Year 6 – 7 Transition

Students respect their teachers. Relationships are strong – OFSTED 2014

The school’s work to keep students safe and secure is outstanding – OFSTED 2014

In the second half of Spring Term, we visit our new students in their primary schools, spend time with them and answer their many questions about joining Beaumont.

Staff from Beaumont, including the Head of Year 7 and members of the school Leadership Team, meet the Year 6 students’ current teachers to learn as much as possible about each child. We sometimes also meet with parents, students and professionals where transition to secondary school is thought likely to cause particular challenges. The Head of Year 7 uses all this information to divide the students into seven forms, balanced with respect to ability, gender and individual need. It is our experience that students settle quickly into their forms and add new friends to their circle. In any year, there will be several students who are the only entrant from their particular primary school and parents can be reassured that our experience is that they too settle quickly.

During the Summer Term, parents and children are invited into school one evening to meet Form Tutors and senior staff and to share information with other staff such as the Special Educational Need Co-ordinator if appropriate. In July, in common with all the local secondary schools, the future intake year spends a day at Beaumont. On that day, students meet the other students in their new form, spend time with their Form Tutor; they sample taster lessons and get the “feel” of their new school before they arrive in September.

We have developed close curricular liaison with our feeder primary schools over the years. Beaumont staff regularly meet and work with primary colleagues in a variety of ways as we believe it is vital to understand and build upon the work of primary schools, giving students the benefits of continuity. Students from our main feeder primary schools come to visit us to use the ICT, Maths, PE and Science facilities and to see a school performance. Students are asked to bring samples of creative writing to the Year 6 Welcome Evening in the Summer Term prior to joining Beaumont. We use these samples to inform the transition process and aid progression at the beginning of Year 7.

When Year 6 students have joined our community, they become Year 7 Beaumont students.  On their arrival in September, students quickly get to know Beaumont’s procedures and everyday expectations. The Year 7 tutor team supports and guides students in their new school, helping them to settle quickly. In September, a Parent Information Evening will be held to share further information to support each student joining the school. This event also provides an early platform to discuss any specific questions or issues that have arisen with pastoral leaders. In December and March, interim reports are issued to parents. Furthermore, in December, a full parents’ consultation evening is arranged for subject teachers to meet parents and discuss progress in individual subjects.

To mark and encourage positive attitudes and individual achievement, students are awarded ‘Lesson Positives’ (Credits). These could represent work done well, high effort or particular successes. As the number of Positives reaches milestones, such as 25, 50, 75, 100, 150 and so on, praise postcards are sent home to mark this.  There are also Awards Assemblies each term to recognise students’ Effort and Achievement across the curriculum.

As with other Year Groups, Year 7 students are encouraged to take part in extra-curricular activities, such as sports team practices and games, the annual dance display, clubs, school productions, “student voice” and the Year 7 residential trip to France or Germany. This “taking part” enriches their daily life at school.

Pastoral care is all important at Beaumont and Form Tutors monitor their tutees, meeting them each day during morning registration. A team of Year 10 and 11 mentors support Year 7 Form Tutors, visiting their attached forms once a week.

The final few weeks of Year 7 are marked by the issue of a full written report from each subject teacher. This report is used to plan ahead for the transfer of students into Year 8.

Starting at a new school often raises lots of questions for both students and their parents/carers. To help make the whole process as easy and enjoyable as possible, we have created a booklet which collects together all the essential information:

• Download the current ‘New Year 7 Information Booklet’ here. Much of this information can be found elsewhere on this website but it is all together in one booklet here to make it easier for those new to the school.