Transitioning to Secondary School

Resource activity: Group work

Transitioning to Secondary School

Road casualty data shows that the number of child pedestrian casualties doubles between the ages of 9 and 11, with incidents more likely to happen during drop-off and pick up times. 

This free, printable activity sheet helps parents prepare their children for more independent travel, especially as they start thinking about the move to secondary school. The sheet includes simple tips for parents to share on practice journeys and an interactive Safe Adventures quiz for children. 

Click on the icons above to download the activity sheet.

We’ve also teamed up with The National College to launch a new guide for parents and educators, designed to help children build essential road safety skills as they gain independence. Get the resource here.

Our Tales of the Road resource remains a key tool for empowering children with the knowledge to stay safe and is especially useful as they transition to more independent travel. A print-friendly version of the booklet is also available, condensed for easy use but packed with the same helpful advice and information. 

For more information on supporting children’s road safety as they move to secondary school, visit our Safe Adventures page.  

In this lesson pupils will learn how to plan their route to school, including any extra precautions they would take based on insights gathered from referring to a map. Pupils will use the THINK! Map.

Learning objectives

  • I know how to plan a safer journey to school.
  • I know my responsibilities as a pedestrian, a cyclist, or a passenger in a car or on public transport.

Everything you need for lesson plan 3, Map Your journey:

It’s cool, it’s not cool

In this film an illustrator shows how to travel safely.

To download, click here which will take you to Vimeo’s website. From there, simply click on the ‘Download’ button.

It’s cool, it’s not cool film is also available with Welsh subtitles, shown below. To download this version, click here again this will take you to Vimeo’s website. From there, simply click on the “download” button.

Students will reflect on the behaviors they have developed over the years, as a pedestrian and a passenger.

This is lesson plan 5.

Learning Objectives

  1. I know my responsibilities as a pedestrian, a passenger and a future driver
  2. I know about issues affecting young drivers such as peer pressure, speeding, seat belts, inexperience and overconfidence

This pack contains everything you need for lesson plan 5, dangerous habits.

Students will be encouraged to think about how the consequences of an accident might affect them, a friend or a family member in their day-to-day lives.

Students will consider the most effective strategies to persuade people to change their behaviour and become more responsible on and around the road whether they are a driver, cyclist, pedestrian or passenger.

This is lesson plan 4.

Learning Objectives

1. I know about issues affecting young drivers such as peer pressure, speeding, seat belts and inexperience.

2. I know my responsibilities as a pedestrian, a passenger and a future driver.

This pack contains everything you need for lesson plan 4, Campaign HQ.

  • Campaign HQ Lesson plan
  • Campaign HQ slides
  • THINK! Map

Students will confront assumptions about road safety and the impact of distractions on reaction times.

Students will reflect on their own behaviours and how distractions could negatively impact their own personal safety.

This is lesson plan 3.

Learning Objectives

  1. I know the consequences of drugs and alcohol use in relation to driving.
  2. I know my responsibilities as a pedestrian, a passenger and a driver.
  3. I know about issues affecting young drivers such as peer pressure, speed, seat belts, inexperience and overconfidence.
  4. I know how to travel safely when I am on my own and understand the benefits of sustainable travel.

In this lesson students will learn the importance of speaking up in potentially dangerous situations.

Students will have informal scripts to help them develop confidence, so that they know what to say to challenge people’s attitudes and behaviours.

This is lesson plan 1.

Learning Objectives

  1. I know my responsibilities as a pedestrian, a passenger and a future driver and can manage difficult situations with my peers
  2. I know about issues affecting young drivers – such as peer pressure, speeding, seat belts, inexperience and over confidence
  3. I have the communication skills that allow me to speak up in potentially dangerous and difficult road safety scenarios to influence a safer outcome

This pack contains everything you need for lesson plan 1, Speak up. Please note that interactive slides are not currently available.

Film: First Journeys

In this film, children discuss first solo journeys they’re looking forward to and older children share what their first journeys were like. Both groups of children share their top tips to stay safe.

To download, click here which will take you to Vimeo’s website. From there, simply click on the ‘Download’ button.

This video is also available with Welsh subtitles, shown below. To Download this version, click here  again this will take you to the Vimeo website. From there, simply click on the “Download” button.

See Think Speak

In this film, students are encouraged to See,Think and Speak up in risky road safety situations.

To download, click here which will take you to Vimeo’s website. From there, simply click on the ‘Download’ button.

See, Think, Speak film is also available with Welsh subtitles, shown below. To download this version, click here and again this will take you to Vimeo’s website. From there, simply click on the “Download” button.