Programmes
The Next Chapter
Transition and mentoring programme for Year 7 students. Building confidence, friendships, and social skills through activities and sport - helping students navigate secondary school successfully.
Supporting the Transition to Secondary School
Starting secondary school is an exciting step but it can also be challenging. Students face new teachers, classrooms, subjects, and responsibilities. For some, this change can create social pressures and make it harder to settle in or feel confident.
The Next Chapter helps students navigate these challenges by giving them the skills and support they need to engage fully in school and have the best start possible. We do this through fun, active sessions and sport-based activities that encourage teamwork, communication, and social connection.
Our Approach
Trusted Mentor Support
Each student is paired with a mentor who becomes a consistent, supportive adult during the transition. Mentors provide guidance, reassurance, and help students feel safe, understood, and valued within the school community.
Activities and Sport
Team games and active challenges give students opportunities to:
- Practice communication skills
- Work together with peers
- Develop friendships and social confidence
- Experience success and build self-esteem in a supportive environment
Guided Mentoring and Reflection
Through structured conversations and reflection, students learn to:
- Navigate new social situations
- Maintain meaningful friendships
- Manage social pressures and responsibilities
- Express themselves confidently
Why The Next Chapter Helps
Starting secondary school brings new social expectations and responsibilities. Students must navigate:
- ✓ Larger peer groups and changing friendship dynamics
- ✓ Increased independence and personal responsibility
- ✓ Unfamiliar routines and rules
- ✓ Social pressures that can affect confidence and engagement
Friendships in secondary school are especially important because they shape a student's overall school experience and can influence their future social and emotional development. Positive friendships help students feel safe, included, and confident, while supportive peer relationships can make the difference between a negative experience and a positive, fulfilling school life.
The Next Chapter uses activities and sport to teach these essential skills in a practical, enjoyable way. This helps students build meaningful friendships, feel included, and remain engaged in school.
What Students Gain
- ✓ Stronger friendships and social connections
- ✓ Improved communication skills
- ✓ Greater confidence and self-esteem
- ✓ Better emotional regulation
- ✓ A sense of belonging and security in secondary school
By focusing on social skills, confidence, and friendship through activities and sport, The Next Chapter helps students engage fully in school and start secondary education on a positive, supported path that can shape their future well-being.
Book a Free Trial
Contact us to arrange a free trial session. After the trial, we will place your child in the group that best suits their needs.