Year 6 Transition

Contents

Headteachers welcome

Welcome toYear 7

Transition visits

Who was Blessed Edward?

Why should I choose Blessed Edward’s?

What does a BEO student look like?

How can I practice my faith? (1)

How can I practice my faith? (2)

How will I get to school?

What should I bring on my first day?

What is my uniform like?

What are the timings of the day?

What is the Sanctuary?

What clubs do you offer?

How do I find my classrooms?

What are my lunch options?

I’m feeling nervous, is everyone?

Frequently asked questions

More frequently asked questions

See you soon!

Headteacher’s welcome

Blessed Edward Oldcorne Catholic College is a Catholic community of aspiration, dedicated to all our students excelling spiritually and academically both within our college and beyond. Everything we do is encapsulated in our Mission Statement, “For the Greater Glory of God” and our core purpose is to develop virtuous young people.

Our vision is that all members of our community fulfil their vocation and play their part in making the world a better place. In order to do this, we all strive to be people of good character as described by our college virtues.

We change lives through our culture of high standards and expectations of everyone who learns and works in our college and a firm belief that achievement is for all. Staff share the joy of learning with our students and guide and challenge them to seek the truth. Knowledge has the power to transform us, and we believe that it is the birth right of all our students irrespective of their starting point or background.

When visitors come to our college, they regularly comment on three things:

• our distinctive Catholic ethos

• how forward thinking we are

• how well we focus on the important aspects of our students’education.

We are an inclusive community, and we aim to live out our lives in the image of Christ as far more than merely words on a page.At our college, students know that they are loved. We are very proud of our students and their achievements in all aspects of college life. Our academic performance is consistently high, and this success is based on ensuring every child is known. We have high expectations in everything we do and a focus on ensuring outstanding teaching. Not surprisingly, this has ensured that the college is extremely popular with parents and the college is oversubscribed every year with a high demand for places. I hope this booklet will give you a flavour of the ambitious, forward thinking and vibrant community that is Blessed Edward Oldcorne Catholic College.

Greg McClarey

Welcome toYear 7

Welcome toYOUR new College, My name is Mrs. Rice, and I am your new Head ofYear 7.

I look forward to welcoming you on your transition days and again in September as you begin your journey with us. Blessed Edward’s is a very special college where I’m sure you will feel welcome and included. We are a school with a sense of community that is second to none and we strive to make sure that all our pupils reach their full potential, making lasting memories whilst growing in skills and knowledge throughout their time with us.

I am sure you have lots of questions about starting high school, but you need not worry; I am here to reassure you that you’ll feel settled into college life in no time! My advice: Be proud of your new College and set yourself high standards. You will soon receive more information about your form tutor, but for now, here is a little bit of information about myself, and your deputy head of year, Miss Bone. Together, we will work hard to make sure your experience of our wonderful college is the best it possibly can be.

As a teacher of RE, I have always seen the value in helping students to better understand their community. If you think about it, this overlaps with my role as Head ofYear. I feel very privileged to work in a school where individuals are valued. Outside of school, I enjoy going to the theatre, baking and spending time with my family, which includes a very cheeky Spaniel who enjoys eating socks!

As a science teacher, I am fascinated by the way our world works and how science and technology can be used to solve problems. I am particularly interested in the impact humans have on the environment, our role as stewards of our planet, and how as a community we can do our part to improve it. My favorite pastimes are reading and swimming. I look forward to meeting you.

See you on transition day!

Hi, I am anAssistant Headteacher, Safeguard Lead and DesignatedTeacher for LookedAfter and Previously LookedAfter Children. I am also in charge ofYear 7 & 8 and a PE teacher. I love sport, my main sport is football and the team I support is Liverpool. I am looking forward to seeing you flourish into people of good character and I will support you through your journey at Blessed Edward Oldcorne Catholic College.

Miss Mason-Assistant Headteacher

Mrs Rice- Head ofYear 7

Miss Bone- Deputy Head ofYear 7

Transition visits

Dear Parents and Students,

We look forward to welcoming you to our community.You will be pleased to know that there are several opportunities to get to know more about Blessed Edward Oldcorne Catholic College before September.

New Intake Evening has been arranged for Tuesday 27th June 2023 which is followed by Induction Days on Wednesday 28th and Thursday 29th June when all of the students can spend some time getting to know all about their new college.Transport will be provided on this day to bring your child to college and return them back to their primary school.

On New Intake Evening, please could you also return any forms that are enclosed in your envelope today. Due to the new GDPR guidelines(Data ProtectionAct) returned forms will need to be placed in an envelope addressed to Miss N Burney.

The New Intake Evening will start at 7.00 p.m. with a welcoming address from the Headteacher.After that you will have the opportunity to meet your new form tutor and the rest of the students in your class.

Throughout the rest of the evening the Head ofYear 7, members of the Senior Leadership Team, the Learning support team and the Head of Music will be available for consultation and discussion.

Extensive parking will be available on Intake Evening at the rear of the college via Evendine Close. Please do not park at the front onTimberdineAvenue.

On your Induction Days please remember to bring your pencil case and you may either bring sandwiches or buy a lunch for approximately £2.00. Please note that you will be able to use cash in the canteen on this day.

If you have any questions in the meantime, please contact Mrs. Rice by email: transition@blessededward.co.uk

Who was Blessed Edward?

Blessed Edward showed unwavering faith, love for others and virtuosity when he gave his life for God.At Blessed Edward Oldcorne, we make sure that we celebrate Blessed Edward’s feast day with a whole school mass each year.

Each morning we pray our College prayer together

Why should I choose Blessed Edward’s?

You should come to Blessed Edward’s because the school is supportive and embraces differences.All of the teachers are committed and care for their students.

My favourite thing about Blessed Edward’s is the music department. There are always great opportunities and plenty of musical instruments to pursue.

I think Blessed Edward is a good school because the teachers are always kind, and they always help you when you need it.They explain things in lesson in a way that everyone understands.

You meet lots of new friends when you join!

My favourite thing about the school is that it opens up lots of opportunities for the students through clubs that help you to boost your knowledge whilst having fun. There are lots of opportunities to go on school trips!

I like that we have different playgrounds, so it is just one year group in each area.This means it is less crowded and you have more space to play.

You should come to Blessed Edward’s because it is a place where everyone feels included and you can do your favourite things whilst undergoing your education.

Blessed Edward’s is a safe place to learn and make new friends!

The school really value us being people of good character, they even arrange reward trips! You get to do some cool experiments in science, there are lots of clubs, big fields to play on at break and lunch, and you can make some great friends

What does a BEO student look like?

At Blessed Edward’s we strive to be people of good character. We live out our college virtues daily, and make sure that we fulfil our college motto so that everything we do is for the greater glory of God.

In your first half term at school, you will explore these virtues in more detail through a specialised tutor time programme.This has been designed to help you settle into Blessed Edward’s and feel a part of our community.

At Blessed Edward’s we are dedicated to educating the whole child and will strive to ensure that you are the best possible version of yourself.

At Blessed Edward’s we are:

How can I practice my faith?

You’ll probably hear us talk about Catholic life at Blessed Edward’s. Indeed, Catholic life underpins everything we do as a school; we offer our students a genuine experience of what it means to belong to a Christian community.

There are many opportunities to get involved in the Catholic life of our college.

Charity fundraising

School Choir

College Mass

Chaplaincy

SVPclub

How can I practice my faith?

At Blessed Edward’s we welcome students of all faiths and those who do not practice a faith. There are many ways you can celebrate your faith at school. We have a dedicated room for our Muslim students to use if they wish to at break and lunch time during Ramadan.

This year we celebrated Diwali in school by getting students involved in some Rangoli sand art.

If you have a festival from your faith or culture that you would like to share with the school, please let us know!

How will I get to school?

Many students travel to school on foot, bicycle and in the car. Some of our students take the bus. Below is the relevant bus information. If anything is not clear, please contact us.

The following public Bus routes pass near Blessed Edward Oldcorne Catholic College area:

The buses that travel to and from our college are owned and run by the First Bus Company. They control the bus stops, bus fares and the timetables for these services.These are run purely as a commercial operation and as such are subject to change.

The following Buses which run direct to and from our college are:

Bus No Areas

S1 Droitwich Spa (via Fernhill Heath and Blackpole)

S2 Droitwich Spa (via Fernhill Heath)

S3 Blackpole (via Warndon Villages)

S4 Fernhill Heath (via Warndon Villages)

S5 Pershore (via Drakes Broughton area)

First Bus Timetables, Ticket and Contact Details:

All timetable information, ticket detail and contact numbers are available on the First Bus Company Worcestershire website.

First Bus Notification Regarding – Severn Passes

•STUDENTS USING SCHOOLBUS S1, 2, 3, 4 and 5 SEVERN PASSESARE NOT VALID on the public buses. Daily/ weekly tickets will need to be purchased for these buses.

STUDENTS WISHING TO USEASEVERN PASS FROM DROITWICH

Need to use the 144 and then the 32S or 45 to complete their journeys.

•STUDENTS WISHING TO USEASEVERN PASS TO TRAVELFROM PARTS OF WORCESTER: Need to use public service buses eg. the 144 from Fernhill Heath, 35 from Blackpole or the 34 from Warndon Villages to complete their journeys.

What should I bring on my first day?

On your first day we will give you a planner and your timetable. You should bring along a pencil case, water bottle, your summer tasks booklet and a suitable backpack (no handbags allowed).You won’t need your PE kit on the first day.

In your pencil case you should have:

• 2 (or more) x Black Pens

• 1 x Green Pen

• 2 (or more) x Pencils

• Rubber

• Sharpener

• Ruler (30cm)

• Highlighters (x 4 different colours)

• Protractor

• Glue Stick

• Coloured Overlay/Reading Ruler (if needed) Scientific Calculator – Casio – for use in maths and science lessons.

Remember to bring a water bottle.These can be filled at our water fountains during break and lunch time.

It is strongly recommended that parents buy pens and pencils in bulk (e.g. packs of 10) so that students can easily replace lost items when necessary

Remember to bring your summer tasks booklet with you… we will be using them on the first day!

We know that mobile phones are often needed so you can contact family on your walk home, or for your bus pass. You may bring them to school, but make sure they are switched off, and in your bag (not pocket) until the end of the day.

What is my uniform like?

All uniform is available to purchase from Monkhouse. We will provide more information about uniform at your induction evening.The photos below show our school uniform for boys and girls in Key Stage 3 and Key Stage 4.

White shirt/blouse and college tie or short sleeved shirt with woven college badge on it

KS3 Royal Blue jumper with College badge from Monkhouse

KS4 Navy Blue jumper with College badge from Monkhouse

Boys must wear a white shirt and college tie at all times

Girls: Black trousers or black pleated and badged skirt (SKU M33678) available only from Monkhouse

Clip on College tie- available from Monkhouse All students should wear sensible plain all black shoes, with no logos. Boots, trainers, and pumps are not allowed.

Boys: Dark grey/black trousers – denims, cords and skin-tight trousers or trousers with studs are not acceptable

What are the timings of the day?

Here at Blessed Edward’s, your day is made up of five 1 hour lessons, and 25 minutes of form time in the morning. Have a look at the timetable below to get an idea of a typical week.

Although your timetable looks like there are 10 lessons, they are all double, so it’s really only 5 per day!

What is the sanctuary?

The Sanctuary, our dedicated SEND provision hub, is used in many ways; staffed by the SENDCo and a team of learning support mentors, it is a vital resource to the college. At Blessed Edward’s we believe that all children deserve, and have a right to, a good education. Our staff strive to give you the confidence, self-belief and learning experience to fulfil your potential.

How isThe Sanctuary used?

During lesson time,The Sanctuary becomes a vibrant place of learning where students from all year groups are given opportunities to minimize barriers to learning and progress in specific areas of need. At break and lunch times, the Sanctuary becomes a dedicated calm space for our students when they need it.

Our Aim:

We believe that every person has potential and can succeed. There is no limit to your learning!

Before and after school, the Sanctuary hosts individual intervention sessions and after school clubs.

What clubs do you offer?

At Blessed Edward’s there are lots of opportunities to get involved in clubs; from Sports to Science, Music to Maths and everything in between, there’s something for everyone. We encourage you to join a club during the first half term, it’s a great way to make friends and gain new skills.

Some examples of our clubs are:

• Football

• Cricket

• Rounders

• Volleyball

• Tennis

• Welsh Baseball

• Recreational sports

• Scrapbooking

• Dance

• Netball

• Music

• ICT

• Choir

• Card gaming

• Song writing

• Gardening and Eco Club

• SVP

• Japanese

• MFLclub

• Soul band

• Science club

• Chess

• Table tennis

If you have an idea for a club that we don’t currently run, just let your form tutor know!

How do I find my classrooms?

This is one of the biggest worries for most students when beginning a new school, but at Blessed Edward’s you need not worry. We will provide you with a map, some tips to remember room numbers, and even dedicated corridor guides in the first few weeks.You can spot them wearing purple lanyards and they will be more than happy to help you find your way.

We will give you anA4 map on the first day: carry it with you to your lesson.

What are my lunch options?

Here at Blessed Edward’s there’s something for everyone. Our school cafeteria offers some great options for around £2.50. We operate a cashless ‘thumb-scan’system which is topped up via the parentpay website from the September you join the school (make sure you bring money with you for transition days). Alternatively, if you’re off to a club, or fancy something different, you can bring a packed lunch from home. Whichever option you choose, make sure you bring a water bottle to top up at break and lunch.

I’m feeling nervous, is everyone?

We know that some of you may be feeling nervous, but at the same time excited about beginning school. Please do not worry, that is a completely normal reaction!

We have a fantastic team ofYear 7 tutors, as well as student transition mentors on hand to look after you.

I was really excited to start high school and meet new people. I was a little bit nervous on my first day but as soon as I was in the school all the teachers were really welcoming and I soon found my friends from Year 6 and made new ones. The school is much bigger than my primary school, but I soon got used to where my classrooms were and now it doesn’t seem so big.

Together, we will make sure you feel settled into our community in no time!

You shouldn’t be scared because it’s a fun experience and there is nothing to be worried about. When I first joined, I was really nervous but all the teachers and students are really nice and they’ll help you out. It’s a really fun experience and you should just enjoy it

FromAG

My favourite lessons areArt and Design technology because I like to make things. From CL

DearYear 6,

There is nothing to worry about moving into secondary school. If you’re scared, don’t be, there are lots of lovely teachers to take care of you!At first, I was really nervous, but then after a few days I settled down and made new friends. REMEMBER, you are braver than you believe, stronger than you seem and smarter than you think. You can do this, best of luck!

From SM

Frequently asked questions

1. What happens on the first morning?

On the first morning you will need to arrive in school by 8.45. Go to theYear 7 playground at the back of the school where the Head ofYear 7 and the seven form tutors will be waiting to meet you.

Practice your route to school over the summer holidays

2. Will I be in the same class as some of my friends?

Yes. We have several meetings with yourYear 6 teachers and always try to make sure that you in the same tutor group as some of your friends from primary school.You will find out who else is in your form group on New Intake Evening.

3. Where can I catch the bus from?

We have a bus bay at the back of school.All school buses arrive and leave from here. In the morning you simply get off the bus within the college grounds.Amember of staff will be on duty in this area.

In the afternoon everyone lines up in years groups in designated places and the duty team of the day will coordinate all students’entry onto the different buses.All bus times are included within the transport information icon on this website section.

4. What can you do at break and lunch time?

At break time and lunch time you can go to the canteen to buy some food or you can go straight to theYear 7 playground where there is also additional covered outdoor seating. If you bring a packed lunch you can eat it in the canteen or outside.At lunch times there is also a variety of extra-curricular activities to join in with. See our clubs page for more information!

More frequently asked questions

6.What happens if I get lost or I am late for lessons?

Don’t worry. We always say, you are not lost, you are just in the wrong part of the building! During the first week staff and transition mentors will be standing outside all of the rooms helping to direct you.

8.How much homework will I get?

For each subject you will receive one piece of homework each week, the homework will take you approximately 30 minutes to complete. You will be given a planner on your first day where you can record all your homework and the date on which it should be handed in.

Complete your homework the night you get it!

10.Can I bring my mobile phone into school?

Yes, but you must follow the mobile phone policy. Mobiles must be switched off before you enter school gates and only turned back on when you leave the school site.

11.Will I need my PE kit on the first day?

No, your first lesson of PE is a talk from the members of staff about expectations and extra-curricular activities.

12.What do I do if I lose something at school?

Your first place to check is your classrooms, if you still don’t have any luck go to pupil reception where lost property is taken. Tip – make sure you label all of your belongings.

If you have any questions we haven’t answered, please contact Mrs. Rice by email:

Finally, we wish you a very warm welcome to Blessed Edward Oldcorne Catholic College!

We are looking forward to having you become part of our community!

For the Greater

Who will my form tutor be?

Your form tutor will be the person you see every morning, they will be your first port of call if you need help with anything. Find out more about them on this page.

7Ashley

7 Clitherow

7 Jones

Slide

What happens on my first day?

On your first day ofYear 7 you will need to arrive at school for 8.35. Head to theYear 7 playground (the same one you used on your transition days) and when the bell goes, we will head into the hall for assembly.

Make sure you can remember the form class you are in, as we will sit in these rows like we practiced before. After having assembly and period 1 with your form teacher, you will go to the rest of your lessons that day as normal.

Slide 13