the game as much as possible. For now, here’s what I wish I’d known earlier:
💰 Start Saving Early
Secondary school costs ramp up fast. Everything is branded – blazers, ties, PE kits, even socks in some cases.
The only real “free choice”? White shirts. Start a school fund early if you can – every little bit helps.
Other expenses to factor in:
- Scientific calculators
- Tech gear
- Locker rental
- Stationery
- Bus passes (if using buses)
- Canteen funds
- Proper solid shoes (we always buy from Clarks)
📦 I’ll be sharing a full breakdown of what we spent soon – stay tuned!
🏫 Visit Schools a Year Early
Open evenings start in September, with applications due by October 31st. That’s not much time, especially if you’re weighing options for twins or SEND support.
We started the year before. It let us:
- Ask better questions
- Revisit favourites
- Add in last-minute visits without panic
🧩 Consider Each Child’s Needs
One of my twins has an EHCP, so we had a few extra layers to think about: support systems, pastoral care, class sizes, and even whether they’d be in the same school or not.
Luckily, they both chose the same school—and we got in. The relief was real.
🧠 A deeper dive into our EHCP journey is coming soon.
👟 Buy Uniforms & Shoes Early
End of August? Chaos.
We usually shop end of July/early August – removing as much stress as possible!
Also, label everything. Blazers, PE kits, bottles… even socks if you want to keep your sanity.
🧠 Build Independence Early
Year 6 is perfect for building independence bit by bit:
- Packing their own bag
- Setting reminders on Alexa
- Walking part of the school run solo
These small habits made the secondary transition much smoother.
Final Thoughts
Nothing quite prepares you for this transition. It’s a logistical, emotional, and financial juggling act. But with a bit of planning, honest conversations, and some early shopping runs, you’ll get through it. Something I wish I had done, was take a few days here and there off work. However, with only 25 days annual leave, it’s pretty tricky to juggle any extra time off when schools usually have 14 weeks off and I only get 5. Make it make sense, hey?
Coming Soon on RaisingTwins.co.uk
👕 What We Bought for Secondary School (and What It Cost)
🧠 Navigating Secondary School with an EHCP
