Headlines By James Saunders 18th June 2021
This term we will be preparing information and videos to send to our new cohort. We will aim to offer them introductory meetings online and have created a penpal project with the lead learners so they can ask questions about the day to day running of the school. Transition preparations It has been another busy week as we maintain our full steam ahead pace toward the end of term. The change of timetable has certainly created the purposeful and focused atmosphere that we were aiming for and learners have maintained their engagement. I am sure that, like me, you too were disappointed to hear the news on Monday of a continuation of the national restrictions until the end of July. This move has had some implications for us which we have had to react to. The first is the C11 prom. I am pleased to say that the golf club has been very accommodating and we have been able to move this to Tuesday July 20th. Families and learners have been very grateful. All staff are most welcome to attend. The other key event we had planned to coincide with the lifting of restrictions was our transition days for current C6 learners. Much to my disappointment this too has been cancelled. We have started to plan how we might best be able to provide alternative activities for the C6 learners to engage with our community. I have recently been sharing the outcomes of the STARS programme (School Transition and Adjustment Research Study) with staff. This programme was a study of the factors affecting transition for children. There is a mixed bag of research out there on this subject - this particular study by UCL (University College London) is quite a thorough one. If you are interested you can view the study and reports here: https://www.ucl.ac.uk/pals/research/clinical-educational-andhealth-psychology/research-groups/school-transition-andadjustment
In summary there are two main factors that contribute to a successful transition: 1 - being academically and behaviourally involved in the school 2 - feeling a sense of belonging in the school My own son transitioned to a secondary this year and the transition was not as successful as it could have been. Point two resonated with me deeply and was the area we have had to work on this year. Reading the report, I identified with many of the parental concerns too. The topic of homework comes up quite a few times as a source of anxiety for both children and parents. Our transition for C6 comes in three parts - Summer term, Summer Holiday and September.
In the summer holiday our summer school will be taking place in the first week (26th - 30th July). We have planned a range of activities and have been able to secure the support of Marks Hall where we will be visiting to take part in some outdoor activities with the learners. We have increased the capacity to take further learners in the summer school so please do get in touch if you have not done so already. Finally, we have our first two days of term in September Thursday 2nd and Friday 3rd. These days will be exclusively for C7 learners. The rest of the school will begin on Monday 6th. We will also be hosting an information evening for new C7 parents at the end of the first day in September.
Have a great weekend James Saunders Thank a Teacher Day Don’t forget National Thank a Teacher Day is coming up on 23 June 2021. This is a day when we encourage the whole country to come together in celebration of the amazing work that schools, colleges, teachers, lecturers, and support staff do every day. Please do encourage your children to enter the celebrity judged #howwillyousaythankyou competitions. Please note that entries close on Wednesday 23 June 2021. Participants can win: A day’s work experience at TES A creative writing competition judged by Sir Michael Morpurgo A baking competition judged by Nadiya Hussain. A drawing competition judged by Gruffalo illustrator Axel Scheffler. Pupils, parents, and colleagues can send a FREE limitededition Axel Scheffler e-card – with a special thank you being read out by secret celebrities on the day. The school with the most cards will be announced on the day – entries close at midnight on 22nd June.