The Transition Toolkit: Why Curiosity is the Secret to a Successful Year 7

By Kate Jones, Head of Third Form

As Head of Third Form (as Year 7 is known here), a key part of my role is overseeing the transition of students from the primary to secondary school environment. At Sidcot, we are proud of the range of transition initiatives we operate. We are proud to build meaningful links between our Junior and Senior Schools long before – years before - our students put on their new uniforms in September. But what can the students themselves do to take some ownership over their transition?

The answer: be curious.

What Is Curiosity and Why Is It Important?

Being curious means having an inquiring mind. It is about being open to trying new things, asking questions, meeting new people, challenging ourselves and maybe even finding answers. I see this concept of curiosity as strongly connected to the Quaker practice of reflection, as well the challenging of orthodoxies. We should not accept something just because it is accepted or is ‘the norm’. It is important to be curious and realise that there is always more to learn about ourselves and the world around us.

In practical terms, we strongly encourage our third formers to be curious enough to try new things and make positive choices; to be brave enough to do, rather than to not do. This will help them to build confidence, skills and knowledge.

This year, we have seen a huge proportion of the year group audition for Matilda, sign up to playing sports, or try new activities in PASS. A record number have been awarded roles as Lead Learners in their favourite subjects, because they want to go beyond the curriculum, push themselves and contribute to school life. This ‘can-do’ attitude is very closely allied to curiosity and we celebrate it wherever we can. 

A (Brief) History of Curiosity

Curiosity has an interesting history. Early classical philosopher Socrates developed the dialectical approach to knowledge. Put simply, this entails asking meaningful questions to stimulate critical thinking. Questioning in this way is not so much about doubt, but about being curious and pushing the boundaries of what can be logically known. 

In other examples, curiosity gets a more negative rap: we might think of the book of Genesis when Eve is tempted to eat from the tree of knowledge to satisfy her curiosity: that does not end well. We might think of Victorian children being told that “curiosity killed the cat”. But these two examples could seem more about keeping groups of people in their place, discouraging them from seeking knowledge. That is not an attitude we embrace at Sidcot.

If you still need convincing about the benefits of curiosity, we could turn to science for evidence. In the 21^st century, psychologists have shown that being curious stimulates the production of dopamine in the brain. Not only does this make learning pleasurable, but it also stimulates memory and the desire to know more. As teachers, we can physically see this in the moments when a student’s eyes light up as they ask a good question, or when they develop laser-focus as they grapple to understand how or why something is as it is.

The phrase “a know-it-all” has been re-branded by Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella, who has asked his employees to be “a learn-it-all” instead. What a good way to encode curiosity! ‘Learning’ is not so much about getting it right or wrong; rather it is about being open to developing what we know. 

When September Comes Around

There is so much information flying at you as a parent when your children start secondary school, so it’s useful to have a simple mantra to echo through conversations and decisions. Try this: “Be Curious”. 

Should I sign up to try horse-riding? Be curious – yes.

I’ve been sat next to someone I don’t know in Physics. Be curious – get to know them.

The food in the Refectory isn’t what I’m used to. Be curious – try it… you might like it!

As a school, we promise that we will be curious too - about your child. We will ask questions, find out about them as individuals so that we can support and guide them to enjoy their educational journey and benefit from it too. We look forward to meeting them!