Transition Programme
Transition at Uplands
We are acutely aware of the challenges that face students and parents as they move from Primary into Secondary School. Students and parents move from having one dedicated teacher responsible for their progress and wellbeing across the majority of their subjects to having 10 - 12 teachers who they work with each week. Students are required to develop their self-management and organisation skills; to navigate the school to reach their specialist classrooms ensuring they have all their materials they need for learning. They have to build learning relationships with many teachers and develop strategies for managing their Google Classrooms, homework and assignments.
The Transition Programme at Uplands
Our transition programme is constantly evolving to improve the quality of the opportunities that we provide. The programme includes:
Parent and student Information events (Term 2)
Visits to secondary for specialised lessons with secondary teachers through Year 6
Dedicated transition days for internal and external students
Opportunities for collaboration between current Year 7 and Year 6 students in Term 3
Liaison between Head of Year 7 and tutors with class teachers in Year 6
Carefully selected co-tutors and Head of Year in Year 7
Hopes and Concerns conferences at the start of Term 1
Transition Day
Students will have a chance to experience changing classrooms and teachers throughout the day as well as meet some of their teachers and their new classmates for the next academic year. On the agenda, we have 3 groups rotating between Science, Drama, and Design Technology (see the example below). This is a great opportunity for the students to familiarize themselves with each other, teachers, and the campus.
Hopes and Concerns Conferences
At the start of the new academic year, we hold our “Hopes and Concerns Conferences”, an opportunity for parents and students to discuss the year ahead with the homeroom tutor to set goals and quell the anxiety that may come with this transition to secondary school. The parents are able to meet the homeroom tutor as their first point of contact for any questions or concerns they have.