Top Tips for Secondary School

Starting at a new school can feel like a big jump for everyone. For lots of blind and partially sighted students, this jump can feel bigger as there is a lot more to think about… 

We have worked with our Young Voices Volunteers to bring you a selection of top tips on how to make the most of your time at secondary school. Our volunteers are blind and partially sighted students who are in secondary school themselves. Check out their top tips to help you get ready!

Tip 1 – Choosing a school 

Every secondary school is different: they can be big or small; have different equipment; be made for disabled people (special school) or made for everyone (mainstream school). The right one for you is the one which will support what you need. Your family and your primary school want the right secondary school for you too. It is important you help with making these decisions because you know your sight best.

Tip 2 – Finding your way around a new school 

 Finding your way around a new and bigger school might make you feel nervous. To help, your primary school can organise a visit to the secondary school you are going to so you can find out where the important rooms are. This might be places like your tutor room, the school canteen, and the library.  

To help you concentrate and ask questions, you could ask for a visit to the school at a quiet time of the day or school calendar. Remember when you do start school, you can get more help to find your way around from someone called a Habilitation Specialist. 

Tip 3 – Making friends 

Making friends is one of the most important things you will do at school, as friends can be for life. Some friendship tips from our Young Voices volunteers are: 

• Start a conversation with the different people you sit with in your classes because the seating plan usually changes.  
• Head to the school library, a quiet place to make friends over your favourite book, audiobook, or an activity the library organises.  
• Join a school club to meet people who like the same things as you. 
• If you feel comfortable, tell your friends about your vision impairment and the support you need. Remember, it is your choice if you want to tell people about it. For advice on how to tell others about your vision impairment, visit our Disclosing that you are blind or partially sighted page.  

Check out our Making Friends and Meeting New People at School guide for more ways to make friends. 

 “Don’t worry about what people think of you. Sometimes it can be hard if you think you’re different or stand out, but everyone is weird in their own way. Try and be confident in your Visual Impairment because it makes you unique and special in the best kind of way” – Young Voices Volunteer.

Tip 4 – Reasonable adjustments 

Reasonable adjustments are the steps your secondary school should take to make sure you are able to learn with your vision impairment. You can find examples of reasonable adjustments in Step One of our ‘Six Steps for Starting Secondary School’ guide.  

Reasonable adjustments should be put in place before you start school and should work for you. There are professionals at your school who will be able to help you think about the reasonable adjustments you need and support you to tell your teachers.

Selvi’s top tips

Listen to Selvi, a Young Voices Volunteer, as she shares her own tips on working with the professionals there to support you at school!

Read the transcript

Tip 5 – How technology can help 

Our Young Voices volunteers find mobile phones and tablets extremely helpful at school. As a blind or partially sighted student you can take advantage of the in-built accessibility features on your phone or tablet.  

You could use the camera to read the board, a screen-reader to follow along in class, or magnification to zoom in on text. For other ways you could use your tech, visit our Education Technology webpages.

Tip 6 – Be prepared 

School won’t always be plain sailing and you may face some obstacles as a blind or partially sighted student. You aren’t alone as blind and partially sighted people face obstacles in their day to day lives all the time. You also are not to blame when you do face these obstacles in your education. Knowing where you can go for support and reading our online guides can help prepare you for when obstacles do come along. Reading this guide shows you are already on the right track!

 “These are the top tips we wish we’d known. However, even if we’d followed all of these tips, not everything would have gone right. Just remember you and your Visual impairment are not to blame – don’t beat yourself up or be too hard on yourself. You’re doing amazing!” – Young Voices volunteers.

Now you know the top tips, do you know what your next steps are to make the most of your time at secondary school? Our Six Steps for Starting Secondary School resource will guide you into your new school.

Young Voices volunteers 

The tips above were brought to you from our Young Voices. If you would like to find out more about these volunteers who have been where you are now, head over to our Meet the Young Voices page.

On behalf of the Young Voices, and the Education Information Advice and Guidance Service, we wish you well on your new adventure!

Further support 

Our Education Information Advice and Guidance Service is here for blind and partially sighted students aged 7+, their families and the professionals that support them. We provide expert information, advice and guidance supporting students to navigate primary, secondary school, college and university.

If you have any questions about accessing your Secondary education, please reach out to us by visiting our Education Information Advice and Guidance Webpage

If you are a parent or carer wanting information or advice on the transition from primary to secondary school, or Education Health Care Plans (EHCPs) , Guide Dogs for the Blind are there for you. Looking for information on how to support your child’s self-advocacy and resilience skills? RNIB’s ‘Emotional Support for children and young people with a visual impairment’ is worth a read.