Transition to Year 7

Mrs Eldon – Transition and Primary Links Leader

‘I am delighted to welcome you and your child to our website, our school community and most importantly our school family. You will find here lots of information about our school, and materials to help you to get a taste of who we are and why our community is so special. Please take time to watch the videos and to read our Transition Information.

I lead a wonderful team who look after the transition of our new Year 7 each year and we will use this website to communicate to parents and children over the coming weeks and months. We work closely with your current schools to ensure that we are ready for your arrival and that we know each of you.

I look forward to meeting all of you and helping support you with your first steps in your St Joseph’s journey.’

Year 7 Planner

In Year 7 are students are issued with a pupil planner. This is a vital organisational tool designed to help students in their first year of secondary school manage their learning, responsibilities, and wellbeing. Here’s a breakdown of what it is and why it’s important:

What Is a Year 7 Pupil Planner?
A pupil planner is a personal diary or booklet issued by the school that includes:
• Timetables and key dates
• Homework recording pages
• Academic keywords and subject-specific vocabulary
• Behaviour and achievement logs
• Space for SEMH (Social, Emotional, and Mental Health) reflections or worksheets
• There are also pages for parental communication amongst many more.

Why Is It Important for Year 7 Pupils to Be Organised?
Starting secondary school is a big transition. Being organised helps pupils:
• Keep track of homework and deadlines
• Learn key academic terms for subjects like science, maths, and English
• Develop independence and responsibility
• Reduce anxiety by knowing what’s expected
• Improve time management and study habits
• Reflect on emotional wellbeing using SEMH tools

Homework
Pupils are encouraged to write down their homework tasks daily, including:
• Subject
• Task description
• Due date

Parents are encouraged to ‘sign off’ on that homework when completed.
SEMH Worksheets
These are often included or referenced in the planner to support wellbeing. They might include:
• Mood trackers
• Coping strategies
• Goal-setting pages
• Space for journaling or reflection

 

Transition

All students are welcomed into our family, especially those transferring from primary to secondary school each Autumn.

Very strong links exist between our partner primary schools and our school, this ensures we are able to plan for a smooth transition for your child when they move to us in Year 7.

Our comprehensive and supportive transition programme is designed to ensure that students who join St Joseph’s Catholic High School settle in easily and make friends quickly. We have additional transition arrangements for children who would benefit from the extra nurturing that our deliberately small school family brings.

Throughout the school year we work closely with our primaries and many of you will have been involved in some of our activities and events.

Moving to secondary school marks a big step in the life of your children; we encourage all of students to embrace new experiences and to set high aspirations for themselves in preparation for their journey to secondary school.

The St Joseph’s Way

At St Joseph’s we have a clear mission statement of: “Work Hard, Be Kind; Achieve your Best”.

We expect all the children in our school community to live out this statement every day.

During transition we will ensure all students know how to follow the St Joseph’s Way.

Key Dates

Thursday 2nd July – Y6 induction day

Thursday 2nd July 3pm – 4pm Y6 induction day parental talk
NB: This will be a chance to meet key staff, go through some important information and ask any questions you may have.