AMA
I'm Head of Year 7 ask me anything (transition)
Clammyclam · 15/07/2018 12:11
If you have a child moving to secondary school I'll endeavour to answer anything you need to know.
Pattylogic · 15/07/2018 13:29
My dd starts secondary school in September. She has an IEP and her primary school have sent transition notes but her tutor or the SENDCO haven’t been in touch. Should they? Will they? She’s waiting to be assessed for asd so may need extra support settling in.
Sparklingbrook · 15/07/2018 13:34
What's your opinion of the 3 tier system? In these parts Year 7 is the last or last but one year of Middle School. High School entry in Year 8 or 9.
My two went through it and it doesn't seem to have made a difference.
TeenTimesTwo · 15/07/2018 15:43
How do you sort out the tutor groups?
Do you have a giant spreadsheet with friends, enemies, ability, primary school, SEN etc and then move people around? Or post its? Or is it computerised these days where you enter the info and 30seconds later out pops the groups?
Trampire · 15/07/2018 15:54
Are you always aware/remember pupils that start Y7 knowing no other pupils?
My ds is due to start in Sept. My dd will be going into Y9 there.
She knew no-one before she started and neither does he. She found it hard for a good 6 months but I'd now very happy. My ds is happy to be going to the school but having a wobble after transition day where it hit home that he had no ready-friends.
Clammyclam · 15/07/2018 16:29
My dd starts secondary school in September. She has an IEP and her primary school have sent transition notes but her tutor or the SENDCO haven’t been in touch. Should they? Will they? She’s waiting to be assessed for asd so may need extra support settling in
Her head of Year/ the transition lead plus the SENCO should have been in touch yes. The extra settling in should have started after May half term. Call and ask for a meeting to discuss your daughters needs and your concerns. I'm sorry you haven't had help. Mention this to your daughters current teacher too.
Clammyclam · 15/07/2018 16:31
What's your opinion of the 3 tier system? In these parts Year 7 is the last or last but one year of Middle School. High School entry in Year 8 or 9.
My two went through it and it doesn't seem to have made a difference.
I have worked in a 3 tier system that was slightly different to the one you describe and my reservations were multiple transitions and age of transition.
My previous role pupils transitioned at the end of year5.
Most children are ok but some really struggle with lots of change.
Clammyclam · 15/07/2018 16:36
How do you sort out the tutor groups?
Do you have a giant spreadsheet with friends, enemies, ability, primary school, SEN etc and then move people around? Or post its? Or is it computerised these days where you enter the info and 30seconds later out pops the groups?
Great question. This is one of my favourite things to do.
Personally I do it 'manually' I use the information provided by primaries that has everything I need to know about a child on it. I then put pupil into friendship pairs (they tell me one or two mates they would like to be with) and I go from there.
Each tutor group needs to have a mix of ability, sex and demographic that creates balance.
I also look at who teachers and parents have asked/ suggested do and do not go together.
It takes a few weeks to do and then some ironing out when they are released.
redexpat · 15/07/2018 16:38
Id like to hear your most bonkers example of helicopter parenting please.
95percentcocoa · 15/07/2018 16:39
How much do attention do you pay to SATs results? How much info you get from primary school and what do you do with it? Thanks
Clammyclam · 15/07/2018 16:40
Are you always aware/remember pupils that start Y7 knowing no other pupils?
Definitely.
Transition is hard but that is exacerbated when you know no one. Usually I place all the pupils who don't know anyone at all in the same group and then brief the tutor that they have an extra job to do in ensuring the pupils mix, have someone to work with, are not left out.
This info will be shared with staff via the tutor too. Lots of team building stuff goes on in my transition both before starting and after to ensure pupils settle and make friends.
These kids stand out in my 'check up' radar for quite some time.
Clammyclam · 15/07/2018 17:19
id like to hear your most bonkers example of helicopter parenting please
In all honesty it's not too bad where I am. My biggest annoyance was a parent turning up for transition day (she was a TA at a feeder) and staying all day (wasn't part of the plan) to 'help a particular child' all she did was take notes of who was in each group then feed back to her pals, who spent the following week calling to complai. Suffice to say I changed nothing and the groups turned out great.
We still have parents collect from the car park with big hugs and kisses (much to the kids frustration)
Clammyclam · 15/07/2018 17:25
How much do attention do you pay to SATs results? How much info you get from primary school and what do you do with it?
Nationally SATs results are used to predict GCSE outcomes and to a degree we use them for steaming in some key areas. (Alongside baseline tests)
We do use them to predict where a student is likely to progress to throughout their time with us but we understand all the factors that affect progress over time so we don't get too hung up on the Them.
We get heaps of info from primaries but that's at our request. We use it to help us help the children in the best way possible. That could be groupings, additional help, involving parents in day to day plans (to begin with for specific needs) , outside agencies, learning intervention, planning strategies to help a child move around school etc . It all depends on the info specific to a child.
Pattylogic · 15/07/2018 18:41
Thank you Clammyclam. Her tutor gave out her email address at the parent’s transition meeting, so I’ve emailed her.
Pattylogic · 15/07/2018 18:41
She did have an extra transition day so they are aware of her.
froomeonthebroom · 15/07/2018 19:12
What's your opinion on streaming? The school my DS is moving to have just announced they will no longer be streamed and I am concerned.
Clammyclam · 15/07/2018 23:21
What's your opinion on streaming? The school my DS is moving to have just announced they will no longer be streamed and I am concerned.
I think it has its place, but the flip side is some children may never be exposed to (in English for example) different text, concepts, language, knowledge etc as they could be taught within their ability levels to a point where they are not experiencing anything outside of that.
Every teacher differentiates tasks (or at least they should) so whilst not streaming is added workload , there shouldn't be any negative impact on children/learning and progress. Mini streams are created in a class anyway.
To comment on this thread you need to create a Mumsnet account.