The constant communication and inclusivity over the summer was amazing preparation for our daughter, especially as we had moved from overseas and she was nervous about starting in a brand new location. It made her feel like she belonged before she had even started school.
My favourite thing about the Warriner transition has been meeting new friends and enjoying new subjects that I haven't tried before. I really liked meeting new people because i feel like it's a new opportunity for me and I am really enjoying the new subject because I like the new changes I have had to my school life.
From a feeder primary school perspective, without fail The Warriner School offer a thorough and immersive experience to the Year 6 students This year, the transition team have been really responsive to the changing restrictions - I was so impressed because The Warriner were the best of all the schools.
Each year, The Warriner School welcome over 280 students into Year 7. We carefully place our children into one of 10 tutor groups, which are split into 5 houses. We are enormously proud of the transition package that we provide to Year 6s as they step up to Year 7 and join our Warriner community; feedback from parents and carers, partnership primary schools and the children themselves, support this. There is a wealth of excellent work that goes on from March, right the way through until October, which ensures that our new students settle quickly into The Warriner School community and develop a sense of pride and belonging.
Below, you will find an outline of how transition works at The Warriner School:
1. PRIMARY LIAISON
Our transition team liaise closely with Primary colleagues to ensure that we receive clear and valuable information on each child's academic performance, learning style, and specific needs. This helps us to build effective teaching classes and tutor groups early in good advance of the summer holidays. We meet in person, or virtually, with Year 6 teachers, SENCOs and pastoral staff from primary schools to ensure that a thorough and robust handover takes place.
2. PEN-FRIENDS
During the spring term, our current Year 7 students pen a personal letter to a Year 6 student, welcoming them to The Warriner and informing them of all the exciting stuff that's to come! They offer some lovely advice and share their experiences. You will see some examples of these letters on the right hand side of this page. Year 6 teachers will share some of these in primary schools during the summer term, and Warriner colleagues will deliver more of these letters when we visit primary schools before the summer holidays.
3. PRIMARY VISITS
During the summer term, our transition team pay visits to Year 6 students at their primary schools; We will explain to Year 6 students and their class teacher what Warriner life is all about, share letters from pen-friends, and answer some of the many questions that the young ones have!
4. INDUCTION EVENINGS
Towards the end of June, The Warriner School holds a fun and informative 'Year 6 Induction Evening'. We invite our new Year 6 students, along with parents and carers, and give them the oppprtunity to:
a. Learn about our school ethos, aims and culture with key presentations from school leaders
b. Meet their new form tutor, their tutor group and begin to build new friendships
c. Feedback from our current Year 7 students - What's the best thing about The Warriner?
d. Have a tour around the school from current students and learn its' geography
e. Try on and purchase Warriner uniform ready for September
f. Ask lots of questions and gain invaluable reassurance and guidance
These sessions are an overwhelming success, and really begin to focus the children on the 'Warriner Way' and our school's Attitude to Learning.
5. INDUCTION DAYS
In the penultimate week of the summer term, we run two Year 6 'Induction Days'. All Year 6 students spend a full two 'taster' days at The Warriner, getting a feel for how life is in big school! The days consist of:
a. Team-building and ice-breaker activities with their new tutor group
b. A fun and competitive treasure hunt
c. A key assembly from their new Head of Year and Warriner Leaders
d. Picnics and play with new friends
e. Taster lessons - an opportunity to get learning new and exciting subjects from the start!
6. STARTING IN SEPTEMBER
This is when Warriner life really begins. There are 10 excellent and committed Year 7 tutors who provide a warm and reassuring welcome. Students get new timetables, pocket organisers, and really learn the ropes in a supportive, yet encouraging environment. Lots of fun activities and challenges allow our students to figure out all the important things that happen at secondary school. Excited teachers greet their new classes and begin to engage them with fun, interactive lessons. The students get to use our Warriner canteen and see the range of additional enrichment activities that we have on offer.
7. SETTLING IN EVENING
After their first term, we hold a Year 7 'Settling In Evening'; We chat about what has gone well, which aspects need some attention, and look carefully at the quality of work that our Year 7s have produced at The Warriner, compared to primary school. Parents, carers, and Year 7 students are invited in for key messages, and the opportunity to liaise with their form tutor.
8. VIRTUAL 'CATCH UPS' with primary school
This year, we have trialled a brand new element to the Warriner transition package by holding 'virtual catch ups' with our four largest feeder primary schools. Year 6 teachers have selected specific Year 7 students to meet virtually, live, with their new Year 6 class. The primary students had the opportunity to prepare and ask 10 key questions, all based upon what life is REALLY like at The Warriner. Our new Year 7 students speak with real pride and maturity, and have a captive audience! This has proven a real success, and we will be expanding this to more primary schools in term 1 of 2021.
From the moment that a family have decided that The Warriner is the place for their child, we do everything that we possibly can to give our new students the best possible start. We are proud of our school's 'RESPONSIBLE-RESPECTFUL-READY' culture, and thoroughly enjoy welcoming our new students to join us every year.
My favourite thing about being a student at The Warriner is that all the teachers are so kind and supportive
What advice do our students have for year 6?
"Don't worry at all because when you get there it is all fine. And on the first day there are only two year groups in school so it is very calm."
"Every night before school get your books together because you do NOT want a detention for that ! Get all of your new school uniform well in advance so you can choose the right size."
"Pack your own bag every day. You will get a lot more homework - some to be in in a few weeks time and some to be in the day after - so check Show My Homework to help to remember it."
"Pack your bag the night before and always keep a spare timetable at home as well as in your blazer pocket."
"Be prepared for the day, make sure you have everything you need. Don’t worry too much about seeing your friends in class because you will make lots of new friends in the first few weeks."
"Have the right equipment, do your homework the night you get it, and hand it in on time!"