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WELCOME
Welcome to Big School –your comprehensive guide to the next step of your child’seducation.
In this magazine you will find detailed advice on how to choose the perfect secondary school for your son or daughter
This is wherethey will spend alarge proportion of the next fiveyears and that’swhy it’ssoimportant tofind aplace wherethey will be happy and thrive.
Our guide details all of the factors you will need to consider when comparing different schools as well as information on the application process.
When looking at secondary schools, it is vital that you spend time researching the admission criteria for your area as some schools can often be over-subscribed.
At the same time you will want to ensure that you know the options available to you if you
need to appeal an unsuccessful application.
Thereare also useful tips to help your child preparefor life in Year 7and to make it easier for them to settle in at secondary school so it’s as smooth atransition as possible.
This includes the uniform they will need for the classroom as well as options for their lunchtime meals and how they will travel to school each day
Thereisalso aspotlight on the broad range of schools across the region that areready to welcome you to their open days over the coming months.
The guide also looks to the futureand the qualifications your child will be working towards over the next few years as they continue their education.
Starting ‘Big School’ is ahuge milestone for both your child and you as parents and carers and we wish you all the best for the future.
Time to take thenextbig step in achild’s education
It will soon be time to embark on the next big stage of your child’slife: secondary school.
Choosing the perfect place for your child to start Year 7can be one of the most difficult decisions that you ever take as aparent.
It is important to thoroughly research all of the options available to you so you find the best fit for your son or daughter
Youwill want aschool wherethey are encouraged to achieve and reach their full potential. Councils allow parents to make up to six preferences of schools, depending on whereyou live, with the final decision made according to the criteria set by the local authority or individual schools.
Although this can feel like alot of pressure, how you end up choosing your secondary school preferences will probably be very similar to how you found your child’sfirst school –with some of the same factors influencing your decision.
And remember –getting this next step right can help them on the way later in life and in their futurecareers.
Youmight be wondering whether you want acommunity school or an academy? Do you want to pay for aprivate education or send your child to agrammar school?
During this important decision-making process, you will be looking at schools to see what teaching and sports facilities they offer pupils.
Youwillnodoubt also be examining the results they go on to achieve, as well as the support offered inside and outside of the classroom.
Schools will soon begin holding open days giving you the chance to have a proper look around and allow your child to get afeel forthe place.
Now they areolder,they will probably have views on wherethey want to go, which you will no doubt want to take into consideration.
Youmight want to consider whether the school caters for the things your child is interested in and what opportunities therewillbefor them to develop these interests further.
Think about the ethos of the school
–does it match your own cultureand values?
Morethan likely they will want to go wheretheir friends aregoing. While this probably shouldn’tbethe sole reason for choosing aschool, if your child struggles to make friends and you think they will find it difficult going alone then it can be a worthy consideration.
Above all, you will want to be able to ‘see’ your child fitting in there.
Proximity will always come into play as nearly all schools will use this as one of the main criteria when considering applications.
So you might have acertain school as number one on your preference list but it will depend on how many other parents have applied and how close they aretoits gates.
Having siblings at the school already will also give applications extra weight.
This means it’sessential to research your options well –soifyou miss out on your preferred choice you will be wellinformedonthe others.
What canyou do to help your childsettlein?
An important milestone in the parental journey is when your child starts at secondary school.
Youwill have mixed emotions and so will your son or daughter.Enjoy this transition together! Youwill soon come to miss the afternoon pick-up from the playground and all the snippets of information you can gather whilst in the company of other parents and the verbal reports, good and bad, from the Year 6 teacher
Your child is growing up and you will soon come to rely on them to share their day with you whilst you get used to the numerous apps and online reporting platforms shared by the school.
The induction days in July will have given you peace of mind with some of those important aspects of the new school. Youhave much information to digest whilst also containing the excitement, or nervousness, of your son or daughter!
We would like to sharesometips to help you support your child in that important first half term:
Adapting to your child’snew routines
Encourage your child to have their school bag and uniform ready the night
Chris
Green, Vice Principal –QualityofEducation at St Regis CofEAcademyshareshis tips for parentsand children
before. They will need help with this to begin with. Moving up to secondary school doesn’tmake ayoung person independent overnight so plan in time each day to encourage your child to talk about their day.Itwill be during this shared time that you can pick up on any issues, some of which you may need to raise with the school.
The importance of being equipped for learning
Make the habit of being ‘equipped for learning’ stick and ensureyour child has the equipment they need in their bag every day.You will need to make these checks initially and should then slowly step back.
Taking an interest in homework
“Areyou doing your homework?”. Iexpect you will come to find that you use this phrase far moreoften when your child has ten or moresubjects on their timetable! Take an interest in the content
of the homework (and provide the space and resources) and don’tallow homework to become anegative issue. Trust teachers to track homework completion and inform you when, and if, it’snot being done
Mobile phones
Youshould make yourself awareofthe school policy and support the school with this. The distractions that mobile phones bring do not support learning. Remember that school receptions arealways staffed –this is the first point of contact.
Making the most of every opportunity to get into school
The engagement of parents is vital in ensuring pupils, and schools, flourish. When achild sees theschool working with the parents it has avery positive impact on the child’sprogress.
Reading, reading, reading!
At every opportunity encourage your child to read. This will be happening in school across all subjects. What part can you play in this?
Always remember –donot be afraid to reach out and speak to the school if there areany worriesorquestions, we all want the best for your children.
FREQUENTLY ASKEDQUESTIONS
n Will my childautomatically transfer from primary into secondaryschool?
No, this is not thecase. All applications have to be considered in linewiththe admissions criteria forthe school they areapplyingto. There is normally no priority given to children attendingprimary schoolsassociatedwithparticular secondaryschools.
n What is thedeadlinefor applicationstobesubmitted?
Applications canbedone by post or online.The closing date for secondaryschoolapplicationsis statutory andisOctober 31
n What happensifI submit my application after thedeadline?
Unless therewere special circumstanceswhich stopped you from applying before theclosing date,thenyourapplication will only be consideredafter those that were receivedbeforethe deadline. If therewere special circumstances, then supportive evidencemustbeprovidedatthe time of your application.
n What happensifI don’t completeand return an application form?
Your childmay not be allocateda school placeuntil allthose who didhavebeen offeredplaces. It is then possiblethatyourpreferred schoolswillbetoo full to admit your child
n When will I find outwhich school my childhas been allocated?
Offerletters,oremails, will be sent outtoparents on March1,2025.
Theapplication processexplained
Applying to secondary school for the first time may seem abit daunting, so it helps to fully understand the process.
Letters will be sent out by councils detailing the steps you need to take. They always encourage parents to apply online, but paper applications will be available if you prefer.Each council co-ordinates admissions for all maintained schools in its area and will make the offer of places.
Up to six choices can be stated on the admissions application, depending on whereyou live, in order of preference and they can include schools outside the area in which you live.
Places arenot allocated on afirstcome, first-served basis. All schools will consider applicants on an equal basis and parents areadvised to put forwardmore than one choice. Also, all applications will be considered against the admissions policy of the school concerned, regardless of which borough or county the child resides in.
The entrance criteria will depend on how the school is run –whether it’sthe council, governing body or atrust
Faithschools are, as with other maintained schools, required tooffer
aplace to every child who applies, regardless of their faith, if thereare places available. Butwherethe school is oversubscribed, these schools allocate places by reference to faith based on their admissions criteria.
If achild meets the criteria for two or moreschools included on the application form, they will be allocated aplace at the school that the parent ranked highest.
For community or state schools, first priority is given to children in public care, or those who have been adopted or become subject to achild arrangement order or special guardianship order
Second priority will consider children with a‘serious ongoing medical condition’ and thirdpriority is given to children who have asibling or half-sibling or stepbrother/step sister,living at the same address and who will still be attending the preferred school in September 2023.
Any places that remain available once the above applicants have been admitted, will be filled according to those children who live closest, determined by a straight-line measurement in metres, from the home address to the entrance of the school.
Making sure allschools provide agoodeducation
Ofsted is anamethatwill already be familiar to most parents and it’sone you will continue to hear throughout your child’ssecondary school education.
Understanding the reasons for the checks and their impact, will give you peace of mind that your child’sschool is doing everything it can to ensurepupils receive ahigh quality education and may well help when you arechoosinga school in the first place.
All schools arerequired by law to be inspected, but how often it is visited will depend on how it has previously been judged. Afullinspection normally takes two days. When they arrive the inspectors will look at the school’sself-evaluation and analyse the pupils’ progress and attainment. They talk to the headteacher, governors, staffand pupils and consider your views as aparent.
Inspectors spend most of their time observing lessons and looking at the quality of teaching in the school, and its impact on learning and progress.
They also look at the personal development, behaviour and welfareof pupils, the promotion of spiritual, moral, social and cultural development; and how well the school is led and managed.
Parents aregiven the option of providing their views.
After the visit, the lead inspector reports her or his judgement to the headteacher and governors. The inspectors’ findings arepublished in a report for the school, parents and wider community.This provides information about the effectiveness of the school’s work and contains recommendations about what it should do to improve.
Ofsted has made changes to how school inspections arecarried out to reduce pressures on teachers and school leaders. These include:
n Changes to how Ofsted inspects safeguarding –Atthe moment, even when schools arerated mostly as Good, if the school is rated as Inadequate on safeguarding, the school will receive an Inadequate rating overall. This is due to the importance of keeping children safe.
But, in very rarecases whereaschool fails because of safeguarding issues
alone, Ofsted will now follow-up with a monitoring visit within three months to provide an opportunity for regrading. If the school has been able to resolve the safeguarding concerns, it is likely to see its overall grade improve. Ofsted will also make safeguarding requirements as clear as possible for schools and parents.
n Clarity around confidentiality policies –Toreduce pressureonheadteachers, Ofsted will make it clear that they are allowed to sharethe provisional outcomes of inspections privately with colleagues and get support from them beforethe report is finalised and shared with parents.
Ofsted reports will also talk about what the school needs to do, to reduce public focus on individuals, including headteachers.
n Support for schools between inspections –Ofsted is giving schools moreinformation about the timing of their next inspection. Schools will still get one day’snotice, but they will have more clarity about the year they arelikely to be inspected. This will be particularly helpful for schools that have been exempt from inspection for many years.
Outstanding schools areinspected
less frequently than those with lower ratings. Outstanding schools that were last inspected beforeSeptember 2015 are already receiving face-to-face seminars, to support them when the time comes for a new inspection.
Independent Schools Inspectorate (ISI) reportsonindependent schools’ compliance with the DfE Education (Independent Schools Standards) Regulations.
The ISI inspects schools that belong to the Independent Schools Council (ISC), which has morethan 1,200 members. But ISI and Ofsted use adifferent framework and criteria for judging school quality and they use different judgement words too.
ISI uses excellent, good, sound and unsatisfactory and Ofsted uses outstanding, good, requires improvement and inadequate.
Another difference is that ISI inspection teams largely consist of practising senior leaders currently working in ISC schools. ISI inspectors judge ISC schools against the higher standards of academic achievement and extra-curricular activities in the sector as awhole as well as against national norms.
What type of schoolisthe rightone foryourchild?
These days thereare many different types of school that differ in how they arerun and funded as well as what they teach.
Gone arethe days of it being asimple choice between agrammar school and a comprehensive. Now thereare many types of schools, run and funded in different ways.
n State schools, also known as community schools, aremanaged and funded by the council. The local authority employs all of the staff, owns the land and buildings, and sets entrance criteria. Pupils follow the National Curriculum and the council provides support services that may be required for students, such as psychological and special educational needs. Students tend to be from arange of different backgrounds and have a mixtureofabilities.
n Almost two-thirds of the country’s secondary schools areacademies. They arerun by agoverning body and are independent from the local council, with funding coming from central government. Academies control their own admissions process and have morefreedom in the classroom as they can opt out of the National Curriculum.
They also have morepower over pay, length of the school day and term times. But this freedom means thereisnormally no support, management or oversight from the local authority
n Free schools arefundedbycentral government, but can be set up by groups of parents, teachers, charities, businesses, universities, trusts and religious or voluntary groups. They wereintroduced as away to drive up standards through increased competition and hand power to parents and teachers to be able to create anew school if they wereunhappy with the state ones in their area. They areexempt from teaching the National Curriculum.
To receive funding they must teach English, mathematics and science and ‘make provision for the teaching of religious education’. They arestill subject to inspections by Ofsted. If you’reinvolved with founding afreeschool, your children areguaranteed places. Morethan 300 free schools have opened since 2010, teaching morethan 150,000 pupils across the country
n Private schools, also known as independent schools, charge annual fees instead of being funded by the Government. Many offer scholarships or bursaries based on assessment tests so it’sworth looking into whether this is an option. They can be offered to academically bright children or youngsters with aspecial talent, such as music or art. These schools arefreetoset their own curriculum, but must be registered with the Government and areinspected regularly.They tend to offer high-quality facilities and class sizes arelikelytobe smaller.
n Aboarding school provides education for pupils who live on the premises, as opposed to aday school Thereare approximately 500 boarding schools across the UK. Children benefit
from small classes and heightened interaction between students and their teachers as well as abroader range of extra-curricular activities.
n Grammar schools have been around since the 16th century,but the modern model was created as aresult of the Education Act 1944. It was all decided by an entrance exam –the 11-plus –which is still around today.Pupilswho passed went to grammar school, those who didn’twent to secondary modern.
Today,thereare still around 160 grammar schools across England. Aban preventing new grammars from opening has been in place since 1998. These schools tend to have astrong focus on academic achievement and select pupils on the basis of ability through an entrance exam taken at the start of year 6.
n Faith schools can be different kinds of schools, such as community,free schools or academies, but areassociated with aparticular religion. They have to follow the National Curriculum except for religious studies, wherethey arefree to only teach about their own religion. Anyone can apply for aplace.
n At Foundation schools, the land and buildings areowned by agoverning
body,who arealsoresponsible for running the school, employing staffand providing supportservices. Pupils have to follow the National Curriculum.
n Voluntary-aided schools tend be mostly religious or faith schools. Just like foundation schools, the governing body employs staffand setsentrance criteria. This means it has asubstantial influence on how the school is run. School buildings and land areusually owned by acharity, often achurch. They follow the National Curriculum but may teach religious education according to their own faith.
n Voluntary-controlled schools area cross between community and voluntaryaided schools. The council employs staff and sets entrance criteria.
The difference is that school land and buildings areowned by acharity, often achurch, which also appoints some members of the governing body Voluntary-controlled schools arealso required tofollow the National Curriculum.
n Co-operative trust schools are becoming morepopular.Although funded by the council, they aresupported by acharitable foundation, which means they can set their own admission arrangements.
PREPARINGOUR YOUNGSTERS FOR WORLDOFWORK
n University TechnicalColleges (UTCs) aregovernment-funded schoolswithaSTEMfocus.
Throughtheir association with employersand universities, throughproject-based learning, andthroughafocus on technical subjects,UTCsbridgethe gap between theworld of educationand theworld of work.
Today, thereare 48 UTCs open across England, educatingin theregionof17,500students, andsupportedbymorethan400 employersand universities.They aim to preparestudentsfor future careers in industries such as engineering,healthcare, social care andscience
They offerasecondary-age educationfor KeyStage 4and Key Stage5withsomestartingearlier at KeyStage 3.
n Some schools, academiesand colleges specialise in vocational subjects andoffer bespoke curriculums to help studentsonthe waytotheir chosen careers
Some have aSTEMorhealthfocus, whileothersspecialise in thelikes of music, danceand performing arts andbroadcastmedia.Students canchoose arange of subjects that arerelevanttotheir chosen future careerand cantakeadvantage of industry-standardfacilities.
Thesespecialist schools, academiesand colleges workin partnershipwiththe industries so that studentsare able to applytheir learning to theworld of work.
n There arealsoStudioSchools, whichseektoaddress the growinggap between theskills andknowledge that youngpeople require to succeed,and those that thetraditional educationsystem provides. They areusually small schoolsfor 300students; andwith year-round openingand a9-5 working day, they feel more like a workplace than aschool.
What to do if youmissout on your firstchoiceschool
It’sinevitable that not everyone will get their first choice of secondary school. And while you will be keeping your fingers crossed that your child gets a spot, you should be prepared in case your wish doesn’tcome true.
Popular schools will be oversubscribed so it’simportant to remain realistic when waiting to hear if you’ve been successful.
Also, it’svital to spend some time preparing yourself in case you want to appeal acouncil’sdecision.
It may well be that you arehappy to accept aplace at aschool further down on your list if you believe it is still agood option for your child.
But if you feel the decision made is not reasonable or the procedurehas not been followed correctly then you arewithin your rights to appeal.
Your case will be heardbyan independent appeals panel and the
system allows you to argue that thereare extra reasons why your child deserves a place at your top choice.
For anyone considering appealing the decision, hereissome moreinformation on the process:
n What arethe first steps? Parents areadvised to accept the place you have been allocated regardless of whether you want it –this is asafety net to ensureyou have aplace for September if the appeal is unsuccessful. It can always be rejected at alater date if aspace becomes available, or if the appeal is upheld.
Then you should contact your preferred school to be put on awaiting list should the school have one. This may happen automatically but it is always worth checking that it has been done. This could remove the need for an appeal hearing if aplace is freed up by other means, such as achange in circumstances for another pupil.
n How is an appeal lodged?
Parents should lodge their intention to appeal with either the local authority or,ifit’safreeschool or academy,the governing body.Details of who to contact, instructions for beginning the appeal process and the deadline will normally be provided with the place offer letter sent to you by the council.
If morethan one school declines to admit your child, you areallowed to make separate appeals.
n What happens next? If you think thereare good reasons why your child should go to your preferred school, then you can present your case to an independent appeal panel.
Focus on positive reasons why your child needs to attend that school as opposed to the allocated one. Don’tjust state why your child should not go to the allocated school. This might include the pupil’sspecifictalents if the chosen
school has specialist science or language facilities. It is recommended that parents take along evidence such as school reports to back up the argument.
n What happens at the hearing?
Appeals must be heardwithin 40 school days of the deadline for making an appeal. Either the school or council will give you at least 10 school days’ notice of the hearing. The panel is usually made up of three to five members of the public –both with and without experience of the education system.
Local authorities recommend that you provide evidence of why your child should attend your first choice and why it would be bad for them to go to another school.
The school will also present its case for why it cannot take extra children and why it would be bad for the school if they had to.
Youwill be able to pose questions to their representatives so think about what you may want to ask in advance.
Members will listen to both cases and ask questions. During the hearing, the panel will also check that the school’s admission arrangements comply with the Schools Admissions Code. If the admissions criteria arelegal and were properly followed, the panel must decide if
they werefollowedfairly and thoroughly. If they weren’tproperly followed or are illegal, your appeal must be upheld. If your appeal has not already been upheld, the panel will decide if your reasons for your child to be admitted outweigh the school’s reasons for not admitting another child.
The result is sent by post within seven days and the decision is legally binding –it can only be overturned by acourt.
If successful, your child will be allocated aplace at their preferred school regardless of the class size.
n What happens if Ilose the appeal? If the appeal is unsuccessful you can still put your child’sname on the waiting list in the hope of aplace becoming available. Thereisplenty of time for circumstances to change by September as families may move out of the area meaning spaces can free up.
Butunderstand that you can move both up and down awaiting list. If afamily was to move into the area and be closer to the school, they could go above you.
If you’reunhappy about the way the appeal process was carried out, you can complain to your Local Government Ombudsman. They can recommend anew appeal, but they can’treview or overturn the appeal panel’sdecision.
IMPORTANT TO KEEP AN OPEN MIND ON OPTIONS
It’s easier said than done,but it’s worth rememberingtokeep an open mindthroughoutthe applicationprocess
If it doesn’tall go to plan,thenyou will need to remainpositive about theschoolyourchildhas been allocatedbecause that will make it easier forthem.
Children pickuponyourmood andiftheyknowyou’reunhappy with theirschoolitcould affect howtheysettlein.
Concentrate on allofits positive attributes. If youare still feeling uncertain, contactthe school to arrangeavisit andspeak to staff to allayany fears. Touringthe site forthe firsttimeorsecond,ifyou attended an open day, mayhelp yousee it in anew light.
Also,rememberthatyouropinions andprioritiesmay well change andthe reasonswhy youruled the school outmay notmattersomuch in thefuture.
Youmay be worriedabout how youare goingtomanagewithyour childattendingaschoolfurther away but then find it easier than youwere expecting
Maybeyou areconcerned about previousperformance figures, but then see test andexamresults start to improve.
It’s also very likely that afteryour sonordaughterstarts, youcometo realiseitwas thebest fitfor them afterall
CONSIDER SPECIAL EDUCATIONAL NEEDSPOLICY
Allchildren have aright to be educated in mainstreamschool.
Some mainstreamschools have specialunits attached to cater forchildren with particular types of need,suchasautismorvisual impairments.
Such unitsoffer children the opportunity to spend some time in amainstreamsetting,but also to receivespecialist teaching
Your childwillneed an EHCP (an education, health andcareplan) to be considered foraplace in one of theseunits
There arealsomaintainedspecial schoolswhich arestate-run andfor children with more complexneeds that cannot be met in mainstream Your childwillneed an EHCP to be considered foraplace
Non-maintained specialschools arerun privatelyorbycharities, some of whichare residential. Asmall number of children with an EHCP maygotoone of theseschools,where it hasbeen establishedthatnolocal school canmeettheir needs. In the case of this type of school,the onus is on theparents to provethatno otherschoolcan meet theirchild’s needs.
TheBritish Dyslexia Association recommends checking the school’s prospectus andaskingfor acopyofits SpecialEducational NeedsPolicy(SEN).It suggests that parents askifthere arespecial needsstaff with qualificationsin SpecificLearningDifficulty(SpLD) andwhattrainingdoall staffhave.
Theorganisation also suggests findingout whetherthere is a choice of foreign languagesthat includesmoredyslexia-friendly languages.
It recommends that youand your childmeetthe staffwho will give specialist help and find out what subjects thesupportwillbe available in.
Getting afeelfor your newschool
Attending an open day is one of the best ways to let your son or daughter get afeel for anew school.
Many will offer guided tours and theremay also be the option to view avirtual tour on the school’swebsite. Open days areusually held in September and October,but most schools will allow parents and children to book an appointment to visit if they can’tmake a scheduled event.
During an open day,you’ll be able to visit classrooms, and often pupils will show you around and talk to you about their school.
Parents will probably be invited to hear atalk by the headteacher,the head of admissions or the head of the relevant section of the school.
Looking around the school will also enable you to discover morethan you would if you just read the prospectus. It’s an opportunity for you to speak to the staff, pupils and the headteacher
Feel free to ask questions if you want to, particularly of pupils –whatdothey think of the teaching? Do they enjoy life at the school? Look at the work on display Does it representabroad range of ability?
Aschool should value every child. Does the school offer extra-curricular activities –suchassports and clubs –so your child candevelop their interests?
This also shows that the teachers are motivated and enthusiastic.
Make sureyou have afew key questions to ask in order to get the most out of the visit –you might want to find out how many children areinaclass, or how the school deals with bullying.
Often current pupils will be drafted in to show prospective students around their classrooms and this will give agood insight into what life is like at the school. If they areenthusiastic and motivated, then this agood sign that they arehappy
The events will also showcase what extra-curricular activities, such as sports and clubs, areonoffer
Remember to ask about transport –will your child have to make their own way there, or arethere buses? Find out about the lunch arrangements –are therehealthy school meals available?
Pay attention to the pupils themselves –dothey seem happy and motivated? Do they speak positively about their teachers and school life?
It’salso important to find out how the school seeks to work with parents. Ask how parents arekept informed on activities and achievements in school.
Make notes and watch your child’s reactions and ask them what they thought. Above all, listen to your gut instinct.
Giving children ataste of life at secondaryschool
The transition from Year 6toYear 7can be alittle daunting for students and parents.
When Year 6children say goodbye to primary school, it marks the end of an era in their educational journey.As it’ssuch abig change for them, pupils areoften given the opportunity to sample secondary school life beforethey begin Year 7.
Once you’ve accepted your child’s place next spring, the headteacher will often invite your son or daughter to one or moretaster days, normally beforethe end of the current school year
This day will give your child the chance to experience anormalday at the school as away of breaking them in and relieving anxiety over the summer holidays.
They may also get the chance to meet other children from different primary schools so they can start getting to know their new classmates. They will also try out new lessons such as science, PE, dance, music or French.
It will also give them the opportunity to find out wheretheir form room, canteen, lockers and toilets arelocated as it’slikely they will not remember this from when they attended the open day
They will also be able try out the lunch system, which may be different from the one they areusedtoatprimary school Andifyou’renot certain if they arehaving school dinners or taking apacked lunch, sampling the food will enable them to help you make adecision.
The whole idea of ataster day is to make their first day easier,asthey will already have arough idea of the layout of the school, and make the transition from primary school to secondary school as smooth as possible.
It also gives children the opportunity to meet plenty of new faces including the headteacher,the head of year,their form tutor,subject teachers and other school staff.
They will also meet other children who areabout to start Year 7, and possibly others who arealready at the school such as buddies or mentors from higher years.
During the summer holidays, their new school may give them tasks to complete beforethe new term begins.
Some also provide activity ideas such as recipes to try that will be similar to what pupils will be learning in food technology or simple science experiments they can do
at home to give them ataster of what their lessons will be like in Year 7.
Many parents also choose to set their children learning tasks to keep their brains ticking over during the break from school and avoid what has become known as the ‘summer slide’. This might be activities such as taking part in the Reading Agency’sSummer Reading Challenge, maths quizzes or fun games like Boggle that help to build language skills.
Some schools may also offer a summer school with sessions aimed at giving teachers the opportunity to learn about your child, what their strengths are and what support, if any,they might need.
Every school will operate differently so it’sworth asking what they offer when you attend an open day or look for any information in their prospectus.
Most of the time, taster days help to ease children’snerves about starting secondary school.
However,ifyour child does have worries following their induction day,you can always phone their new school and ask for moreinformation on the area that is concerning them or organise further visits.
What subjects will your childbestudyingnow?
If your child’sschoolfollows the National Curriculum then therewill be compulsory subjects for them to be taught during the next five years.
They will vary depending on their age –Key Stage 3isfor years 7to9and Key Stage 4for years 10 and 11 when most pupils work towards national qualifications, usually GCSEs.
The majority of the National Curriculum was introduced in September 2014, with English and maths coming into force for all year groups from September 2016. The exception is the science curriculum which came into force for all year 10 pupils in September 2016, and applied to year 11 pupils from September 2017.
All local-authority-maintained schools in England must teach these programmes of study.Although academies and private schools do not always have to follow this, thereare still some subjects that arecompulsory for all students. If your child’snew school is following the National Curriculum, then they will have lessons in set subjects including English, mathematics, science, history,geography, modernforeign languages, physical
education, citizenship and computing.
In English classes, pupils will be taught to develop an appreciation and love of reading as well as to understand increasingly challenging texts. The programme also includes writing accurately,fluently,effectively and at length for pleasureand information as well as speaking confidently and effectively using various methods such as presentations and debates.
During Key Stage 3, the aim is for pupils to become fluent in the fundamentals of mathematics, including varied and frequent practice with increasingly complex problems over time. They will also learntoreason mathematically by following aline of enquiry and solving problems by applying their mathematics to avariety of routine and non-routine situations.
History lessons may include the development of church, state and society in Medieval Britain 1066-1509, challenges for Britain, Europe and the wider world 1901 to the present day and the Holocaust.
While science teachers will work to
ensurepupils develop their scientific knowledge and conceptual understanding in biology,chemistryand physics. They will also be taught nature, processes and methods of science through different types of enquiries that help them to answer questions about the world around them.
In geography sessions, they will work to extend their locational knowledge and deepen their spatial awareness of the world’scountries using maps of the world. Pupils will also be taught to understand geographical similarities, differences and links between places through the study of human and physical geography as well as geographical skills and fieldwork.
From Key Stage 3, schools arealso required toprovide lessons in religious education and sexeducation, but parents can sometimes choose whether children attend these classes.
Academies must teach abroad and balanced curriculum, which they can set themselves, but it must include English, mathematics and science. They must also teach religious education. Schools will be able to provide details on their specific curriculum if you areunsure.
Helping your childcope with theextra homework
The amount of homework your child has to do will almost certainly increase significantly when they start Year 7.
It’sadaily part of secondary school life and your child will be expected to complete it all and meet any deadlines they areset.
Homework helps to build on what your child is learning at school so plays an important role in their education.
It’sofcourse only natural that they may struggle to adjust to this increased workload at first.
But thereare plenty of ways you can help them settle into this new routine.
Encourage them to be organised by helping them to get used to checking their timetables and packing their bags the night before. It may help to draw up alist of items needed for each subject together so that they always have that to refer to.
As well as books and equipment, make surethey know when they will need their sports kit, whether for lessons or after-school activities. This will lead to less panicking and reduce the chances of anything being forgotten in the mornings –well, in theory anyway!
Children areusually given aplanner to help them manage their homework. They’ll
be expected to use it every lesson to write down the details of their homework. Youwillprobably be asked to sign their planner every week to confirm that they’ve completed their homework
Take time to talk to your child about each day’shomeworkassignments and make surethat they arekeeping their planner up-to-date with what is required and when.
Youmay wish to provide them with wall space to hang aplanner at home, such as awhiteboard, to also write their assignments on.
While you don’twant to nag them, you don’twant them falling behind either Teach them to prioritise their work so that
they aredoing the tasks in the correct order according to the deadlines they have been set by their teachers.
Ensurethat they have somewhere quiet to complete their work without any tempting distractions like the television or their tablet.
Encourage them to speak up if they arestruggling, and if you have real concerns that they arefinding it difficult to cope persuade them to speak to their form or subject tutor.Ifthey areworried or unwilling then you may want to do it yourself.
If you think they aretaking longer to complete an assignment than they should, then wait to see if it’sjust aone-off–it may be that it’sone particular topic or task they’ve found morechallenging. But if it becomes aregular occurrence you may wish to raise it with the school.
Schools will have different policies concerning what happens if homework isn’thanded in, but it’susual for pupils to have to complete the work in detention. Reminding your child of this may be useful if they areshowing signs of wanting to ignoreanassignment, or put it offfor another day.But once they get into a routine, they’ll be fine.
Workingtowards theend goal –yourqualifications
In abid to ensurepupils leave school better prepared for work or further study,GCSEand A-level qualifications have been overhauled in recent years.
Although thereisstill some time before your child will be ready to consider their options, it helps to understand what they will face in the future.
For the first time in 2017, students didn’tjust receive their grades subjects in the usual A*-G format –inmathematics, English language and English literature they weregraded on ascale between 9 and 1instead.
These werefollowedbyafurther 20 subjects including history,geography, double science, PE and art and design with the remaining subjects getting the new grades after that.
A9isthe top grade, while 1isthe lowest pass possible,with an outright fail still graded as aU
The top grades of A**, A* and Aare
broadly equivalent to anew grades of 9, 8 and 7, while pass marks of Band Chave been replaced by grades 4, 5and 6. At the lower end of the scale, grades D, E, Fand Gwill be graded 3, 2and 1.
The Department for Education (DfE) says its GCSEs aredesigned to match the standards set by the strongest performing education systems in the world.
While exam regulator Ofqual said the 1 to 9scalehelps them to better differentiate between the highest performing pupils and distinguish clearly between the new and old exams.
Meanwhile, changes werealso introduced to the A-level system. The reforms saw aswitch to assessment being mainly by exam and have also led to some subjects such as applied science and creative writing being scrapped.
New style study programmes were introduced for some subjects in 2015 and since 2017 all courses have followed the same system.
Courses arenolonger divided into modules and all exams take place in the summer.The changes also mean that students have less coursework and fewer practical assessments.
TLevels, which areequivalent to three A-levels, have been introduced in recent years. The two-year courses were
developed in collaboration with employers and businesses so that the content meets the needs of industry and prepares students for work, further training or study
TLevels offer students amixture of classroom learning and ‘on-the-job’ experience during an industry placement. Subjects include design, surveying and planning for construction; digital production, design and development; education and childcare; finance; hair, beauty and aesthetics; animal careand management; media, broadcast and production; and healthcarescience.
Apprenticeships arealso becoming an increasingly popular alternative to A-levels, with students looking to combine real work with academic study.
It is also an opportunity for 16-yearolds to earnand learnatthe same time as getting afootinthe door of their chosen industry
Apprentices split their time between the workplace and atraining centreor college. They areexpected to work for at least 30 hours aweek and aretreated like apermanent employee, receiving asalary, holidays and other benefits.
Some programmes arestructured so that an apprentice will spend four days in aweek at work, and one day at college.
Other employers will retain an apprentice for weeks or months at atime, and then send them to college for an extended study period
Anyone interested in an intermediate, or level 2apprenticeship will usually require at least five GCSE passes. But thereare different entry requirements depending on the sector and job.
At any one time thereare up to 28,000 apprenticeship vacancies available online in avariety of careers and industries across England –fromaccounting and animal caretoplumbing and printing.
Other post-16 options, include Higher National Certificates (HNCs) and Higher National Diplomas (HNDs).
They areagreat way to preparefor acareer in aspecific industry and lead directly to the workplace.
Both qualifications areprovided by further and higher education colleges. HNCs take about one year to complete full-time and two years part-time. It is equivalent to the first year of adegree.
HNDs take two years full-time and can also be taken part-time, which takes longer.This is the equivalent to two years of adegree. Both HNCs and HNDs can be very practical qualifications, so they do not just involve theory.
PICK THERIGHT COURSE FORYOUR DREAMCAREER
When it comestoA-levels anda degree beyond that,there area wide rangeofsubjectstochoose from
If your childwants to study certain subjects at university,oriftheyhave acareerareainmind, it’s important to checkiftheyhaveany particular A-levelentry requirements.
They maynot yetknowwhatthey want to do afterA-levels,sohere’s a quickguide to making choices.
Themost importantcriteriafor a student choosingA-levels subjects are:
n Arethere anyparticularsubjects andgradesyou mayneed?–Ifyou have aparticularcareer, jobor furtherstudy in mindyou mayneed to choose certainA-levelsinorder to meet entryrequirements
n Abilityand enjoyment–Think aboutthe subjectsyou aregoodat andlike. If youenjoywhatyou’re studyingyou arelikelytobemore motivated.Ifyou have abilityinyour chosensubjectsyou canincrease your chancesofsuccess
n Newsubjects –Schools and colleges mayoffer A-levels in subjects that youhavenot studied before –it’sreallyworth taking some time to find outwhat’s involved in newsubjects,talkto your teachers andtostaff at open days andopenevenings
n Subjectcombinations–Some subjects covercommon ground –suchasgeography and environmentalstudies,ormedia studiesand film studies. Youneed to checkthey’re not toosimilaras some colleges anduniversitiesmay not accept thecombination forentry to higher levelcourses.
Some subjectcombinations arecomplimentary and fitwell together–suchasdoing physics as well as mathematicsoranother science. This canhelpyou in your studiesand enable youtomeet entryrequirementsfor higher level coursesinfuture.
Howwillyouryoungster gettotheir newschool?
Once you know whereyourchild will be studying next September,you willneed to consider how they aregoing to get to school.
Arethey going to walk, catch abus or be dropped offbycar?
If their new secondary is just around the corner then it should be within easy walking distance of your home. But if it’s further away it may mean your child will be catching the bus for the first time by themselves. Or,you mightfind it’seasier for you to drop them offinthe car on the way to work.
If your child will be walking to their new school, you will need to think about whether they will go alone, with friends, or whether someone will walk them. As the nights start drawing in, make surethey can be clearly seen when they’rewalking to and from school. It’sworth buying reflective high-visibility stickers to put on their school bags.
It may be that you want to accompany
your child at the start until they areused to the routeand you arehappy to let them go by themselves, or with their friends.
If the school is further away,your child may be automatically entitled to free transport up to the age of 16. To qualify they need to attend the nearest suitable school, which must be further away than statutory walking distance of three miles for pupils aged eight or more. Statutory walking distance is measured by the shortest routeachild, accompanied if necessary,can walk with reasonable safety.Ifthereisnosuch route, the local authority must provide free transport no matter what distance you live from the school.
The local education authority or governing body will either provide its own transport, hirecoaches, or provide free bus or train passes for use on public transport.
In some cases, atravellingallowance may be paid to pupils who provide their
own transport, for example, acycle allowance. Pupils who do not qualify for free transport may be allowed to travel on spareseats on school buses for afee. Your local council will be able to tell you about what transport options areavailable in your area and what support is on offer
If your child will be taking public transport, it may help to calm any nerves by practising their routebeforethe start of term. This will help them to get used to getting out of the door,and to thebus stop, on time.
Whether it’spublic transport or abus provided by the council or school, it’s worth having aPlanBincase your child misses their lift. Make surethey know what they need to do if this happens, whether they should call you or another relative, or get ataxi. If it’sthe latter,make surethatthey have ‘emergency money’ to pay for it and that they know what it’s for and that it should be kept in asecure place in their bag.
Kittingyourchild outfor themovetoanew school
Thereisnogetting around it. Kitting out children for their first year of secondary school can be expensive, but thereare ways to keep the costs down.
According to research conducted by The Children’sSociety, whichsurveyed 2,000 parents across the UK in May,on average they arespending £422 per year on uniforms and £287 for primary school children. So how can you save money on school uniforms?
n Buy secondhand –Sometimes there’saway to buy secondhand uniforms at the school through the Parent Teacher Association, Matthew Easter,chairman of The Schoolwear Association, says.
“Have alook on local Facebook sites or sometimes schools have secondhand sales themselves,” advises teacher, mother and money saving expert Sophie Bradbury
“Sometimes you can get uniform that’s barely been wornassomeone’sgrown out of it too quickly.Ifyou know anyone with children in their older years, ask them. Chances arethey’ve still got some old jumpers or polo shirts hanging around.
“Also check out your local charity shops and make suretoask if they have any uniform out the back. Charity shops don’tput everything out straight away,so it’salways worth an ask. [You can also try] car boot sales. Ialways see old uniforms going for pennies.”
It’sgreat when siblings attend the same school too, because you can pass down their old items.
n Buy good quality uniform that lasts –It’stempting to buy cheap school uniforms, but Easter suggests it’sbetter to focus on quality over quantity
Matthew is aparent of two girls aged seven and 10, and understands the strain it can put on families.
“School uniforms areunique pieces of clothing, because pupils wear it for at least 196 days every year.Ithardly changes too and doesn’tget lost as much as parents think –it’sonly asmall proportion. So why not invest in quality branded clothing that will last your child for afew years?
“It means you can focus on purchasing the quality staple branded items, including ablazer,jumper –depending on the school –and tie from recommended
retailers and then get skirts, trousers, white shirts, shoes and anything else required from independent retailers or supermarkets on the high street.”
In reality,Matthew suggests parents end up spending moreinashorter space of time buying lower quality uniforms, because they might need to be replaced.
n Buy it big so you get moreout of it –Uniforms tend not to be aone-time cost: you’ll have to buy replacements whenever you child has agrowth spurt and the garments no longer fit.
An easy hack to minimising the amount of new uniforms you have to buy? Buy the items abit toobig, giving your child time to grow into it.
n Recycle or upcycle –Clothingisone of the world’smost polluting industries, so don’tthrow your old uniform away
Many schools, parent groups and local charities will run uniform swap shops but in many cases if you areinneed of uniform, you can turnupwithout having anything to swap.
If they arenolonger good enough to wear again, you can always donate them to organisations that upcycle and recycle school uniforms. An example is the Re:Form scheme (run by Trutex), which sells pre-owned uniforms at reduced prices.
NHSSHARESTOP TIPS FORHEALTHY PACKED LUNCHES
TheNHS’s Better Health campaign hasprovidedthese top tips for healthylunches
n Freeze for variety–Keepa smallselection of differenttypes of breadinthe freezersoyou have avarietyofoptions –like bagels,pittas andwraps, granary, wholemeal andmultigrain.
n Cutbackonfat –Picklower-fat fillings,likeleanmeats (including chicken or turkey), fish (suchas tuna or salmon), lower-fatspread, reduced-fat creamcheeseand reduced-fat hard cheese. And trytoavoid usingmayonnaisein sandwiches
n Always addveg –Cherry tomatoes,orsticksofcarrot, cucumber,celeryand peppers allcount towardstheir 5ADay Addingasmall potofreduced-fat hummus or otherdipsmay help with getting kids to eatvegetables.
n Ever green–Alwaysadd salad to sandwiches andwraps too– it allcountstowards your child’s5A Day!
n Cheesydoes it… Cheese can be high in fatand salt,sochoose stronger-tasting ones– anduse less of it –ortry reduced-fat varieties.
n Cutdownoncrisps –Ifyour childreallylikes theircrisps try reducingthe number of timesyou include them in theirlunchbox, andswapfor homemade plain popcorn or plain rice cakes instead.
n Swap thefruit bars –Dried fruit like raisins, sultanas anddried apricots arenot only cheaper than processed fruitbarsand snacks but canbehealthier too. Just remember to keepdried fruit to mealtimesasitcan be badfor teeth.
n Switch thesweets– Swap cakes, chocolate, cereal bars andbiscuits formaltloaf, fruitedteacakes, fruit breads or fruit.
So importantto fuel theirstudies
Your child will need agood meal in the middle of the day to help them process all the new things they arelearning.
And the choice is either they take in a packed lunch from home or they choose ahot dinner in the school canteen. Both have their pros and cons.
Sending your son and daughter to school every day with afulllunch box gives you control of the food they eat. But it’sanother job to do each morning when time is already precious and it can be hard to keep the options interesting for your child.
School dinners mean you know your child is getting ahot meal at lunchtime, but if you areleaving them to choose from the canteen menu you can’tbesurethey will select something nutritious.
For some of you the decision may be influenced by whether your child is entitled to free school meals. This is normally the case if you areinreceipt of benefits such as Income Support, Child TaxCredit and Universal Credit. The local council can tell you if your child is able to get free school meals.
In recent years, schools have put a lot of effort into revamping their dinners, especially after celebrity chef Jamie Oliver highlighted the issue in 2005. He started his Feed Me Better campaign because
he was appalled by the junk food being served at many schools in England. It led to new guidelines for school dinners and the Government investing £280 million on improving menus for youngsters.
Now all schools have healthy eating policies, which arereflected in the menus on offer for pupils. They also cater for different diets and allergies as well as for different religious faiths and beliefs.
Some have cashless systems where children use acardoreven theirfingerprint to buy their food each day after parents have paid money into their account at the start of term. The benefits of this arethatit meanschildren do not have to carry cash on them each day.Italso allows parents to monitor what their child is eating at school because they will know what has been purchased on their account.
Many parents still choose to send their children to school with apacked lunch, especially if they prefer to eat ahot meal together as afamily in the evening.
It also means they know exactly what their child is eating each day and they don’thave to leave it up to them to make healthy choices.
Thereare plenty of ideas online if you’renot sure what to give your child for lunch and suggestions to shake things up if they get tired of sandwiches each day
Achance to make friends andlearn anew skilltoo
From playing in the band to being part of asports team, thereismoreto school life than just what goes on in the classroom.
In addition to their lessons, your son or daughter will have the chance to join in awhole host of extra-curricular activities. Every school will offer apacked programme to ensurethereissomething to suit all interests.
Maybe your child will already have afavourite sport or other interest they want to continue or they might choose to try something new.Your child will no doubt have plenty of opportunities and it is something that should always be encouraged.
Joining after-school clubs can make it easier for them to settle in to their new surroundings and make friends. Children, especially those that areshy,may be concerned about how they aregoing to get to know their new classmates. They will be moving from aschool wherethey knew everybody’snameand now they could be in aclass with children they have never seen before.
It is also agreat chance for your
child to develop an existing interest or start anew hobby,which could turninto alife-long passion. All schools will offer sessions, with meetings taking place either beforelessons, during lunch breaks and at the end of the day
If your child doesn’thave aparticular interest already,encourage them to try something new.Ifitturns out it’snot for them, they can always try something else. Make surethey don’tjust give up after the first attempt as it could take them awhile to find anew interest and it may be that it’ssomething they had never considered before. Once your child has found an activity that they enjoy,succeeding in that activity could build their confidence and self-esteem.
As well as all kinds of sports, they could get involved in special-interest clubs such as science or computing, music tuition and modernforeign languages, as well as homework clubs. Popular extracurricular activities include book groups, creative writing, and performing arts such as drama or choir groups.
Another benefit of extra-curricular activities is that they allow your children
to make acontribution to their school or community,helping to preparethemfor later in life. For example, if they play in a school band they may stage aconcert that is open for the public to enjoy
Activities can also teach them time management because children will be expected to get to sessions on time and be ready to start as soon as they arrive. They also present opportunities for your child to set goals for themselves such as passing amusic exam, or being picked for the lead role in aplay. It will give them something to work towards.
Sports teams, clubs and activities, like dancing and music, all requirechildren to work together towards acommon goal. This will teach them the benefit of teamwork, which will be useful to them when they get their first job. By joining an after-school club, they will also have the chance to mix with children of other age groups and outside their own circle of friends.
When you attend an open day,make suretofind out what is on offer,especially if your child already has aparticular interest.
Spotting signsthatyour childisbeing bullied
Knowing or suspecting that your child is being bullied can be very upsetting, but there’slots you can do to help tackle the problem.
Although you hope it never happens to your son or daughter,thereisachance it might so it helps to be prepared to recognise the signs so you can help.
The good news is that most schools arevery pro-active when it comes to preventing and dealing with this problem.
Bullying can take many shapes and forms and sadly technology and social media have also made it easier for those who want to cause trouble for others.
n Cyber bullying –usually carried out online, via smartphones and tablets –isbecoming increasingly common and can cause the same emotional and physiological stress as the conventional kind.
However,one of the biggest challenges posed is that it can be harder to detect because it only takes place via phones and other electronic devices.
The charity Family Lives recommends parents make note of everything that happened, including who was involved, when it occurred and who witnessed it, beforeapproaching the school.
Cyber bullying, unfortunately,can be harder to spot, and with mobile technology being so freely available it can seem never-ending as the taunting can continue at any time of the day or night.
It can also be made worse if taunts aremade via social networking sites and messaging apps because anything posted can often be seen by lots of people and easily shared.
n Make an appointment with the class teacher or head of year –they will want to see you if you have concerns. All state schools arerequired to have an anti-bullying policy by law.Work together with the school and make it clear you are seeking their help in finding asolution.
n Avoid accusing the school –remember that teachers areusually the last to find out that bullying is happening.
n As difficult as it may be, try to be patient –allow the school time to deal with the problem but stay in touch with them and arrange afollow-up meeting to see how the situation is being resolved.
If things don’timprove, keep abullying diary and write down every incident as soon as possible after it happens making suretotell the school each time.
n Look for changes in your child’s behaviour –theymay be less talkative and appear secretive. They may suddenly be unwilling to go out with friends or stop doing an activity they have always enjoyed.
Once they have confirmed your suspicions –keep alog of what’s happened, get screen grabs of texts or messages on social media and then go to the school for help.
What to do if your child has bullied someone:
No parent wants to find out that their child is bullying another pupil and it’slikely that you will feel angry,disappointed or any number of other strong emotions.
The NSPCC recommends that you should explain that what they’redoing is unacceptable.
Children and young people don’t always realise what they’redoing is bullying, or understand how much their actions have hurt someone.
Childline has lots of great advice specially designed for childen and young people.
The NSPCC says it’simportant to help them realise how what they’ve done will have affected the other person. Youcould ask them how they think the other child is feeling, and to remember how they’ve felt when someone has said or done something unkind to them.
Explain what you’regoing to do next, such as telling their school, and what you expect your child to do now
Ask them whether they have any questions about why their actions need to change.
Keep your childsafefrom harm when they go online
Once your child starts secondary school it’slikely that they will become moreexposed to smartphones and social media.
And they arenever too young to start developing good online habits.
One of the best ways to start is to encourage your child to talk to you about how they use the internet and show you what they do. Agood time to do this might be if they mention anew websiteor arestarting amajor project at school.
Setting afew ground rules can also be away to ensurethey aresurfingsafely This might include asking them to use their tech devices in acommunal area such as the living room or kitchen.
Another important step is to activate all of the parental controls on your home broadband and all devices including mobile phones and games consoles. Safe searching features can also be set up on websites such as Google to help them avoid any adult content.
Your home Wi-Fi network and TV settings should be passwordprotected.
Think about setting up accounts for your children so they’reonly seeing ageappropriate content. For example, on TV
streaming services like Netflix.
As they get older your child may want to have asocial networking profile on sites such as Facebook and Instagram.
The age limit is 13 for these sites and many games, apps, films and other social networks will have age ratings.
When they areold enough, talk to them about the benefits and risks before they join and ensurethey understand that anything they upload, email or message is out of their control as soon as they press the button. Remind them they should only
do things online that they wouldn’tmind you, ateacher or afutureemployer seeing. It’salsoimportant that they know how to block or ignorepeople and how to set strict privacy settings.
Children often feel they can say things online that they wouldn’tsay face-to-face, so it’simportant to teach them to always have respect for themselves and others online.
They also need to know thereis nothing wrong in NOT giving in to peer pressuretosend inappropriate comments or images.
Technology can move at an extraordinarily fast pace so it’salways a good idea to check in with your child from time to time, to make surethat they are using the internet appropriately and you areconfident they arestaying safe.
The NSPCC says: “Talking regularly with your child is the greatest tool to help keep them safe online. Talking regularly and making it part of daily conversation, like you would about their day at school, will help your child feel relaxed. It also means when they do have any worries, they’remorelikely to come and speak to you.”
Chance for youtoget a tasteofthe worldofwork
One of the secondary school milestones your child can look forward to is their first work experience placement, usually in Year 10.
This is achance for your son or daughter to get out and explorethe world of work and gain some invaluable insight which could inspiretheir futurecareer choice.
Their teachers will no doubt explain moreabout the process when the time comes, but it doesn’thurt to have an early understanding of what they will be required to do.
And some early planning may also help to ensurethey secureaplacement in their preferred industry,especiallyifit’sone that’sgoing to be popular
If you know wherethey want to work or what sector they would like to work in, then you can start making enquiries ahead of time.
For pupils who don’tknow what career they might like in the future, experts recommend they think about what they arepassionate about as that should spark some ideas. If they like animals then they
may want to look into options that will enable them to work closer with them. If they enjoy looking after younger siblings or babysitting, then childcareorteaching might be agood fit.
Nearer the time, pupils should speak to their teachers or careers advisor at school as they will be able to help with organising the placement and with speaking to the correct people, as well as dealing with the logistics.
Work experienceissaid to offer many benefits to teenagers such as boosting their confidence and inspiring their futurecareer goals. Placements will also help them to develop skills such as communicating with others, working in a team and problem solving, which will be beneficial to their studies.
If your child wants to enter the world of work after leaving school, then work experience can also be aroute to landing ajob. Impressing an employer during a work experience placement could mean they think of your child when they are looking to recruit in the future. Many companies will offer opportunities to
people who areknown to them or they know already have an insight into the business.
If your child plans to go to university or start an apprenticeship, then having completed work experience in asector related to their course or preferred place of work will show that they have enthusiasm for that industry and it also shows that they have made an effort to get abetter understanding of what the job involves and what is required fromthem
Competitionfor university places in areas such as medicine or veterinary practice can be tough, so having already secured work experience can help to make their UCAS application stand out.
Although it’susually atwo-week work experience placement in Year 10, many companies will allow students to return during school holidays so they can build on their skills and learning.
For many employers, nothing is more impressive than acandidate with relevant workexperience, and having this on their CV can put them acut above other applicants.
OldburyWells School
Aclear vision…to deliver an Inspiring Education that Inspires the Lives of those within our community by meeting the needs of every individual; this is at the centre of our work.
As adynamic, forward-looking school located in the historic town of Bridgnorth, we areextremely proud of all our students’ achievements.
Our school is alive with learning, ensuring everyone continually improves to be the best they can while developing individual interests and talents; our students enjoy attending school (OFSTED 2023).
We aim for all our students to further gain in confidence and ASPIRE to make the best progress within asafe,caring and supportive environment wherethereare strong relationships between students and staff.
We provide high quality experiences through an exciting curriculum where thereare high expectations and high levels of achievement, ensuring ENJOYMENT is at the heart of all our work. Our blended approach of academic rigour and enrichment opportunities ensure our students achieve well and arefully
prepared for their next stage of development.
We arerelentless in celebrating everyone’s ACHIEVEMENT in all aspects of their academic and personal development, ensuring everyone is fully prepared to move forward taking their place in today’s diverse society
Our students recognise the importance of doing their best and show amazing resilience in all they do.
We value our traditions and encourage our students to have the highest expectations of themselves and others. Our dedicated staffworkinsupport of every individual to help them achieve their ambitions and goals.
Oldbury Wellsisagreat place to be and agreat place to learn. We look forwardtowelcoming families to our open events to find out more.
Founded in 1650, Thomas Adams is a successful co-educational community school, sixth form and boarding house in the centreofWem, North Shropshire.
Students attend Thomas Adams School from our local primary schools and many moretravel from awider catchment area on subsidised buses.
In 2023, Ofsted inspectors recognised Thomas Adams as ‘a warm, friendly and vibrant school, that sets high expectations for what it wants pupils to achieve and works hardtonurtureindividual talents and interests’.
The school is renowned for its music, sport and drama provisions. We have specialist centres for these subjects including full performance facilities, amultiuse sports centre, extensive playing fields and afitness suite.
We have twomain sites on our 30acrecampus; theLowe Hill site caters for Years 7-11 and at our Noble Street site we have our sixth form, offering over 25 subjects at A-level and BTEC.
We also have athrivingboarding provision, Adams House, which accommodates students from the UK and overseas.
Increasingly,parents arechoosing state boarding schools as they see
that they can obtain the education and exceptional pastoral carethey areseeking for afractionofthe cost.
We celebrate diversity and arepleased to welcome students from avariety of cultural, religious and ethnic backgrounds.
TelfordLangley School
The TelfordLangley School will be holding their open evening on October 3rd.
Current pupils and staffwill be on hand to welcome prospective pupils and their parents.
Judged good in all areas by Ofsted in 2019, The TelfordLangley School is an exciting and vibrant school.
The school is part of the ‘Community Academies Trust’, which comes with astrong track recordfor ensuring that the schools within their group provide the highest quality education, providing the support necessary to drive school improvement.
The TelfordLangley School boasts state-of-the-art facilities for sport, the arts, science, technology and ICT.
Students enjoy awide range of opportunities in an environment where they aregiven every chance to ‘let their light shine’.
Thereare significant opportunities for
activities.
The school has been recognised by the ‘Renaissance’ organisation which works with schools across the country to develop student reading and comprehension. The TelfordLangley
School is one of only ahandful of schools out of 6,000 who have achieved ‘Master School’ status for their excellent work in this area.
Ensuring excellence is the theme in all aspects of school life. Afocus on excellent standards of academic achievement, along with astrong emphasis on outstanding behaviour is the norm.
The school has areputation for strong pastoral caresystems; providing guidance and support for all students. The pastoral system builds on this to foster excellent working relationships and create ahappy and well-disciplined atmosphere.
The evening will run between 5.30pm and 8pm and visitors arewelcome at any point throughout the evening. There will be presentations from the headteacher at 6pm and 7pm.
Tours with the headteacher during the school day can also be arranged via the online booking system on our website.
students outside the planned curriculum, with an extensive programme of extracurricular
TelfordParkSchool
Is your child readytoembark on their secondary school journey?
At TelfordPark School, we warmly welcome all parents of Year 6students to join us for our Open Day events to experience our amazing school and purposeful learning environment.
Our new inspirational Headteacher, Miss Huntington, supported by her senior leadership, is committed to ensuring that every child at TelfordPark School reaches their full potential and is afforded the best life chances. We strongly believe in the power of education to transform young people’slives and their communities, creating opportunities for all students to thrive and succeed.
During your visit, you areinvited to take aguided tour,partake in some of the learning activities your child will experience, speak to subject teachers and have all your questions answered.
At TelfordPark School, we foster an inclusive and respectful atmospherewhere students areencouraged to work hard
and achieve in every aspect. Our aim is to help each student grow into aconfident, capable young person.
Since joining the Amethyst Academies trust in March 2024, TelfordPark School has made many improvements to the curriculum and our approaches to teaching and learning. We believe in providing every child with afirstclass education through an aspirational knowledge-rich curriculum, consistently good teaching and learning, arobust approach to attainment and standards, coupled with arigorous personal
development programme and awide array of enriching experiences.
Our committed team of staffplaya vital role in nurturing astimulating learning environment. We prioritise academic excellence, character development, and personal growth, ensuring every student feels supported and valued.
At TelfordPark School, we believe that education is acollaborative effort between the school, parents, and the wider community.Weactively encourage parental involvement and offer numerous opportunities for parents to engage with the school and support their child’s learning journey.
Open Day Details:
n First Open Day: Saturday 28th September –10am to 12pm
n Second Open Day: Thursday 10th October –4pm to 6pm
Tickets areavailable from our TicketTailor page https://buytickets.at/ telfordparkschool/1324246.
WilliamBrookes School
William Brookes School is aplace wherestudents tell us they feel safe and nurtured, and they have access to extraordinary educational resources.
The school’sbackdrop is the breathtakingly beautiful Shropshire countryside, and whilst aproportion of our students live in the market town of Much Wenlock, we actually serve auniquely wide catchment area from rural hamlets to the large town of Telford.
We arehonoured to be the only Coubertin school in Great Britain and we embrace the rich history of Olympian traditions. Our school values arefocused around the ‘Olympic’ values of Respect, Excellence and Friendship. These are values that your children will experience from one another and from staff–these values run through the veins of the school.
We believe that our young students have amazing potential which can be realised through hardwork, great learning and building relationships with others.
Agreat education is not just about the
academic mind, but is also about being able to make wise choices and nurturing the things which we areindividually passionate about.
Our curriculum intent is that our students will develop the golden knowledge, skills and attributes that will enrich their lives, becoming responsible, caring citizens who thrive and who positively contribute.
As aschool, our purpose is to educate. Education is the key to successful futures and provides choices
and opportunities for our students. The classroom should be aplace of focusand learning, wherethe magic happens. That said, our school also provides exceptional extra-curricular,enrichment opportunities for our students. An extraordinary number of trips abroad and awiderange of clubs, allow students to flourish in and outside of the classroom.
We work hardand aim for excellence in all we do, showing kindness, friendship and respect to each other.Webelong because this is our school.
Haberdashers’ Adams
SCHOOL HELPSSTUDENTSTODEVELOP AS CONFIDENT,ARTICULATEYOUNG MENAND WOMENWHO AREINTERESTING,BALANCEDAND WHOCAREFOR EACH OTHER
Haberdashers’ Adams is a selective state grammar school with academy status.
The 365-year-old school offers an exceptional education for boys and girls with apassion for helping pupils to develop as confident, articulate young men and women who areinteresting, balanced and who carefor each other.
Haberdashers’ Adams is one of just afew state grammar schools in the UK to have aboarding facility which offers an affordable alternative to the independent sector.Aroundone hundred of our pupils areboarders (boys only) and boarding contributes much to the ethos of the school.
Areputation for high academic results is equalled by astrong house system and ahuge variety of enrichment activities. Thereisareal focus on providing pupils with as many opportunities as possible to
try new things. Thereare over 50 extracurricular activities, including athriving Combined Cadet Force (CCF) and an active Duke of Edinburgh awardscheme. Life is exciting, busy and fast-paced at Haberdashers’ Adams.
In Key Stage 3, the curriculum includes two modernlanguages, three separate sciences, art, music and DT The instrumental music programme
allows every student to experience learning amusical instrument.
Haberdashers’ Adams is a selective school but one which is inclusive within its remit. The school ensures that all pupils with SEN areidentified and appropriately supported to ensureboth academic and personal development.
The school has some fantastic facilities including adedicated Sixth Form Centre; amodernmusic and performing arts centre; abrandnew teaching block for art and maths; and some superb sports facilities including aswimming pool and over 100 acres of playing fields.
Ofsted inspectors graded the school ‘Good’ in 2022. They reported “exceptionally” well-behaved students, that are“mature, articulate young adults who show ahunger for learning”. Inspectors praised the “highly knowledgeable and passionate” teachers.
leadingselectivestate grammar school •ExcellentGCSE and A-levelresults
•Extensivesport,music and extra-curricular activities
•Strong house-based pupil welfaresystem •Co-educational with boarding forboys •Stunning boarding houseset in 100 acres •Affordableboarding from £4,851 per term
Lakelands Academy
Located in the heart of Ellesmere, Lakelands Academy is surrounded by beautiful meres and stunning countryside.
Staffare committed to providing the very best education for the children of Ellesmereand itssurrounding villages. We also take our responsibilities to our families and the local community very seriously and, as arespected and trusted centreofthe local community, our aim is to help it develop and prosper.Weare acollaborative and outward-facing academy where honesty,integrity,respect and loyalty areessential to the way we work.
We believe that education is much morethan academic results; it is about embedding behaviours that aresafe, smart, responsible and kind (our core values) in order that our young people develop into well-rounded, confident and happy individuals who respect the differences of others and aredriven to
make apositive contribution to society
In 2022, Ofsted commented that ‘pupils take pride in their school’, praised the ‘high ambitions for all pupils’ learning’, and recognised that Lakelands ‘prepares pupils well for their futurelives’.
We areahighly aspirational school with aclear aim to provide an outstanding educational experience for all our young people, ensuring they areprepared for
further education and the world of work. We genuinely believe in every one of our children and aredetermined to deliver excellence in all we do. We combine an exciting learning environment with high quality facilities in order to challenge and inspireeveryone to achieve and to do this with asmile on their face.
Please join us for our OPEN EVENT on Wednesday 18th September between 9.30am –12pm, 1.30pm –3pm and 4.30pm –7.30pm. We would also like to invite students to come along and enjoy Year 6Taster Day on Friday 4th October.Don’tworry if you can’tmake these dates –wewelcome visits from prospective parents and students at any time.
For moreinformation about our Open Event, to book aplace on our Year 6 Taster Day or to arrange avisit please contact us at admin@lakelandsacademy org.uk or on 01691 622543.
Developing our students intoconfident adults, equippedto go as farastheir talentswill take them.
www.lakelandsacademy.org.uk
TelfordCollege
ACOLLEGE THAT PUTS STUDENTS AT THEHEART OF EVERYTHING IT DOES,PREPARING THEM FORPROGRESSION TO HIGHER EDUCATION, APPRENTICESHIPS, OR EMPLOYMENT
Education has the power to transform lives, and TelfordCollege offers apathway to aworldofexciting possibilities.
The college puts students at the heart of everything it does, preparing them for progression to higher education, apprenticeships, or employment.
Students make new friends, learnskills which arerelevant to today’sfast-moving workplace, and achieve things they never thought possible.
The college’sexperienced and friendly team support everyone to be what they want to be, and do what they want to do… the only limit is their own imagination.
As the largest further education centre in Telford&Wrekin and Shropshire, the college offers an unrivalled range of A-levels, TLevels, apprenticeships and vocational studies.
New for 2024 is adigital and maths skills hub at the heart of Telfordtown centre’snew Station Quarter,just afew minutes’ walk from the main railway and bus stations.
Meanwhile, a£1.8 million refurbishment is boosting the already university-standardvocational training facilities at the college’sestablished Wellington campus.
“Learning should be challenging, rewarding and fun,” says Lawrence Wood, thecollege’snew principal and chief executive.
“Whichever routeyou choose, your time with us will be filled with milestones and memories. And there’snever been a moreexciting time to become part of our family.”
TelfordCollege is officially rated as ‘Good’ by Ofsted, and prides itself on achievement rates which arecomfortably
ahead of the national average.
A-level provision is in the top 10% in the country,and thecollege consistently records 100% pass rates across many courses.
This year,98% of TelfordCollege A-level students who applied for university wereoffered aplace.
The college is also rated the top performing college in the West Midlands combined authority area for upskilling professional programmes, leading to employment –and has formed important partnerships with two of the region’smost respected universities, Keele and Warwick.
In arecent survey,98% of students praised the support from tutors, and 95% said they would thoroughly recommend the TelfordCollege experience.
If you’d like first-hand experience of college life, why not come along to one of our open events for an informal chat with
our friendly and experienced staff?
The next step of your career starts right hereatTelfordCollege –and there’s no telling whereitmight lead.
Find out more: www.telfordcollege. ac.uk
New for 2024/25
n Expanded A-level provision including new theatrestudies and politics options.
n Agrowing range of TLevels including health, digital, business, engineering, early years, media and fashion.
n TelfordCollege @Station Quarter –adigital and maths skills hub equipping local people for careers in cybersecurity, AI, robotics, virtual and augmented reality, cloud computing, wireless technologies and much more.
n Acutting-edge Clinical Skills Centre, training students in arealistic hospital wardsetting for awiderange of careers in health and social care.
n New bootcamp-style short programmes to reskill and upskill workers in the manufacturing, engineering and construction sectors.
n Anew £600,000 Retrofit Skills Lab for renewable energy training, including solar and battery power technology and electric vehicle charging.
n ASportsAcademy,making the most of some of the best facilities in the area including indoor and outdoor 3G football pitches, adouble sized sports hall, and gym.
INDEPENDENT SCHOOLS GUIDE
Meetingthe costsofa privateschooleducation
Many parents will rule out fee-paying schools for their children because of the costs involved.
But most independent schools, often known as private schools, will offer financial assistance in the form of scholarships or bursaries for pupils.
Fee-paying schools tend to have small class sizes, excellent exam results and a good recordofentry to top universities.
Many devote asignificant amount of time to cultural activities, like art, drama and music, and most offer awide variety of sporting opportunities. They may also offer moreteachers per 100 pupils, pastoral careand provision forspecial needs.
Scholarship and bursary applicants will usually need to prove that they are very able and demonstrate the need for monetary support. It is estimated that almost athird of pupils educated in the private sector receives some form of financial assistance in the form of a scholarship or bursary
Not only do schools want to attract the most talented students, but many arealsorealising that having abroad social mix which reflects our society is incredibly important. This is why many have funding available for pupils whose families areonlower incomes. According to the Independent Schools Council, the total value of means-tested bursaries and scholarships provided by schools has increased by over £195m since 2011, and currently stands at £455m per year
Scholarships arenot usually meanstested, but areinstead based on the child’sabilities in aparticular area. They areusually available to pupils who arevery strong either academically or in music, sport or art.
Some scholarships offer other benefits such as extra coaching or tuition, additional trips, tours and mentoring for the duration of the pupil’stime at the school.
Bursaries aremeans-assessed on a financial basis and will requireaparent
or guardian to complete adeclaration to establish whether the student meets the necessary criteria. This is usually re-assessed each year that the bursary is required. The school looks at what it is reasonable for you to affordand sets afee accordingly
Some schools areable to offer greater bursary provision than others and they can cover up to 100 per cent of fees.
They can also help with costs which arenot included in the normal school fee, such as uniform and school trips.
Thereare also charitable grant-making trusts who can help offer financial support to those who need it most.
They include The Royal National Children’sSpringBoardFoundation which provides bursaries to help disadvantaged children attend state or independent boarding schools. Both scholarships and bursaries can be awarded to children at the same time.
n For moreinformation about the support available, visit www.isc.co.uk
NewportGirls’High
AN OUTSTANDINGSCHOOLWITHABROAD CURRICULUM, DEDICATED STAFFAND TOP FACILITIES TO PROVIDEEXCELLENCEINGIRLS’EDUCATION ACROSS THEBOROUGH
With Outstanding OFSTED gradings in 2019 and 2022 and the highest achievement at GCSE in Shropshire, NGHS is proud to offer excellence in girls’ education across the borough.
With recent extensions to our dining room, IT suites and science laboratories we offer the girls the best facilities for learning.
NGHS has been specialising in girls’ education since 1919 and the school combines tradition with new,dynamic learning experiences both inside and outside the classroom.
All students study abroad curriculum with two modernlanguages and three separate sciences from Year 7. The jewel in the school’scrown is its pastoral care. Adedicated team of colleagues offer support when it is most needed to ensure all our students feel safe and happy
Our entrance test each September is based around the work undertaken in Year 5Maths and English along with
some wordand shape puzzles. It is very accessible to every girl and we offer familiarisation materials online.
Lastly,our sixth form has seen rapid growth in the past three years and we are currently welcoming applications from Y11 girls at any local school. Visit www.nghs. org.uk for moreinformation.
Why not find out moreatour open morning in October? Youcan be assured of awarm welcome.
EllesmereCollege
APLATFORMFOR ACADEMIC,SPORTINGAND LIFE SUCCESS
If you’relooking for an alternative to full-boarding options, maybe it’stime to consider the increasingly popular idea of weekly boarding –a helpful, costfriendly bridge between the world of a day pupil and that of afull-boarder.
Home From Home
These days, you want to know that your child is gaining aconsistent, highquality education, regardless of the external environment.
While you know this is crucial for their personal development and educational journey,yourchoice can also depend on the school’sdistance away from you and whether having your child permanently away from home during term-time is the right choice for them, or for you.
When looking at independent school options, many families aren’tfamiliar with the idea of weekly boarding. This offers parents amuch broader choice for their child, as they boardduringthe week and returnhome at the weekends. Schools which wereonce considered to be too far away arenow within reach.
The school commute through the week is eliminated, freeing up moretime for your other responsibilities and leaving the drive to and from school for aFriday and aSunday
Flexibility is Key
Weekly boarding is the next logical step for many students, as they look to develop their independence and focus their time and energies on their academic and co-curricular commitments. Without the tedium of travel, they have the autonomy to make the most of their time, in the way that matters most to them.
This move also provides you with a
helping-hand, giving you the flexibility to successfully manage your own work and personal commitments.
When nearing the end of their school journey,the step of moving to university or away from home is an easier one for both parent and child, as they know they have the confidence and self-reliance to thrive.
Benefits of Weekly Boarding
Weekly boarding gives children the opportunity to take advantage of a wide range of support, available both in and out of the classroom. They have the opportunity to develop bonds with students from many other backgrounds and nationalities and learnabout their cultures. Boarders grow and learn within larger friendship groups, share
experiences together and form life-long friendships.
They areprovided the opportunity to take on rolesofresponsibility,such as Head of House and learntobecome more self-sufficient, whilst developing the skills to work together as ateam.
HereatEllesmereCollege, all this is done under the watchful eye of Housemasters and Housemistresses, with the support of a24/7sick bay and the nurtureofHousemothers.
Many students develop greater selfesteem, feel better prepared for the next stage in their lives and gain the tenacity to deal with the challenges of leaving the nest.
Ultimately,weekly boarding is an option from which many parents, students and staffhave reaped the benefits.
Above all… Boarding is Fun!
Both weekly and full-boarders have great fun, they can spend the evenings with their best friends and enjoy awide range of exciting and meaningful activities on offer.This evening-time enrichment includes co-curricular activities, such as sport, music and drama. Thereare also house activities, guest speakers and academic twilight sessions –something for everyone.
For moreinformation on the types of boarding available for your child at EllesmereCollege, please call 01691 626 510 or email registrar@ellesmere.com
BedstoneCollege
Bedstone is aschoolwhereevery child is seen as aunique individual with their own talents and strengths.
Aschool that doesn’tjust focus on academic achievement, but on nurturing each child’smental health and wellbeing. Aplace whereteachers encourage and inspire, and every student feels supported and valued.
This is aschool wherechildrenare taught not just to memorize information, but to think critically,solve problems, and communicate effectively.Aschool that helps them develop the confidence and resilience they need to succeed in life.
Students at Bedstone arenot just academically successful, but they also have abalanced outlook on life and the ability to interact with anyone in the workplace.
They areempowered to become the best versions of themselves, and their potential is unlocked in ways they never thought possible. This is the kind
confidence, and sense of purpose. Come and visit us, we would love to meet you.
of school whereevery child thrives and wheretheir success is not just measured by their grades, but by their happiness,
WolverhamptonGrammar School
DISCOVER HOWWOLVERHAMPTONGRAMMAR SCHOOL PREPARES PUPILS FORA BRIGHT FUTURE AT THEIROPENDAY
On Saturday 5th October, Wolverhampton Grammar School (WGS) invites families from across the region to experience its inspirational and exciting learning environment during its annual Open Day
This event is an excellent opportunity for families to exploreour school and learn moreabout what we can offer students aged 4-18.
We understand that choosing the right education for your child is not easy,and attending an Open Day allows you to gain acomprehensive understandingofwhat your child’snextsteps would look like.
Renowned for its academic excellence and inclusive community,WGS provides an enriching education from Reception through to Sixth Form, ensuring every child has the opportunity to succeed in all aspects of school life.
Our commitment to fostering a nurturing and supportive environment is reflected in the achievements and personal growth of our students.
As one of the region’sleading independent schools, WGS was founded in 1512, making it one of the oldest independent schools in the country.The school consistently achieves outstanding exam results and contributes significantly to the local community
Additionally,our small class sizes ensurepersonalised attention, enabling every child to reach their full potential. We also offer an extensive range of extracurricular activities, with over 100 clubs available to enrich the educational experience of your child.
During your visit, you will be welcomed
by the Head, Nic Anderson, and have the opportunity to meet current students and teachers. Student-led tours will enable you to enjoy our 25-acresite, including the impressive sports grounds, arts centre, and purpose-built music block.
Therewillalso be arange of fun and engaging activities for you and your family to take part in as you make your way around our school.
Head Nic Anderson says ‘WGS offers an education that transforms lives as well as minds.
“Our unique approach to learning allows your child to develop skills in
resilience, independence, and confidence. They will form friendships and new interests and become morecurious about the world around them.”
Don’tmissthis opportunity to visit Wolverhampton Grammar School and learnmoreabout the entry process.
Please register for the Open Day at wgs.org.uk/whole-school-open-day to secureaplace.
This event is not only an insight into the academic offerings but also aglimpse into the dynamic and inclusive culturethat WGS prides itself on, preparing students for asuccessful and fulfilling future.
OldSwinfordHospital
OLDSWINFORDHOSPITALISAHAPPY,VIBRANT
ANDDISTINCTIVE STATEBOARDING SCHOOL WHERETRADITION,COMMUNITY ANDVALUESSIT COMFORTABLY ALONGSIDEINNOVATION.
Rated ‘Outstanding for boarding’ by Ofsted and bringing together boarders and day students, Old Swinford Hospital (OSH for short) prides itself on aunique educational experience where learning doesn’tend at the afternoon school bell.
As astate boarding school, OSH offers the academic and co-curricular facilities of an independent school at afraction of the fee; fees which arenot subject to VAT.
OSH is acommunity of many parts whereeachstudent is encouraged to be themselves, and to make their own contribution. As such we welcome an eclectic mix of ambitious students from all over the UK and overseas. Diversity of life is embraced, and learning to live –not simply work –alongside one another is a life skill that cannot be underestimated.
‘Pupils live together,learn together and thrive at Old SwinfordHospital’ –
Ofsted
For nearly 360 years, OSH has held values deeply rooted in the beliefs of our founder,industrialist and MP Thomas Foley.Heopenedthe School in 1667 to develop the skills and attributes required for young people to make adifference in the wider world. An ethos the School continues to this day
Preparing pupils for the future underpins everything we do. Staff understand and respond to the individual and collective personalities of students, and help each find and develop his or her own voice. Through abroad academic curriculum and co-curricular opportunities, OSH encourages pupils to ‘discover who they can be’.
Academically,OSH ranks highly nationally in terms of progress, attainment and educational performance. All pupils
FACTFILE:
Admissions: Tailored Boarding, Flexi-Boarding and Day places available for boys and girls aged 11-18
Rated ‘Outstanding’ for boarding by Ofsted (2019 and 2022).
Fees per term: Tailored Boarding £4,440 and Flexi-Boarding £2,220. Thereare no fees for Day Places For moreinformation, visit www oshsch.com
encounter great variety in their day; from sports to Shakespeare, coding to Mandarin; tech to music, drama and dance. Students take end of year exams as well as regular topic tests to assess personal learning and academic development. Complimented with focussed careers guidance and work experience, and later tailored support for university,apprenticeship or employment applications.
There’sopportunity at OSH with Tailored Boarding
Designed with busy families in mind, Tailored Boarding allows the flexibility to fit school and your son or daughter’sextracurricular activities around your working patterns and family lifestyle, in asafe, shared community whereyour child will grow in independence and confidence.
Tailored Boarding allows boarders to stay over whenever they like. Youand your child have the opportunity to choose when and how often you access boarding facilities and associated co-curricular activities.
Youhave the freedom to decide whether your child stays over,orcomes and goes beforeand after the school day,tofitwiththeir busy club and social schedules both in and out of school, integrated with your home life. Plus, all meals areincluded in the fees and our expert boarding teams will ensure homework is done, on time!
OSH’sco-curriculum offers breadth and inventiveness with afull programme of
sporting, creative, cultural and intellectual pursuits. Students have morethan45 activities on offer –most of which are included in the boarding fees. They will find themselves stimulated and stretched, and regularly introduced to new activities so they can prove to themselves that they can ventureinto the unknown and achieve what they once thought was beyond them. They can develop their adventure skills through the Combined Cadet Force or Duke of Edinburgh Award; nurturetheir performing arts talents in Music, and our new Drama and Dance studios; or extend their sporting ability with national and regional champion teams. Not to mention the many inter-house competitions for some friendly rivalry
Importantly,the School has astrong cultureofpastoral care for all students. In boarding, our dedicated teams provide auniquely stimulating and supportive environment in which all can flourish.
Boys and girls each have their own space in the boarding houses which we encourage they make their own so they can feel at home, away from home
We welcome all families interested in boarding to see for yourselves what adistinctive community OSH is. Come to our Open Morning on Saturday, September 14, or if you can’tmake that we’d be happy to give you apersonaltour of our houses and facilities. Taster stays arealsoavailable.
n To arrange your boarding tour, contact admissions@oshsch.com or 01384 817325.
Join us on Open Morning 9:30am-12pm Saturday 14 September
Awarded triple 'Outstanding' for boardingbyOfsted, OldSwinford Hospital offers an independent schoolexperience at afraction of the fee;fees which arenot subject to VAT. We offer Tailored Boarding, Flexi-Boarding and Day Placesfor boysand girls aged 11-18.
Extensivesports facilities mean many teamshold regional or national titles. Pluswith 45 co-curricular clubs and 10 music ensembles; excellent STEMlaboratories; teaching kitchen and two climbing walls; and newart, drama and dance studios, there’s plenty to get involvedwith.
Boarding is at the heart of the community where students live together, learn together and thrive.The impact on the individual is threefold: boarders develop great resilience, independence and genuine confidence; show humilityalongsideaspiration;and grow lifelongfriendships.
As Year 7student Maisie-Grace says “No matter who you are, you always haveaplace at OSH.”
Moreton Hall is an independent day and boarding school for children aged six months to 18 years.
In the school’s110th year,it is continuing to enjoy incredible success; academic results arestrong, the value added scores arehigh, the pastoral careissecond to none and sport is championing the field.
In addition, Moreton is recognised for its outstanding drama and musical productions and the school’s established community theatre provides acultural hub for all of the surrounding areas. The school’s confident position continues to grow and the futureholds many exciting prospects.
Moreton Hall’sholisticapproach to education allows individuals to fulfil their potential and to develop skills and qualities to enter the adult world. The school has enjoyed success on local, regional and national levels both in the classroom and on the sports field, with top place
finishes in national tournaments including National Schools Lacrosse Champions 2024 and outstanding examination results supporting students in securing their first choice universities.
Guided by 110 years of teaching, Moreton Hall pupils have the opportunity to flourish in afriendly and caring environment. Its community is
underpinned by mutual trust and pupils arefreetobetheir authentic selves, ready to exploreand achieve their ambitions. Moreton Hall continues to be an aspirational, joyous and nurturing school where belonging and ambition areintrinsically intertwined.
Pupils areprovided with an all encompassing education, with a rich and varied curriculum. Pupils arestretched to achieve their fullest potential.
Whilst pupils areacademically challenged in their day-to-day lessons, outside of the classroom pupils have access to avibrant enrichment programme. The extensive list of societies and activities reflect Moreton’sethos of innovation and discovery.Moreton also offers bespoke programmes that ignite interest and build skills for life. Pupils at Moreton arewell-equipped to meet their futureambitions.
Shrewsbury High School
ALL-THROUGH, ALL-GIRL –AHISTORY OF MAKING GIRLS’ FUTURES
Shrewsbury High School has been educating girls in Shrewsbury since 1885 and is part of the Girls’ Day School Trust, theleading network of girls’ schools in the UK.
It is Shropshire’sonly all-through, all-girls’ school, educating girls all through from Reception to Sixth Form. At Shrewsbury High School we areguided by one simple principle –nothing should hold agirl back, least of all herself.
Junior pupils have their own distinct junior school in the heart of the school’s historic Town Walls site in Shrewsbury and make full use of facilities such as the theatre, science labs, sports halls and fields, music and art houses, alongside senior girls.
The wonderful, freshly renovated Georgian Town Houses provide bright, airy classrooms, giving junior girls access to bespoke, state-of-the-art junior facilities and classrooms with integrated technology.With adedicated early years’ playground, Forest School, walled garden and hidden orchard, junior pupils have
space to play,discoverand learn.
Co-curricular opportunities abound, and we areacademically ambitious for our girls, reflected in superb academic outcomes and the wide range of exciting post-18 destinations.
In our recent ISI Inspection we were awarded the highest rating obtainable, excellent in all areas. Academic excellence is agiven and with initiatives such as our flagship enrichment programme, Period X, giving them practical life skills from car maintenance to personal finance, our LEAD enterprise diploma in partnership
with the LSE and our Sixth Form Space Tech diploma, our girls arereal world ready
In 1872, the founders of the Girls’ Day School Trust embarked on amission that would change the course of girls’ education forever,making afirst-class education available to as many girls as possible.
When Shrewsbury High School opened in 1885, that opportunity was extended to the girls of Shropshire. This mission has burned bright ever since and is reflected in the ambition and innovation in our school today.Girls thrive in an environment that is designed solely with their needs in mind.
In today’sworld, girls-only education has avital role to play in building happy, healthy,confident girls who areready to seize the opportunities of the 21st century Book now for an open event or to find out moreemail: admissions@shr.gdst.net, telephone: 01743 494 038 or visit www.shrewsburyhigh.gdst.net
Newcastle-under-Lyme School
Newcastle-under-Lyme School (NULS) is renowned for its educational excellence and is known as one of the West Midlands’ premier independent day schools.
With consistently glowing reports from ISI, NULS attracts students from Staffordshire, Cheshireand Shropshire, fostering adiverse and vibrant learning community
At NULS, we arecommitted to fostering the highest standards of academic achievement. Our students consistently attain outstanding examination results, paving the way for entry into top universities, colleges, apprenticeships and rewarding careers.
Guided by our motto ‘Always striving for the highest’, we inspireour pupils to embrace challenges and maximise their potential.
Nestled within 30 acres of picturesque grounds, our campus boasts state-of-theart facilities designed to enrich the student
experience. Highlights include acuttingedge multi-million pound Sports Complex, an astro-turf pitch and aswimming pool. In Autumn 2023, we unveiled our new performing arts venue, which has become ahub of creativity and talent.
Our dedicated music school, art and ceramics studios, dance studio, and beautiful library and resource centre further enhance our offering. From Little NULS Nursery to Prep, Senior,and Sixth
Form, we provide comprehensive pastoral support, cultivating strong relationships with families that underpin our success.
Beyond the classroom, NULS offers an extensive co-curricular programme that nurtures well-rounded individuals. Our pupils thrive in sports, music, drama and avariety of activities such as debating, DofE, chess and the Combined Cadet Force (CCF), which offers unique training experiences with the Army,Navy,and RAF
We welcome new pupils to experience the NULS difference. Our fleet of minibuses serves the region, ensuring convenient transport options for our students. Prospective families areinvited to meet our Headmaster by appointment and exploreour vibrant community at our Prep and Senior School Open Morning or Sixth Form Open Evening in October. Register now at www.nuls.org.uk/events. For moreinformation, visit our website or connect with us on social media @nulschooluk
ConcordCollege
COLLEGENURTURESSTUDENTS’ INTERESTS IN PHYSICSAND BOASTS AN EXTRAORDINARY TRACKRECORDOFSUCCESS IN TEACHING ANDINSPIRING YOUNGSCIENTISTS
Is your child interested in Physics?
Concordhas an extraordinary track recordofsuccess teaching and inspiring young scientists.
Earlier this summer,ConcordCollege’s Physics students took part in aprestigious international Physics competition run by the American Association of Physics Teachers (AAPT) –The Physics Bowl.
Over 1,000 schools world-wide take part in this annual event competing for both individual and school honours.
Forty-eight Concordstudents tackled a40-question test paper under exam conditions, with those who had been studying Physics for longer taking on the moreadvanced “Division 2” paper aimed at pre-university students.
ConcordPhysics Teacher,MrWargos said: “I think it’simportant that we didn’t just encourage 6.2 students to take part, anyone who wanted achallenge could participate, including many in Form 4and Form 5.”
Concordstudents competed with children from all over Europe and parts of the USA as well as anumber of other countries, and the College’steam came an impressive 4th overall in the harder Division 2paper.
In individual results, Jiale in 6.1 was placed in the world top 100 within the division and he was the highest-ranking
student from any UK school.
“Tohave astudent ranked among the world top 100 is an outstanding feat demonstrating our students’ exceptional talent and dedication,” Mr Wargos added.
Concord’sPrincipal, Dr Michael Truss, said: “Learning about Physics is fascinating, and we have many very successful students in Physics exams.
“What competitions like this add is another opportunity for students to take on achallenge outside of their curriculum and to think about Physics a little differently.I’m delighted to see that so many Concordstudents have risen to the challenge.”
If your child is interested in Physics, or has another academic talent, Concordcan provide extensive means-tested bursary support for local children who would like to join as aday student.
To find out moreabout applying visit the ConcordCollege website or email admissions@concordcollege.org.uk
Prestfelde PreparatorySchool
SCHOOL AIMS TO CREATE AN ATMOSPHERETHATENCOURAGES CONFIDENCE, KINDNESS ANDALOVEOF LEARNING,ENSURINGTHAT PRESTFELDE CHILDREN AREHAPPY CHILDREN
Prestfelde School in Shrewsbury has been educating the children of Shropshiresince 1929.
Growing and developing with the times, it is now considered one of the UK’sleading independent schools, whilst keeping its affiliation with Shropshire families strong and at the heart of its community
With that in mind, the school recently announced an exciting new development, with pupils now able to weekly boardat Prestfelde School from September 2024.
Offering families the opportunity for weekly,flexi and occasional boarding, Prestfelde House, the school’sdedicated boarding facility,aims to create ahomeaway-from-home experience for its pupils.
Rooted in tradition, yet adapted to meet the demands of modernfamily life, Prestfelde is now accessible for every family in Shropshireand beyond.
Putting the child at the centreof everything that they do at Prestfelde, ensures that the children they welcome through the doors, have the support and the environment in which to naturally blossom.
Creating an atmospherethat encourages confidence, kindness and a love of learning, ensures that Prestfelde children arehappy children.
Mr Nick Robinson, Head of Prestfelde School, elaborates: “At Prestfelde we pride ourselves on smaller class sizes, excellent facilities, and akind and supportive community.These elements contribute to creating happy school days for the children who walk through our doors.
“Webelieve that every child deserves an environment wherethey feel valued, supported, and encouraged to reach their full potential.”
At its corePrestfelde delivers academic excellence. In the academic year 23/24, Year 8pupils achieved 29 scholarships to their senior school, with an incredible nine being academic scholarships.
Mr Robinson continues: “What pleases me is that these successes have not been achieved within a‘hothouse’ environment seen in some schools. The huge variety and number of successes achieved ‘outside the classroom’ provides proof of that balance and breadth.
“Our curriculum is deliberately broad and delivers everything you would expect from an outstanding independent school, including opportunities for children to participate and excel in sports, music,
drama, art, DT and many other areas of school life.
“Alongside this, ensuring the happiness and well-being of our pupils during their most important school years is at the forefront of our mission hereat Prestfelde School. These crucial formative years lay the foundations for their futuresuccess, both academically and personally.Weare dedicated to providing asupportive environment that encourages curiosity and aloveoflearning, aplace whereevery child can thrive.”
Prestfelde School is for boys and girls aged 3to13years old. Welcomingvisitors throughout the school year,Prestfelde encourages families to come and see for themselves what makes Prestfelde School unique, how Prestfelde can support your child’sjourney to success, and if applicable, talk about their financial bursary scheme. Visitors areinvited to see first-hand the environment in which Prestfelde allows children to be happy,just being themselves.
“As one of the UK’sleadingprep schools and one of Shrewsbury’smost beloved private institutions, we encourage families to come and discover what we have to offer.Please email admissions@ prestfelde.co.uk to arrange atour.”
For further information on Prestfelde School please visit www.prestfelde.co.uk
Packwood
PACKWOOD HASANATIONALAND INTERNATIONAL REPUTATIONFOR ACADEMIC STRENGTH COMBINED WITH AFOCUS ON ALL-ROUNDEDUCATION
Packwood is aco-educational, day and boarding prep school for children aged 4-13 years old.
The school was rated ‘excellent’ in all areas in its 2023 ISI inspection.
Set in 65 acres of beautiful Shropshire countryside, but only just over an hour from Manchester and Birmingham, the amazing site and facilities make Packwood atruly special place for children to grow and develop, whilst enjoying an extended childhood.
Packwood has anational and international reputation for academic strength combined with afocus on an all-round education in agenuinely caring environment.
Small class sizes and dedicated, specialist teachers help to ensurethat every child makes the very best academic progress.
The co-curricular programme plays a central role in school life.
All pupils enjoy lessons in the creative
and
Pupils also complete their Packwood Award, abespoke outdoor skills and leadership programme. This enables them to develop key skills whilst enjoying the school’stranquil setting and extensive grounds.
Packwood encourages its pupils to
Boarding Prep School forgirls andboysaged4-13
discover new passions and talents as well as further develop their existing strengths.
Akey featureoflifeatPackwood is the welcoming and genuinely caring atmosphereinthe school. All pupils, whether boarders or day pupils, benefit from the close-knit community –itisso much morethan aschool with many staff and pupils calling Packwood home.
performing arts every week as well as playing sport almost daily.
Shrewsbury School
The celebration of individual talent is central to education at Shrewsbury –both in and beyond the classroom.
In whatever sphere, apupil will finda member of stafftosupport and encourage, enthuse and inspirethem to exceed their expectations and meet the challenges that lie ahead with confidence and good judgement.
At Shrewsbury,academic life focuses on developing intellectually curious young adults, who areable to think critically and creatively,have the confidence to question and challenge, and areequipped with the skills they will need to thrive at all stages of life.
Shrewsbury School encourages all its pupils, whatever their ability,toenjoy their life beyond the classroom, and has awellearned reputation for academic, musical and sporting excellence.
It competes internationally in avariety of sports, with excellent facilities and coaching on offer,aswell as boasting astate-of-the art dance and drama
We believe that school should be ‘serious fun’: because learning and enjoyment go hand-in-hand.
Learning takes place not only in the classroom, but also through afull and interesting co-curricular programme and
in the pastoral and communal life of the school. With personal pastoral careand support, we create an environment where pupils can flourish and grow to become caring and confident members of society
AShrewsbury education will inspire and empower each individual pupil to flourish in life and contribute positively to the world around them.
studio in the Barnes Theatreand one of the strongest music departments in the country
Wrekin College/OldHallSchool
TRUSTINVESTING IN DRIVING UP STANDARDSINEDUCATION IN SURROUNDINGS WHICH INSPIRECHILDREN TO ENJOYTHEIR STUDIES ANDTHEIR TIME AT SCHOOL
Shropshire’sWrekin College and Old Hall School areforging ahead with initiatives to further academic success and create enriched extracurricular opportunities.
Wrekin College (11-18) and Old Hall School (4-11) in Wellington form the Wrekin Old Hall Trust which has consistently invested in driving up standards in education together with creating surroundings which inspire children to enjoy their education and make the most of their school.
This has seen asustained interest in being part of the Wrekin and Old Hall community with both schools adding extra provisions for increased demand in recent years.
Anew set will be introduced for the 2024/25 year eight as Wrekin responds to an increase in numbers in that year group while Old Hall introduced an extra class in year five last September for the same reason.
At the end of his first year as Head of Wrekin College and Executive Head of the Trust, Toby Spence said: “Weknow now that employers and parents feel the drive towards good exam results alone is not enough to ensureyoungsters are fully prepared for the world outside the classroom.
“They arenow looking for aschool that can offer moreinterms of abespoke education that plays to their child’s strengths. At Wrekin, we look to maximise those strengths to nurtureconfident independent learners who arebest placed to make the most of the opportunities life has to offer.Itiswhatagood school should look like and what abespoke education is all about.”
The Trust has invested in anew Business School, Music School, Dance Studio and additional artificial playing surface in recent years as part of the understanding success in education involves participating in wide-ranging activities in good places of learning.
Employability and real-life skills have been at the heart of many of the developments at Wrekin with aproposal to offer A-level Law from September 2024 just announced.
That investment in skills, resilience and ambition has seen national accolades for Wrekin College with the school’sJazz and Concert Bands clocking up another set of Platinum awards at this year’sNational
Concert Band Festival. In sport, teams reached the national finals in hockey and netball while at county level anumber of titles across the age groups werepicked up in hockey with winning performances in county-wide rugby tournaments too.
Head at Old Hall Anna Karacan said she was delighted to work alongside Wrekin College, with the two schools on the same campus and together providing education from 4-18.
She said: “As aformerWrekinian, I very much support astrong connection between the schools which provides wonderful opportunities for both sets of pupils as we make the most of awealth of teaching experience and excellent specialist facilities shared across the Trust.”
Old Hall, rated excellent in all areas
in its most recent inspection, has also focused on real-life skills with innovation and 21st century technology at the heart of new projects at the school while sport, music, art, science and modernforeign languages areall taught by specialist staff.
Its pupils have also enjoyed national success with ateam of year five girls picking up the top awardatthe globallyrenowned Design4SDGS event in London in January
Mrs Karacan has also improved systems at the school for measuring academic progress and communicating with parents while also increasing the number of sporting fixtures and participation in nationally recognised competitions and academic learning schemes aiming at enhancing the curriculum taught in the classroom.
