Year 6 to Year 7 Transition : How to Help Your Child Prepare for High School in 2026
- Primo Tutoring
- Nov 24
- 3 min read
The move from Year 6 to Year 7 is one of the biggest transitions in a child’s school journey. The shift to high school brings new routines, new expectations, new subjects, and a completely new level of independence. Many parents ask how to best prepare their child for Year 7 — especially heading into 2026.
As a tutor who works closely with Year 6 and Year 7 students, I’ve seen clear patterns — the habits that help students thrive, the challenges that slow them down, and the simple things parents can do now to make the transition smoother and calmer.
1. Build routines early — don’t wait for Week 1, Term 1
One of my Year 7 students once said, “I didn’t know what to do with all the freedom.”
Primary schools guide students step-by-step. High schools expect independence. The transition from Year 6 to Year 7 can be incredibly challenging for many students, but there are small actions that can make this process significantly easier for them.
You can help by building a routine before the school year begins:
A homework window (even as little as 20–30 minutes a day can make a big difference). Many Year 7 students are surprised by the sudden increase in homework. Building a short, consistent study period now makes high school far less stressful.
Packing the bag the night before. High school often starts earlier and may be farther from home. Packing the night before reduces morning stress and helps students arrive prepared and on time.
Following a weekly timetable. Unlike primary school, Year 7 students move from room to room for every subject. Becoming comfortable with timetables and planning ahead prevents confusion and lateness.
A simple to-do list that your child can update themselves. Teachers expect students to take responsibility for their work. Learning to make and update a to-do list is one of the most practical skills a student can develop at this stage.
These small habits remove stress and build confidence early.
2. Strengthen the core skills that high school relies on
The biggest challenge in Year 7 isn’t the new content — it’s the skills behind it. There are a wide variety of topics that students will be introduced to in Year 7 that they haven't encountered before, but there are a select few essential skills that will make the most difference.
The most important ones are:
Reading longer texts and making inferences
Solving multi-step maths problems
Creating subject-specific study plans
Answering questions in an efficient manner
Clearly explaining their problem solving process
Organising materials and time
Many primary students have limited practice with these skills. Strengthening them now can significantly smooth the transition to high school and boost confidence from Day 1.
3. Help them practise self-advocacy
A simple mindset shift can save months of confusion. Students who ask questions when they don’t understand something adapt much faster to high school.
However, many Year 7 students hesitate to speak up because:
They’re nervous about speaking in front of people (especially ones they don't know very well yet)
The classes are larger
They are in an unfamiliar environment
They have a rotation of multiple teachers, so developing a familiarity and comfort level with them can take much longer
You can help by practising simple, polite phrases such as:
“Could you explain that in a different way?”
“Can I check if I’m doing this correctly?"
Self-advocacy grows confidence quickly. Students need to understand that the brief discomfort of asking a question leads to far greater independence, success, and resilience in the long run.
The autonomy they build in Year 7 becomes a foundation for the rest of high school — and beyond.
If you focus on the three principles above — routines, core skills, and self-advocacy — your child will be in a strong position to transition smoothly from primary to high school.
These areas create confident, independent learners who are ready for the challenges of Year 7.
Want support with the Year 6 → Year 7 transition?
Primo Tutoring offers Maths and English lessons to students in Parramatta, Girraween, Toongabbie, Winston Hills, Old Toongabbie, Pendle Hill, Greystanes, and Pemulwuy, helping them strengthen core skills and build confidence for Year 7.
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