At Schools Plus we are very privileged that the ARK Globe Academy trusts us to rent out their facilities and work alongside them and it is a relationship we take very seriously. We are proud to be part of this school as it has such a fantastic reputation and deservedly so. Here is something from Matt Jones, the Headteacher that he wrote for the schools blog:
The change from primary to secondary:
My experience as a father of hoping that the transition from primary to secondary for my daughters goes smoothly has led me to reflect on how secondary schools prepare for this important change in a child’s life. For many year 6 children their experience of education thus far will have been centred on one classroom, one teacher, maybe a teaching assistant, and in a school that typically has between fifty to eighty students in a year group. Within the space of six weeks the very same students are expected to ‘settle’ into an environment where they can expect to be taught by nine or ten different teachers, in at least as many different rooms, spread over a much larger site and with, on average, over 1000 other young people. This is a huge change for any person, let alone an 11 year old, not sure about their place in the world.
To make this transition less daunting many schools will send teachers to visit their new year 7 children in their primary schools and have an induction day in the summer term. Many schools will organise a summer school during the six week summer holiday. However, is this really enough to make them feel comfortable when they arrive in September? How can secondary schools ensure that their new year 7 children quickly feel at home in their new surroundings and there is no transition dip in attainment? Are we developing our curriculum to reduce the number of different teachers our new intake meet on a weekly basis? How can we organise the timetable in order to reduce the number of classrooms our year 7s are taught in to maximise learning time? How can we help students develop positive relationships with their new peers and staff? How can our older children help our new arrivals feel comfortable?
This is a great insight into the school and the fantastic way they welcome children to the school.
Robert Sladden – Venue Manager
