Ch-ch-changes

Author, Karen McCombie, on the seismic shift from primary to secondary school

From my scattershot of secondary school memories, three jump out… 1. The strained expressions of the be-caped teachers who’d stayed on – by the looks of it reluctantly – after my school had morphed from being a centuriesold private boys school to a co-ed comprehensive. My stint at Aberdeen Grammar School began with us being only the third year of girls allowed across the threshold, and it felt wildly exciting to be rocking the patriarchy with our hints of (Harmony) hair colour and illegally rolled-up skirts! 2. Being constantly muddled up with Fiona McCombie, all-round nice person, brainiac and future Head Girl. Most of the time it was a pain, since I was pretty much unfavourably compared to her, but I then was very pleased with the 88% I got for Physics in my mock Scottish O-Grade. Especially since I hadn’t actually taken Physics. 3. Starting secondary with the same ‘newbie’ status as everyone else. Attending five primary schools in total – including one in Australia, after my family emigrated and then quickly un-emigrated – and constantly being the lone new girl had left me terribly shy and awkward. But being in the same boat as everyone else at secondary felt liberating!

By contrast, this transition time was tricksy for my own daughter, who swapped a cosy, just-atthe-end-of-the-road primary for a bedazzlingly huge school packed too full of jostling older kids, confusing corridors to get lost in, and teachers warning of Stern Consequences if protractors/gym shorts/green pens for marking were forgotten.

Different experiences of the primary-to-secondary step-up – including the not-inconsequential shifting sands of friendship groups – rattled around in my mind, eventually settling into ‘How To Be A Human’, my latest novel. Told from three points of view, the character of Kiki is based on a friend’s daughter, who found herself scooped up into the popular crew, only to be spat out pretty quickly for not being cool enough. Wes is a friend-free loner, unsure how to fit in or avoid bullies. And the ultimate outsider is Star Boy, newly-stranded and hiding in the school basement after an intergalactic educational trip goes wrong!

So yes, the switch to secondary school can be a brilliant time of new changes and new chances, but it can be pretty overwhelming too. To every student embarking on it, I salute you! And want to give your hand a little squeeze too. It’ll be okay. Eventually. I promise…

Karen, aged 14, just about to be harangued by Mrs Downie, fearsome deputy head, for eyeliner and slackenedtie irregularities!

Karen McCombie has been described by Waterstones as “one of children’s fiction’s most accomplished authors.” ‘How To Be A Human’ – her ninety-seventh published book – is out now.

FOR MORE INFO, including teaching resources, visit www.karenmccombie.com or www.littletiger.co.uk/resourcecategory/activities

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