Research & Good Practice Good Practice St Georges

Primary to Secondary Transition and Liaison

St. George’sSchool

School No 480

 Wheathampstead Development CentrePage 1 of 3/Good Practice - Case Study
George’s School

Primary to Secondary Transition and Liaison

This case study outlines the annual programme of events and activities organised by St. George’s to enable smooth transition of pupils from a large number of primary schools.

Key Staff

St. George’s teacher with responsibility for transition: Caroline Edmunds

Consortium Coordinator: Helen Leigh (Helen’s role is to liaise between all 3 Harpenden Secondary schools and the feeder Primary Schools. The three Secondaries and all the feeder Primaries jointly fund her position.)

Annual Cycle of Events

The annual cycle of events is broadly as follows:

Spring Term

Primary Liaison Day (usually in March)

Year 6 teachers from as many feeder schools as possible are invited to St. George’s for a day. They observe Year 7 lessons and meet up with their ex-pupils. A range of KS3 subject coordinators speak about how best to prepare pupils for Year 7. (The selection of subjects discussed is based upon the preferences expressed by the Year 6 teachers prior to this day.) A pub lunch provides an opportunity for colleagues to get to know each other!

Summer Term

Once secondary school places are known, Caroline Edmunds and two other Year 7 teachers visit, wherever possible, every Year 6 pupil due to come to St. George’s. (Anybody not seen is telephoned by Caroline.) The purpose of the visit is to talk to pupils about what to expect and to talk to teachers about pupils’ NC levels, particular abilities, social skills etc. If necessary the SENCO will make a separate visit.

Early in the term – all three Harpenden Secondary schools send out brand new exercise books for English, Maths and Science to all the feeder Primaries, together with details of a common task to be completed in each subject – a piece of writing, a maths investigation and a science investigation (pictured below). These tasks have been agreed by the three Secondary schools, with some input from Primary teachers, and are subject to review.

After the Year 6 pupils have completed the tasks, these books are then returned to the Secondary schools for the students to use in September (Helen Leigh assists with collection).This provides the Secondary schools with an initial view of the standards of pupils’ work.

Year 7 Induction Day (July)

One week before this day, the Year 6 pupils receive letters written by the Year 7 pupilswelcoming them to St George’s.

On the day, pupils discover their Houses and tutor groups and are photographed in their tutor groups. Throughout the day, sixth form students escort the pupils around the school. The pupils spend some time with their tutors, who answer questions etc., before a formal assembly. After an early break (no other pupils in the dining room at that time) the pupils attend four taster lessons (drama, technology, art and ICT). In each of these the pupils engage in meaningful activities that will be built on in September.

During the lunch hour, there are activities organised by the sixth formers (e.g. rounders or a quiz).

At the end of the day, pupils are given copies of the tutor group photos taken in the morning and can swap names and phone numbers etc.

In the evening of the Induction Day, parents are invited in to meet the tutors, ask questions, hear speeches and receive an information pack, including the booklet Aiming Higher (pictured below), which has been produced by the school. This booklet is full of useful tips and advice for parents and information about school procedures.

Autumn Term

First day – prefects meet the Year 7 pupils (no other Year groups in on that day). The first day is spent with tutors. The prefects guide Year 7 classes round the site for the first two weeks of term.

First week – Year 7 pupils meet their Year 12 mentors. They meet regularly throughout the first term and a half of Year 7 following a programme of work on studentship skills and citizenship. Mentors become another friendly face, someone to turn to if needed and in some cases are used to provide extra support for students who may need it.

Very early in the term the Year 7 pupils take CAT tests.

End of September – all new parents are invited to a cheese and wine, which all lower school tutors attend. This is a social event organised by the PSA (Parents & Staff Association) and helps parents put names to faces of other parents as well as staff.

End of term – Year 7 pupils complete Quality of Life survey on social issues and complete a review of the Induction Process. Parents are also invited to complete a review on the transition process.

In the light of these reviews, this transition process is continually being refined and developed to enhance the students’ experience of secondary transfer.

 Wheathampstead Development CentrePage 1 of 3/Good Practice - Case Study
George’s School