Secondary school can be a wonderful in many ways, but there can also be challenges. Nobody wants to have to face bullying, for example, but schools and teachers are in your corner to help you through tricky times. Part of the school journey is learning to deal with challenges in positive ways and, as always, Bitesize is here to support you every step of the way.
If you're going through bullying, or wondering what to do if it happens, don't worry. Content creator Lee Hinchcliffe has been talking to our friendly teacher Chloe about the things he went through at school, as well as asking your questions to find out the best way to approach things. For more tips, keep scrolling.
Chloe: Were you ever bullied at school, Lee?
Lee: I wasn't bullied, but I do remember hearing the odd comment about how someone looked or how they spoke, and it's never nice to hear that. So what advice would you give for someone who is being bullied?
Chloe: Well, bullying can come in all different forms. It can be emotional, physical or even spreading rumours.
Lee: We had weird jokes that were going around school that were maybe bullying, although at the time I didn't realise it.
Chloe: Yes, there are many types of bullying, but the main thing to remember is it's not okay. And if you are feeling bullied, it's important that you speak to member of staff as soon as you can and try and get it sorted.
Lee: We've got a question from Diamond in Year 9.
Diamond: What should I do if I see my friendgetting bullied?
Chloe: It's important to talk about what's happening and encourage your friend to seek help.
Lee: I know when something’s affecting one of my close friends it’s important to be there for them. Is it the same for someone who is being bullied?
Chloe: Exactly. You should show your friends support and encourage them to speak to a trusted adult.
Lee: Here’s a question from Rohan in Year 8, who says, if someone is peer pressuring me to do something bad, what do I do?
Lee: It's never nice to be peer pressured into something, so Chloe, if someone's going through that, what tips do you have?
Chloe: Peer pressure is when you feel you need to act in a certain way just because everyone around you expects you to do something.
Lee: And what should you do instead?
Chloe: Be your own person. Consider what behaviours you feel comfortable with and stand your ground and don't feel pressurised into doing something you don't want to do.
Lee: So I suppose it's important to remember that you don't have to deal with bullying or peer pressure alone.
Chloe: Exactly. And whatever your experience is of bullying, don't be afraid to speak out and get help.
Tips for overcoming challenges at secondary school
Looking for more tips? Well, we're here to dish out some extra advice on handling the tough stuff – think thriving through failure, beating bullying and reacting positively to peer pressure.
Struggling? It's normal
Just remember, almost all students find things difficult at secondary school. It might be struggles with assignments, tests, managing your time, navigating friendships, or bullying. Having ups and downs is completely normal, and you should always ask for help from a trusted adult when you need it.
Find your safe zone
Homework clubs and lunchtime activities give you a quiet escape from the hustle of the playground, and can be a great place to make friends. Schools can provide lots of support for common concerns. There might be a student mentor or school counsellor to help you work through your worries. Take advantage of the support on offer.
Speak up, don't let the bullies win
Bullying can take many forms – physical, online, emotional, spreading rumours – and should never be tolerated in any school. If you feel bullied, you see someone being bullied, or even if you've been less than kind to others, talk to a member of staff or trusted adult and get things sorted.
Be your own person
Ever felt like you had to do something you feel is wrong just because everyone around you was expecting it? That's peer pressure. At school, it’s common for peer pressure to push you to do things like talk back to a teacher or join in with not-so-nice comments about someone.
As you go through school, it’s important to consider which behaviours match your values, and stand your ground if you feel pressurised to behave differently. Being true to yourself means sticking up for what you believe in. If you feel you need help with navigating situations like these, make sure you get some support.
School life can be difficult to navigate, so we've put together lots of tips and advice to help make things easier for you. For more school essentials, head to our study skills page.
If you need support
You should always tell someone about the things you’re worried about. You can tell a friend, parent, guardian, teacher, or another trusted adult. If you're struggling with your mental health, going to your GP can be a good place to start to find help. Your GP can let you know what support is available to you, suggest different types of treatment and offer regular check-ups to see how you’re doing.
If you’re in need of in-the-moment support you can contact Childline, where you can speak to a counsellor. Their lines are open 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.
There are more links to helpful organisations on BBC Action Line.
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