Opportunities for friendships

Find out about making friends in your new school.

Many children told us that making friends was one of the things they worried about when starting a new school.

You might feel sad about leaving friends behind. You might also feel excited about meeting new people. Some children feel both at the same time.

Making friends is not always easy. Some children told us that friendships took time, others made friends quickly.

When I started school, I was really nervous and scared. My teacher was really nice to me, and she helped me with my English. I’m in year six and now I speak good English, and I have many friends. (Laia, Year 6)

Find some people who like the same things as you do and ask if they want to be friends. (Abdul, Year 6)

Three pupils working together at a classroom table.

How your school can help

Your school may help you get to know other children. Some children told us that having a buddy, joining school committees, clubs and taking part in activities helped them make new friends. You can ask your school about how you can join different activities or groups, or get your parent/carer to ask for you.

Matilda’s Story

Matilda was 10 years old when she moved to a new primary school. She had been finding school difficult for a while. Some children had been bullying her, and she sometimes found school harder than other children did. At the time, nobody fully understood why she was struggling or what support she needed. Moving schools felt like a chance for things to get better, but it also made her very nervous.

The thing Matilda worried about most was making friends. She was afraid that she would be lonely and that other children would not want to play with her. Many children feel this way when they start a new school.

To help Matilda settle in, the school paired her with a buddy. Her buddy was a friendly and popular pupil who knew lots of children across the school. She showed Matilda around, sat with her at break times and introduced her to different friendship groups.

Having someone to support her in those first few weeks made a big difference. Matilda started to feel more confident and made new friends. As her teachers got to know her better, they began to understand the things she found difficult and how to support her. Over time, Matilda felt happy, included and like she belonged in her new school.