Year 6/7 Transition
We take particular care to help new students to settle quickly into the larger community of a secondary school and there is a close liaison with primary schools. In the Spring Term we begin the process of Primary Transfer with a series of visits to our major feeder schools to talk to class teachers about each student coming in September in order to build up a full picture of their needs and strengths in the immediate months of arrival. We are helped by Year 9 'Buddies' who are attached to classes. They will accompany our primary school visits, and ensure the youngsters in Year 6 get an opportunity to find out more about the school from a pupil perspective. These Buddies will be in attendance on our Primary Induction Day, and will help form tutors in settling the new Year 7 in September. These Buddies also help with any student that needs extra help and support with Reading.
For students with learning difficulties, we realise that transition to a larger school can be a worrying time. We try to minimise this by offering an SEN induction day before our formal early July induction day for the whole of Year 6. Here students can get to know, and work alongside, our support teachers, and they can get acclimatised to the new building. All parents of new Year 7 students are invited to an evening at the School in the Summer Term before their child joins, and every new student is invited to spend a working day at Teddington in July.
In September we offer an induction programme for our Year 7, so as to help our students to settle into their new school life. The programme includes a New Intake Team Building Day which has become an integral part of our induction process, ensuring a smooth transition into school life, as well as being one of the most exciting aspects of a student’s arrival at Teddington.
The course provides a wonderful opportunity for students to get to know each other early in the academic year through a structured programme of activities. The programme includes a variety of outdoor and team building activities. Every year we have been delighted with the way it develops individual confidence, social cohesion within tutor groups and positive working relationships. A full and varied programme has been created, based at Thames Young Mariners outdoor activities centre in Ham.
Full details of the programme and associated dates will be included in the information pack sent to parents in the Spring Term before students start in September. This pack also includes all other essential information such as the locker rental scheme, student data collection sheet, medical form and the opportunity to state preferences for Tutor Group composition.
Early in the Winter term, we hold our parents information evening to update parents on early progress, raise concerns or answer queries. On occasions we also hold specific information sessions on topics such as our Managed Learning Environment (Fronter) and helping Year 7's with their new mathematics curriculum.
New parents are invited to a PTA cheese and wine evening function in this first term too, and it is an ideal opportunity for them to meet not only key PTA members and become involved with this side of the school, but it affords the opportunity for parents to meet their child's form tutor.
Another strength of support in Term 1 is our tailored PSHCE programme which helps students settle in to their new environment, and make new friends. Parents will have three opportunities to check on their child's progress - as well as the consultation evening already mentioned, there will be a report issued in the first term showing progress and effort, and a more fuller written report in the Summer Term.