What a Head of Year 7 Says Pupils Struggle With Most
Hey everyone,
It’s been a really positive start to the year at The Mindful Digital Collective, so I wanted to share what’s been happening recently and give a few updates on what’s coming next.
Mountjoy - first session complete
An Amazing Start at Mountjoy
After running a session there in 2025, we’ve been working with Kat Thurtle, a teacher and IT lead at Mountjoy School, to create a series of sessions designed to prepare Year 11 students for life after school.
Kat shared the key areas she needed to cover with the students, and the idea was to structure the sessions so that we supported those topics while also bringing in what makes The Mindful Digital Collective different.
A big part of the approach was making sure the work genuinely supported teachers. At the end of the first session, I provided Kat with a short report outlining the areas we had covered and the evidence behind them, making it easy for her to link the work back to the school's objectives.
The sessions we developed include:
Session One: Online Communication & Relationships ✅
Session Two: Online Detective
Session Three: Financial Literacy
Session Four: AI & Creativity
Session Five: The Power of Pause
Session Six: Digital Identity & Self-Worth
The first session focused on what healthy relationships look like online, as well as recognising unhealthy behaviours. We brought the topics to life with videos and open discussions, and the students were incredibly engaged.
We covered some difficult topics, including grooming, trolling, controlling behaviour and cyberbullying. The session lasted an hour and, to my surprise, we managed to keep them engaged throughout - helped by building in regular pauses and moments for discussion.
If you’re a teacher interested in running something similar at your school, feel free to get in touch with me at nick@themindfuldigitalcollective.co.uk
Insights from a Head of Year 7
Recently I spoke with a local Head of Year 7 about what pupils often struggle with when they arrive at secondary school. One theme stood out more than anything else: resilience.
Schools can support pupils in many ways once they arrive, but challenges often arise when children feel overwhelmed and avoid difficult moments rather than working through them. Sometimes this shows up as pupils not wanting to come into school or feeling unable to face situations that feel uncomfortable or unfamiliar.
Building resilience means helping young people develop the confidence to face challenges rather than step away from them. It’s about learning that difficult moments are part of growing up, and that with the right support they can work through them.
For parents, this can sometimes mean resisting the instinct to immediately remove the challenge. Instead, helping children talk through what they’re worried about and encouraging them to take small steps forward can make a big difference to their confidence over time.
Alongside resilience, the Head of Year also highlighted a few other common challenges for pupils starting secondary school. Organisation and independence are a big shift, with pupils suddenly responsible for managing equipment, homework and moving between lessons.
They also pointed to the growing impact of phones and group chats, where misunderstandings and social pressure can quickly affect friendships and wellbeing.
Another reality many pupils face is that friendship groups often change. The friends they arrive with are not always the friends they stay with as they meet new people and mix across different classes and activities.
Finally, healthy habits and wellbeing matter more than many people realise. Eating well, maintaining energy levels and looking after themselves physically all affect concentration and mood during the school day.
With the long summer holiday creating a gap between primary school preparation and the reality of secondary school, helping pupils feel confident and prepared before September can make a huge difference.
Upcoming Event
Event website screenshot
In response to these challenges, I’m organising a Year 6 Life Skills Day in June / July for pupils from local primary schools who are preparing to move to secondary school.
The day is designed to help children feel more confident about the transition by exploring the real situations they’re likely to face, from new friendships and social pressure to building resilience and speaking up when they need help.
Through a series of short talks, discussions and practical exercises, pupils will develop the confidence and mindset to approach secondary school positively. The event will also bring together pupils from different schools, helping them build connections before they arrive in Year 7.
We’ll be inviting Year 6 pupils from local schools including Bridport Primary, St Mary’s, St Catherine’s, Symondsbury, Salway Ash, Burton Bradstock, Powerstock and Thorner’s to take part.
The goal is simple: for pupils to arrive in September feeling more confident, more resilient and better prepared for the next stage of their education.
The transition from Year 6 to Year 7 is one of the most important moments in a child’s school journey, and getting it right can make a huge difference to how confidently pupils settle into secondary school.
If you’re a teacher or parent at one of these schools or another local primary that may be interested - I’d love to hear from you.
You can read more about the event here: https://www.themindfuldigitalcollective.co.uk/lifeskillsday
And if you know a Year 6 teacher or school leader, feel free to pass the link on.
AI session in progress
Talking AI with Teachers in West Dorset
At the start of the year I was invited by Ruth Sivarajah from Dorset Council to run two sessions for teachers from schools in the West Dorset Collaboration, focusing on how schools are beginning to approach AI.
Across the two one-hour sessions we explored the current AI landscape from the perspective of teachers, parents and young people. We also discussed how schools might start thinking about AI in 2026, and looked at some practical use cases together.
One of the most interesting parts of the morning was hearing teachers share how they were already experimenting with AI in their classrooms. As ideas started to flow, other teachers quickly jumped in with questions and suggestions. It created some really valuable discussion between schools.
It was also a reminder of how important these kinds of spaces are. When teachers have the opportunity to share what’s working, what hasn’t and what they’re learning, it helps everyone move forward together.
If this sounds useful for your school and you have an inset day coming up, I’d be very happy to come in and discuss it with your teachers, just reach out here - nick@themindfuldigitalcollective.co.uk
Staying Part of the Conversation
The goal of this newsletter is simple: to share ideas, insights and real experiences that help us better support young people as they grow up in a rapidly changing world.
From digital life and AI to confidence, resilience and relationships, these are conversations that schools, parents and communities all need to be part of.
If there are topics you’d like to see explored in future newsletters, or questions you’d like me to dive into, I’d love to hear from you.
And if you know a teacher, school leader or parent who might find this newsletter useful, please feel free to pass it on. The more people involved in the conversation, the more we can support young people together.
Nick Founder, The Mindful Digital Collective