Transition
Moving up to secondary school is a big step, whether you are coming from a big primary school in town or a tiny village school. We do everything we can to support children through this new chapter of their lives. Our aim with transition is to give the children an experience of our school that makes them excited to join us whilst also familiarising them with people, place and systems to relieve anxiety.
We are building a comprehensive transition programme starting with children as young as Year 4. The programme will include a wide variety of experiences from science and maths workshops to music events. Some of these events will take place here at Northallerton School & Sixth Form College, others will take place in the primary schools.
Transition timetable – year 6 to year 7
| OPEN EVENING: an informative, interactive and inspiring event for Year 6 students and their families. | September |
| A WIDE RANGE OF VISITS: opportunities to take part in sport, science, music and maths events throughout the year and to meet our staff and students. | October – June |
| WE VISIT YOU: Mr Myers, our Primary Transition Co-ordinator will visit our partner primary schools to meet with Year 6 teachers to discuss all Year 6 students. During a later visit, members of the pastoral team will visit all our partner primary schools, to meet the Year 6 students and have a chance to answer any questions they may have. | May/June |
| MEET THE TEAM: meet your new tutor, the Year 7 pastoral team and browse the stalls to find out what our wonderful school has to offer. | June |
| INDUCTION DAYS: An opportunity for students to spend two days in school getting to know staff, their new environment and to make new friends. This helps to allay any fears of starting secondary school prior to the summer holidays. | July |
FAQs
Will I be in a class with my friends?
We do take into account friendship groups when putting you into a tutor group. However, your education is the most important thing, and it may not always be possible for a large number of friends to be together. We also have a number of students who are the only ones coming from their primary school.
What happens if I get lost?
All new students are worried about this when they first start. However, there will be lots of staff and older students who will be there to help you in your first week. The best thing to do is just ask a member of staff and they will point you in the right direction.
How many lessons are there in a day?
You will have a 30 minute tutor group session at the start of every day, where we will do activities such as numeracy, accelerated reading and Personal Development. The school day is then divided into five one hour-long lessons. Unlike your experience in primary school you will move to the teacher for different subjects.
What extra-curricular clubs are there and how do I join?
There are lots of different sporting clubs including football, netball, cross country, table tennis, hockey, climbing, badminton, tennis, athletics and cricket. There is a drama club which presents an annual production and you can join different musical groups including singing and instrumental clubs. All the clubs are easy to join, you just go along and sign up. There is no cost to any clubs and we love seeing lots of students taking part.
How long do we get for lunch and break?
Break time is 20 minutes in the morning and lunch time is 40 minutes.
How often do we do P.E?
You will get 2 hours of practical P.E. lessons every week.
What sports do we do?
We have a big selection of sports including football, netball, badminton, table tennis, cross country, fitness, basketball, handball, rugby, athletics, cricket, rounders and softball.
Do we do practical experiments in science?
Yes! Practical sessions are a really important part of our learning in science.
Do I have all my lessons in my tutor group?
In year 7, you will have a mix of lessons with different tutor groups.
What are the school term dates?
You can find all the term dates on our website at www.northallertonschool.org.uk.
How do we order uniform?
The school uses Michael Segal & Sons Ltd as their uniform supplier. They are an online supplier based in Newcastle. You can follow the link from the website to access their shop. There will also be an opportunity, in school, for you to try the uniform on for size and more information will be shared with you about this soon.
What is the school P.E. kit and how do we order it?
You can find the full list of uniform, including PE kit, on our website at www.northallertonschool.org.uk.
Does the school know about my child’s special educational needs?
All the primary schools have shared relevant information with the school but if you would like to discuss things further please do not hesitate to contact our SENCo, Mrs S Bell (sbell@northallerton-alt.uk).
What happens if my child is ill and can’t come to school?
There is an answerphone facility available at school and you can leave us a message. Alternatively you can email the school on attendance@northallerton-alt.uk.
Are there rewards for doing good work?
Yes! We love to reward students who work hard, show kindness and reflect our values of Excellence, Friendship and Respect. Rewards can be issued by all staff, during lessons and at social times. We also issue rewards for good attendance and punctuality. We are very keen to hear about your success outside of school and we celebrate students’ achievements in morning Tutor Group, assemblies and by sending messages home.
What do I do if I am worried my child is getting bullied?
If you are worried your child is getting bullied, then please do get in touch with us. It is really important that your child talks to someone they trust about it. If we know about it, we can help resolve the situation quickly. It is important that your child is helped to recover from the situation and their needs are a priority. We favour an approach by which the bully and by-standers will be involved in finding positive solutions to the recipient’s unhappiness. We have a safeguarding team in place in school to help support all children. The Designated Safeguarding Lead is Jo Smith .
Will my child be able to get a locker this year?
There are no lockers for students at school.
How do I inform you of my child’s medical needs?
Please complete the Health Care Plan which was included in the induction pack to let us know of any medical needs your child may have. You can contact the school at any time if you need to update us.