Transition
from Yr6 to
Yr7
Name:
School:
All About Me
Me
My family
I am looking forward to
My friends
My favourites I want you to know
Changes
You probably think that there will be lots of changes when you start secondary school, and you are right. These can be worrying and
exciting at the same time. Remember though, it is still school and there will be lots of things the same too. Let’s think about some similarities and differences between primary and secondary school.
Primary
Secondary Think about:
Uniform Teachers Playing with friends Registration Time school starts Getting homework Sports School trips Adults who can help Break time Rewards Non-uniform days Fundraising Celebrations Getting to school
Assemblies Parents evenings Remembering equipment Subjects Having a locker Clubs
Do your research!
It can be useful to know some facts about your new school before you start there, such as timings of the day and names of members of staff.
You could remember from your visits or look on the school website.
What could you do if you still don’t know the answer?
New School How many classes in each year?
Morning registration Home time
Lunch time Language/s taught Form tutor Head of Year
Head teacher SENCO Sports coach/ PE teacher
Who teaches your favourite subject?
Who runs the most exciting club?
You probably have all sorts of feelings about starting your new
school and all of them are ok. If you have a big feeling that you don’t like or want, there is someone at school who can help you. That is the same for secondary school.
Who could you talk to if you:
1. need help to find lost property?
2. have hurt yourself in the playground?
3. have forgotten your homework?
4. are feeling upset, scared or worried?
5. you have good news to share?
My Network Hand
Use this page to draw around your hand and write the names of those people that you can go to if you want to talk, share your feelings (good or bad) or need help.
This will make up your own personal ‘network’. You could include members of school staff, family, friends or even organisations.
Map of my new school
Use this page to glue on a copy of your new school map. Don’t worry too much, you’ll soon know your way around!
Can you plot a route: (Use a different colour for each) 1. from a maths room to a science room?
2. from an English room to the dining hall/cafeteria?
3. from an art room to the school office?
4. from a music room to the library?
Equipment
Just like now, you will have to remember to take the right things with you to school each day. You might even keep them in a locker.
Remember, at secondary school you will move between classrooms for different lessons, and your bag might get rather heavy!
Name each of the items.
Draw a line to the rucksack from each piece of equipment needed for:
1. Maths, in red 2. Geography, in green 3. Spanish, in yellow
(You might be taught a different MFL such as French or German)
School Planner/Journal
You will be given a book to write all your homework and information you need to remember into. It is also one way that messages could pass between your form tutor and your parents. There is usually lots of other really useful information in it such as term dates, school rules and a space for your timetable. It will look similar to this example.
Can you spot:
1. the place where you would write the date that your homework is due?
2. the area where you would write down what your homework is?
3. the section where your parent/s would need to sign to say that they have seen your planner?
My journey to school
Use this page to draw a simple map of your route to school.
Before you start, think about these things:
1. How will you travel there? On foot, car, train, bus, cycle?
2. Will you travel with someone else? If so, who with and how often?
3. Where will be the safest places to cross roads?
4. What time will you need to leave your house?
Remember, buses and trains won’t wait for you!
It will be a good idea to practice your journey to school over the summer holidays. If you will be using public transport, you will need to know how you will pay for your ticket, where to wait and what
you must look out for.
It seems like a lot to remember, but you’ll be an expert soon enough!
Problem solving – round 1
Everyone starting secondary school will be unsure about all sorts of things. Whatever you may wonder, you should ask about, then they won’t turn into worries.
Match these queries to the solution.
Ben can’t remember where the toilets are.
Sarah has forgotten her calculator for her maths lesson today.
James has got some exciting news that he is desperate to share.
Amy has fallen over and scraped her knee quite badly.
Emily isn’t sure how she is supposed to pay for her lunch.
Tom is wondering when he is supposed to give in his homework?
Sharing news is a great way to start a conversation and make friends. Your form tutor would also love to hear your news, after the register perhaps.
Lunch is usually paid for using a pre pay card or your thumbprint. There is an upper spending limit too, so you can’t spend too much in one day!
Homework will be given regularly for all subjects. Use your planner to write down what to do and when it is due in.
Each subject teacher will tell you this when they give you the homework. They will also upload the information for you to check whenever you need to.
If you forget to bring in something you need, try asking a friend if they have a spare you could borrow. Otherwise, your maths teacher will have a spare to lend you. S/he will expect you to remember what you need, so next time, organize your school bag the night before! If you forget things frequently, it will lead to consequences.
It’s normal to lose your way in a big new school. Perhaps your friend will remember where the nearest toilet is? Or you could ask one of the lunch or break time supervisors.
There will be an area in your new school to go to if you have hurt yourself. It is often called the first aid room.
Someone will always be available to help you when you need it.
Your new school will have clear and strict rules about use of a mobile phone. You are often not allowed to use them at all during school.
Charlie isn’t sure what the rules are about mobile phone use in school.
Subjects
Can you find the secondary school subjects hidden in this word search? They might be horizontal, vertical, diagonal, written forwards or backwards.
Which subject do you think will be your favourite?
Timetable
Your timetable is very important. It helps you remember what lessons you have each day and time.
It might look similar to this example, showing days and times, subjects, teacher’s initials and rooms.
Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday Registration
8:50 – 9:15
Form ED G3
Assembly SW Hall
Form ED G3
Assembly SW Hall
Form ED G3 Period 1
9:15 – 10:00
English FG S7
Maths DLG G6
Music HL G4
History JF S2
Science ST F1 Period 2
10:00– 10:45
Geography DR G1
MFL BMK F5
English FG S7
MFL BMK F5
Maths DLG G6 Break 10:45-11:05
Period 3 11:10 – 11:55
Computing MM G8
History JF S2
Science TL F1
English RL S2
Food tech HH G3 Period 4
11:55 – 12:40
Maths DLG G6
English FG S7
Science TL F1
English RL S2
Food tech HH G3 Lunch 12:40 – 13:40
Period 5 13:45 – 14:30
Art HI F3
PE LO Hall
Geography DR G1
Maths DLG G6
English FG S7 Period 6
14:30 – 15:15
Art HI F3
PE LO Hall
PRE KN S4
Drama DS Studio
PRE KN S4 Extra
curricular 15:20 – 16:00
Chess club HH G1
Swimming LO Pool
1. What lesson is at 14:30 on a Thursday?
2. What are the initials of the music teacher?
3. What room is English in on a Monday?
4. What lesson is straight after lunch on Friday?
5. If this was your timetable, what would be your favourite day?
Problem solving - round 2
Match these queries to the solution.
Harry can’t find one of his trainers. He thought he left it in his locker after PE.
You will move to a different classroom for each of your subjects without a break in between so your bag may get quite heavy. Use your locker at break times to store things until you need them.
Sophie has arrived late to school.
Joe has got lots of heavy books and equipment for his lessons today.
Molly is finding the French lessons very difficult and dreads them.
Caitlin thinks she’s going to find it difficult to follow all the rules in her new school. What will happen?
Travis gets so anxious when he’s at school. He is afraid that his teachers won’t understand him and think he is being badly behaved.
Rules are there for everybody’s safety so it is important to try to follow them. Like primary school, if you break the rules your teacher will try to help you follow them and there will be consequences to help you meet expectations. In secondary schools, consequences may also include detentions, isolation, phone calls home or being put on report. Be honest with your teacher so that s/he can help you. Remember, starting a new school is a good time to have a fresh start!
If you are ever late to school, you must go to the school office to sign in and give a reason.
If you are finding any work difficult, speak to the subject teacher. They want you to enjoy their subject and will help you to do your best.
There are lots of opportunities to make new friends at your new school. Your form tutor will encourage friendships during form time and you will sit next to different people in each lesson. Try joining one or two clubs, then you will meet people with similar interests to you. If you ever struggle with
friendships, speak to an adult that you trust and they will try to help you.
Always label your belongings so that they can be returned to you. There will be a ‘lost property’ area just like at primary school for you to check if you have lost something.
Katie doesn’t know anyone at her new school
If you feel you are getting anxious in school regularly, speak to an adult that you trust so they can help you. If you are in your lesson, try some calming strategies such as: slow, deep
breathing, counting to 10 or squeezing blu tac between your fingers. Let your teacher know how you are feeling so that s/he can help you.
Goals
It’s always good to have something to aim for. What do you hope to achieve in year 7 and beyond?
Try to use your own ideas, but here are a few if you need, to get you started.
Get better at swimming Join an after school club Make some good friends Read lots of books
Put my hand up more in lessons Join a sports team Learn to make my family a tasty
meal Try harder with my writing
Well done!
You’ve now completed your transition to year 7 booklet.
Remember, if you have any questions or worries about secondary school, there is always someone who can help you, you just have to ask.
GOOD LUCK!
This booklet must not be reproduced, in full or in part without the expressed prior consent of the DSPL3 Primary outreach co-ordinator of Rivers ESC.
