Before Wentworth
Transition from primary school to Wentworth
We have numerous transition activities taking place throughout the year. The aim of all these activities is to ensure the smooth changeover from Primary to Secondary school for all the pupils involved in the process.
The following Primary schools take part in these activities:-
Clarendon Road, Monton Green, Lewis Street, St Andrew’s, Westwood Park and Christ Church.
Our team of Learning Mentors, Mrs D Grime, Ms S Mather and Mr H Brophy regularly visit all our Primary schools and work with pupils to help prepare them for coming to Wentworth High School. This work also continues when they are in Year 7. In addition the Learning Mentors, led by Ms S Beardwood, organise a Peer Mentor system to help some pupils.
Transition lessons for Years 5 and 6 take place throughout the year. Pupils are transported by minibus to Wentworth High School where they are taught by Wentworth staff. Last year lessons in Art, Music, Design Technology, Science and ICT took place. This year Food Technology, Design Technology and ICT are being taught on nine occasions during the week.
Meetings with all the Primary Headteachers and Mr Keeble and Mr Kirkpatrick take place every half term.
Mr H Shore, our School Partnership Development Manager, organises sporting activities and tournaments between our Primary schools.
A Gifted and Talented Summer school for Year 6 and Year 7 pupils has been held during the last two years. In 2006, the theme was ‘The Time Machine’ and in 2007 it was ‘Forensic Science’. A poetry workshop for Gifted and Talented pupils in year 6 and 7 was held at Worsley Old Hall.
Two Taster Days were held in June for Year 6 pupils to spend a day at Wentworth High School and take part in lessons to experience a typical day at high school.
In July, an evening for Year 6 pupils and their parents was held at school where pupils met their future form tutors and Achievement Co-ordinator.
So all in all, primary pupils are supported every step of the way as they make the transition to Wentworth High School.
S Kirkpatrick
Assistant Headteacher
Role of the Transition Learning Mentor
We all know how important the move from primary to high school is for any year 6 pupil and we hope by going into primary schools and offering support we can allay any fears that the children may have. Our aim is to ease the transition by a programme of sessions focusing on high school life. We also include circle time where the children are encouraged and supported to discuss their own ideas, problems and solutions about high school. The contact continues when the children arrive at Wentworth through support in lessons and a number of activities that we run and encourage the pupils to get involved in. These included breakfast club, lunchtime drop-in and craft club. We also continue with the circle time which is good for assessment and support. During these sessions the pupils are encouraged to get to know each other and offer some peer support.
As we attend the primary school’s parents’ evenings and our own Open Evening we would welcome any parents who wish to come along and meet us. We can be found in room 74.
We are proud of the work we carry out which enables us to offer the pupils the best start to life at Wentworth.
Mrs D Grime
Transition Learning Mentor |
