Transition to high school
The Green Team Transition Programme with Forrester High School began 5 years ago, building on a strong partnership that started with the school during COVID.
What began as a pilot grew into a hugely successful programme. The Green Team’s Transition Programme is now embedded into the school’s range of additional support for pupils moving up to high school from all its feeder primaries.
For The Green Team, the Transition Programme is a natural first step towards our Green Shoots programme for young people (S1-S3) to connect with nature during the school week. The priority is to provide a supportive and inclusive space for young people to connect with the natural world, themselves and others in a small group setting.
Through a range of practical outdoor activities and young person led sessions, young people can develop skills that give them the confidence and resilience to deal with a range of life’s challenges.
Holiday club – fun, play and exploration
During the transition week, The Green Team gives a short presentation to a selection of pupils identified by the high school as those who would benefit from some extra support during their transition.
We meet as one big group during the transition and give the young people some information on the programme. We then ask who is interested and who can make the 3 days ‘holiday club’ part of the programme. From this group, the first 8 to get their forms in get a place on the programme!
The Green Team starts the programme with 3 holiday club day sessions in the last week of the summer holidays. These sessions give the group the opportunity to have some fun time out in nature and meet other young people going up to the big school with them the following week.
This initial time together helps them to develop friendships and start to build positive relationships with the school staff team, before starting out on their first day of high school.
Forest School – the next step
Once term starts, we transition along with the group to more formal “forest school” sessions. At this stage, we introduce the idea of conservation, learning to use some tools and helping out with tasks around Bonaly Country Park.
Throughout, we keep our ethos of fun, play and exploration whilst introducing the group to more formal aspects of conservation work and the more structured nature of high school.
At the end of the programme, we all come together for a celebration back in school. Parents and carers are invited along with members of staff to celebrate all they have achieved!
Overall impact
The Transition Programme always attracts very positive feedback both from engagement with the young people, as well as building positive relationships with parents and carers. Often the parents and carers are former students of Forrester High School who wished they had had the opportunity to benefit from The Green Team Transition Programme themselves!
More about Green Shoots
The Green Shoots Programme is for pupils in S1-S3 who are currently experiencing challenges within their school or home lives and are keen to grow and develop in a safe and inclusive environment in a natural setting.