Year 6 – 7 Transition

We have a well-established programme which makes the transition from primary to secondary school as smooth as possible.

Students respect their teachers. Relationships are strong – OFSTED 2014

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

Around March/April we visit our new pupils in their primary schools, spend time with them, and answer their many questions about moving to Beaumont.

Staff from Beaumont including the Head of Year 7 meet their current teachers to learn as much as possible about each child. We sometimes also meet with parents, pupils 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 pupils into six forms balanced with respect to ability, gender and individual need. It is our experience that pupils settle quickly into their forms and add new friends to their circle. In any year there will be several pupils 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 pupils meet the other pupils 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 on the work of primary schools giving the children the benefits of continuity. Pupils from our main feeder primary schools come to visit us to use the ICT, Maths, PE and Science facilities and to see the Gym and Dance Display. Pupils are asked to bring samples of creative writing and Maths work to the Year 6 parents 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 pupils have joined our community they become Year 7 Beaumont students.  On their arrival in September, students quickly come up to speed with Beaumont’s procedures and everyday expectations. The specialist Year 7 tutor team supports and guides students in their new school helping them to settle quickly. In late September an evening is arranged for parents to meet tutors and senior staff to discuss how their children have progressed and settled in the early weeks and to help resolve any issues that may have arisen. In December and March interim reports are issued to parents. 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 pupils are awarded Credits. These could represent work done well, high effort or particular successes. As the number of credits reaches the milestones such as 25, 50, 75, 100, 150 and so on certificates are awarded in assembly to mark this.  There are also Awards Assemblies each term to recognise students’ Effort and Achievement across the curriculum.

As with other Years Year 7 students are encouraged to take part in extra-curricular activities such as sports team practices and games, gym and dance display, school productions, “student voice”, Year 7 visit 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 registration. A team of Year 11 mentors support Year 7 form tutors, visiting their attached forms once a week.  There is also a team of “go2” peer mentors drawn from Years 7 – 9 to support students’ well-being.

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 to the transfer of pupils 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.