Year 6-7 Transition Sam Walter Head of Year 6 Monday 17th April 2017 Sam Walter Head of Year 6 Mike Edgar Head of Year 7

Transition Aim: Process: As a 3-18 school we have the firm aim of ensuring that the transition of pupils from Primary to Secondary is one of our major strengths as a school. Process: We have been through a process of reflection, working with staff across the whole school, parents and pupils to look at ways we can enhance our students ‘transition experience’.

Key aims A longer term approach is needed. Over the course of Y6 into Y7 with continued support through Y7. Increased dialogue with Y6 staff and Secondary staff working together to ensure the curriculum and approach to T/L offers a smooth transition. To ensure pupils are prepared for the demands of Secondary style education through Y6. Academically prepared. To ensure students are emotionally and personally ready. Increased opportunities for exposure in Y6, and pastoral support during Term 3 and through Y7.

Shining eyes! Engaged, motivated! Year 6 Happy Campers! This is who we currently have in Year 6, happy, well adjusted, enthusiastic students who are motivated and ready to learn. We want to keep it that way as we move into Year 7. It is our job as teachers and heads of year to ensure that this transition is as smooth as possible and seamless, given that BSAK is a through school.

Common Concerns: New teachers/ faces - Having held a focus group with some year 6 parents and children within the year group a couple of weeks ago, we were able to pinpoint some common concerns. New faces, new teachers, different expectations, relationships

So we avoid… New locations – not knowing where to go

Routines and organisation New routines, new timetables, different expectations with organisation, needing to have the correct books and equipment up until break time. The need to use planners every lesson to record homework, gain in independence, packing own bags, ensuring homework is done, completed and in the bag ready to be handed in, bringing in the necessary equipement each day. Really important as parents we let them do this, make their own mistakes and take the consequence if necessary.

Friendships Friendships – new and old. Children will be given the opportunity to choose 3 friends they would like to stay with as they move up into Year 7. We will guarantee that they will get at least one of their choices. This has always worked out every year, and whilst it is something that can cause angst at the time, children always find their feet and make new friendships come September.

Learning Support Help and support will be provided where needed on a social and academic side. Teachers will be made aware of children’s different needs and the different levels of support required, from organisation, getting from one place to another etc to academic work and the Year 6 teachers will help facilitate this throughout the extended transtition.

Communication Communication – how will it take place – in Primary – have a daily contact if desired, seeing a Year 6 teacher at the end of each day. Who do they go to for what and when? Role of Year 7 form tutor, role as head of year. – Over to you Mike as into to Year 7 – how will parents communicate.

Year 6 – Term 3 Solutions Specialised teaching within Year 6 for: 1 month extended transition Specifically designed curriculum Year 6-7 New location and adults, expectations, routines and organisation. Support, independence, responsibility and resilience To overcome all these concerns we have devised a two phase tranisiton programme for term 3. From Week 1, after the Spring break, teachers in Year 6 will specialise in what they teach. We will keep our own classes for English and Maths bands will remain the same. They will however, move around from classroom, to classroom and different teachers for Science, Humanities, Computer Science and Art. This will continue for the whole term. This will be a gradual introduction into the need to organise themselves and prepare for the day and have all the right things in the right place at the right time. It will get them used to different teacher’s styles and expectations within the familiar surroundings of Year 6 area. From May when GCSEs and A levels are over we will move onto the 2nd phase of the planned transition programme. This will involve all the year 6 children moving over to the secondary building for some of their lessons. Opportunity to meet their new teachers, form relationships and put names to faces. Find new locations. For the first week this will all take place with Year 6 teachers escorting children over to the new locations. From Week 2 onwards expectations will be that the children get to where they need to go, by themselves. The Year 6 teachers will be in the lessons with the children, supporting and team teaching where appropriate. This extended transition time ensures that any of those concerns previously mentioned will be negated and dealt with, making the whole process smoother and stress free for both them and you!

Thank you