Year 6 Transition

Transitions are an important part of every child’s journey through school. While they can be exciting, they can also feel unfamiliar or worrying at times. We are committed to supporting all pupils through change with care, understanding and reassurance.

By working closely with pupils, families and professionals, we help every child feel known, valued and confident as they move on to the next stage of their learning.

Year 6 Transition Day

Every year, all Year 6 pupils are given the opportunity to visit their new secondary school before the end of the summer term. This important day helps pupils begin to feel familiar with their new surroundings, meet staff and other pupils, and start to build confidence about the move to secondary school.

The borough-wide Year 6 Transition Day for this year will take place on Thursday 3 July 2025. We recognise that transitions can feel daunting for some children, and this visit plays an important role in helping them feel safe, supported and excited about the next step in their learning journey.

Friendship Groups

To help pupils feel confident and connected before starting secondary school, we offer Friendship Groups. Where only a small number of pupils are joining us from the same primary school, we bring them together with other new starters.

These small, supportive groups give pupils the chance to make friends, familiarise themselves with the school environment, and feel comfortable before the whole Year 7 cohort begins.

Working with Primary Schools

We work closely with our local primary schools to gather important information about pupils who will be joining us. This helps us to understand each child’s strengths, needs and any support that works well, so we can plan effectively and ensure the right support is in place from the very start.

Throughout the year, we also invite pupils from local primary schools to take part in taster lessons and taster days. These opportunities are open to pupils in Year 5 and Year 6 and give children the chance to experience secondary school learning in a supportive and welcoming environment.

These visits help pupils build familiarity, confidence and excitement about the move to secondary school, well before their official transition takes place.

Our First Week

We offer Year 7 pupils a gentle and supportive start to secondary school in September. On Day 1, only Year 7 and Year 12 pupils are in school, giving new starters the time and space to settle in, become familiar with routines and ask questions in a calm environment.

This soft start helps pupils build confidence, make connections and feel comfortable as they begin this exciting new chapter.

Pastoral Support for Year 7

Every Year 7 pupil is supported by a form tutor and a Year Leader, who work closely together to provide guidance, care and consistency throughout the year. In addition, each pupil has access to a trusted adult in school, someone they can go to if they need support, reassurance or simply someone to talk to.

This strong pastoral network helps ensure that every child feels known, supported and cared for as they settle into secondary school.

Year 7 Trip Day

In October, the whole Year 7 year group takes part in a trip day designed to help pupils build confidence, character and positive relationships. This shared experience gives pupils the opportunity to get to know one another, develop teamwork and resilience, and strengthen their sense of belonging within the year group.

The trip day plays an important role in helping pupils feel connected, settled and confident as they continue their journey through secondary school.

Additional Transition Support

For pupils with an EHCP (Education, Health and Care Plan), we offer additional transition days in July. These extra visits provide more time to become familiar with the school, meet key staff, and ensure that the right support is in place from day one.

This tailored approach helps every pupil feel confident, safe and well prepared for their move to secondary school.