Transitioning to Secondary School
Transitioning from primary to secondary school is a landmark step in a child’s journey towards maturity and independence. In addition, moving from a smaller school, where everyone knows each other, to a larger environment in which children are taught by several different teachers and in several different rooms can also bring its challenges.
At Laceby Stanford Primary Academy we believe that it is important to prepare children carefully for these changes, in order that they have the best chance of making a smooth and confident transition, by focusing both on the skills sets required and the opportunities that such a change presents. We start preparing the children in Year 5 - the children are encouraged to become much more self-reliant in their learning, to think about how to organise their learning and manage their time, how to research, how to evaluate their work and to identify the next steps in their learning journey. This helps them to prepare for the greater demands for independent learning and juggling their time that secondary school makes.
In addition, pupils in Year 6 take on a variety of school monitor roles, helping with a range of tasks around the school, including Prefects, Head Boy and Girl, Assembly Buddies and a whole host of other responsibilities. As well as making a valuable contribution to school life, these roles help the pupils to develop commitment, organisational skills and a sense of personal responsibility that will stand them in good stead for secondary school.
Please watch the two videos below on transitioning to secondary.
Kooth: Year 6 Transition Support
Kooth would like to offer support to Year 6 children with what is a particularly challenging transition this year. Children can access a range of activities and 1:1 text based, free and anonymous support at Kooth. The new 'activities hub' is a fantastic resource to increase emotional health and resilience in transition.
Please contact egilkison@xenzone.com (Elle Gilkison) for the full support pack to include:
- An Introduction & Assurance Letter for Schools
- A Parent Carer letter
- Safeguarding Information for Schools and Parents/Carers
- The Kooth Transition Activities Brochure
- 'How to sign up to Kooth' Information Sheet
- A short introductory Kooth Transition Video (to be used in the classroom or sent home as part of the school's support.
A Taste of Secondary
What one head of year does to ease the transition to secondary
Taster Session
Our New year 6 pupils went to Healing Academy this week to take part in a taster session with a Science theme! They had a great morning completing a range of Science based activities!
Year 5 Transition Talk
Year 5 pupils had a visit from John Whitgift this morning who came and spoke with them about secondary school. John Whitgift Academy have an open evening on Tuesday 20th June, 4-6pm
Questions about going to Secondary school
Year 6 asked some of our ex-pupils, Harrison and Emily about life at Healing School.
What do you do in Art?
E – We learn how to draw the face and body. Also how to use the paints properly
H – This term we did a self-portrait in the style of Van Gogh
How quickly do you remember where every class is?
E – It took me just under a full week.
H – about 2 weeks
How long is the school day?
E – There are 5 1 hour lessons with a 15 minute morning break and 1 hour for lunch.
H – in total we are school for 6 hours 45 minutes.
Is the bus sectioned off into year groups or can anyone sit anywhere?
E – The year 11 prefects sit at the back but otherwise you can sit wherever you like.
H – You can sit wherever you like.
How do you know which bus you get on?
E and H – There is a sheet at the front of the bus saying your bus number.
Do you bring your phones into school? What happens if you do? Can you use them at breaks?
E – You have to hand them in once you get to school in the morning and then collect them at the end of the day.
H – You can but you must hand it in when you get to school. You are not allowed to use them at break.
How long is lunch time? What is the process? How much food do you get? How much can you spend? Can you be both pack up and hot meal?
E – 1 hour. You line up outside and then sent in to line up and wait for your food. You can spend until your account goes into the minus and then you have to top up. You can have either a pack up or a hot meal.
H – You have 1 hour and you line up outside then go in and you get as much as you like until you run out of money.
What happens if you don’t complete homework or make the wrong choices?
E – You either get told to bring it in for next lesson or you get a note in your journal. If it is not the first time you may get a detention.
H – The first time you forget you get a warning and then after that it is a detention.
How long is detention time?
E – C2 is 15 minutes, C3 is 30 minutes and C4 is 55 minute after school detention and a letter is sent home.
H – A break is 15 minutes, a lunch is 30 minutes and an afterschool is 55 minutes.
What instruments can be played in Music?
E – guitar, keyboard, piano, drums, flute, viola
H – A keyboard and acoustic guitar is what we have played so far.
What languages do you have to learn?
E – French and Spanish
H – Spanish, French and German
How many people are in your classes?
E – no more than 32
H – 29
Are you allowed to go to the toilet in lessons?
E – yes but you have to get a pass from the teacher.
H – sometimes it depends on when it is in the lesson. You should go at break and lunch.
Are there certain things you are not allowed to wear, bring, use?
E – Jewellery, sweets, anything that could hurt someone, skinny jeans, trainers, any make up.
H – you are not allowed any jewellery
How much homework do you get every day?
E – 2-5 pieces
H – 2 or 3 pieces a day
Are we allowed to use the gym in school?
E – yes but you have to ask first and only when you are in year 9
What happens if you’re late to lessons?
E – You have to have a good reason or you get a note in your journal.
H – you get a late mark on the register.
Transition assembly with Compass Go
Zowie, our link worker Compass GO. NEL Mental Health Support Team came and delivered a whole school assembly to our pupils on transition. She shared how pupils may be feeling as they move to a new class, gave us strategies to help if we are feeling a little worried or scared and what may help us. Thank you Zowie!
