We have a range of theatre and drama based assemblies, workshops and bespoke summer school programmes to help support a successful Transition to Secondary school.
Big Steps: A Powerful Year 6–7 Transition Assembly Experience
The move from primary to secondary school is one of the biggest emotional and social transitions a child will experience. While it is often filled with excitement, it can also bring real anxieties about friendships, routines, expectations and finding a sense of belonging in a much bigger environment.
Big Steps is Bigfoot Arts Education’s interactive transition assembly, created specifically to support Year 6 pupils as they prepare for life in Year 7. Through a carefully structured blend of film, drama and pupil participation, the session helps students feel calmer, more confident, more prepared and genuinely excited about what lies ahead.
A Transition Assembly That Pupils Actually Remember
At the heart of the workshop is a short, engaging film following two relatable Year 7 characters, Stephan and Roxanne. Their experiences are drawn directly from real transition stories gathered from young people across the UK, meaning the challenges they face feel authentic, familiar and often reassuringly humorous.
As pupils watch, the film is paused at key moments to explore themes through short interactive activities. This approach allows students not only to reflect on common worries but also to rehearse positive strategies together in a supportive, whole-year setting.
Building Confidence, Connection and Resilience
Throughout the session, pupils develop practical confidence about navigating their new school environment, understanding routines and knowing what to do if they feel unsure. They also explore the social side of transition, learning simple ways to start conversations and approach new friendships, which is often one of the greatest concerns at this age.
The workshop encourages responsibility and resilience by addressing real-life scenarios around homework, organisation and making mistakes. Pupils are reminded that secondary school is not about perfection, but about learning to ask for help, owning errors and growing in independence. Alongside this, students are given space to reflect on their own strengths and individuality, reinforcing the importance of staying true to themselves while settling into a new community.
Key Themes Covered
Big Steps is structured around eight clear transition topics, including worries about the move to secondary school, getting lost, making friends, managing homework expectations, fitting in, losing belongings, problem-solving common anxieties and celebrating the positives ahead. Each section is designed to be fast-paced, relatable and inclusive, ensuring engagement across the full year group.
The session finishes with optimism and excitement, helping pupils focus not only on what they are nervous about, but on what they can look forward to, new subjects, new opportunities, new friends and a fresh start.
Why Heads of Year 7 Choose Bigfoot
Bigfoot understands that successful transition is about more than sharing information. It is about emotional readiness, belonging and confidence. Our transition work supports schools by reducing pupil anxiety ahead of September, encouraging peer support and kindness, reinforcing pastoral messages in a fresh and engaging way, and helping pupils begin Year 7 feeling secure and supported.
This workshop is an ideal addition to induction days, September settling-in programmes, wellbeing weeks, pastoral provision or whole-year transition assemblies.
Flexible, School-Friendly Delivery
Big Steps is delivered as a 60-minute interactive assembly or workshop, led by trained Bigfoot Arts facilitators. All film content is provided to schools in advance, with minimal setup required on the day. Timings can be adapted to suit your schedule, and sections can be shortened if needed, making the experience highly flexible for busy transition periods.
A Message Pupils Take With Them
By the end of Big Steps, pupils leave with a clear understanding that worries are normal, help is always available, friendships will come, mistakes are part of learning, and secondary school is full of opportunity. Most importantly, they leave feeling ready, supported and excited about the journey ahead.
Book Upwards & Onwards for Your Year 6–7 Transition Programme
If you are a Head of Year 7 or Transition Lead looking for an engaging, meaningful way to support incoming pupils, we would love to help bring Big Steps to your school.
Session length: 1 hour
Number of students: Up to 300 pupils per session
