The Journey to Heart of England School

Year 6 are beginning their transition journey to join us at Heart of England and our team is on hand to help them.  The Year 7 team consists of Miss Lancaster, Year 7 Academic Manager and Mrs Simpson, Year 7 Pastoral and Transition Manager.  Their roles are to prepare students for a smooth transition from Primary to Secondary School and to guide them through their first year at Heart of England School.

Believe it or not, the transition process began in September 2022 when we opened our doors to prospective parents/carers and students for Open Evening.  This Open Evening was special as it was the first full open evening after the COVID-19 restrictions.  Our current students were proud to wear their uniform and guide visitors around their school.  Visitors had the opportunity to see all the different subjects on offer to Key Stage 3 and 4, with science being a big draw, offering experiments to take part in on the day.

From here, transition continued with school applications submitted by 31 October 2022 and offers made on 1 March 2023.  We received the initial list of students who had accepted a place at Heart of England and the planning began.  We reflected on the current academic year and made improvements which we are implementing for your children joining us in September.

Miss Lancaster and Mrs Simpson began visiting each student at their school before May half term. This year there are 43 schools to visit with a varying number of students from each joining Heart of England; ranging from 60 children from one school to one from another.  Some of the visits have been delivered in an assembly style, with Miss Lancaster explaining how Heart of England looks and some of the changes the students can expect.  Visits have been in small groups or on a one-to-one basis.  All students have had the opportunity to ask lots of questions with them being reminded that ‘no question is a silly question’.  Miss Lancaster has been grilled on her knowledge of past and present students with the Year 6s asking if she knows who their brother or sister or neighbour’s friend is!  It is fair to say that Miss Lancaster coped very well and knew the majority of the names mentioned.  “The main aim of the Transition visits has been to put the children’s minds at ease and they get to know the team so there is a friendly face on transition day.  The children know that however they are feeling, whether excited or nervous, it is completely normal,” said Miss Lancaster, Year 7 Academic Manager.

While the visits have taken place, Miss Lancaster and Mrs Simpson have been organising an Enhanced Transition Morning (Friday 23 June) and Full Transition Day (Thursday 6 July) for the students.  They have also been preparing Transition Evening for Parents/Carers (Wednesday 5 July).  The Transition Days are designed to give the children a taste of a day in the life of a Heart of England student. They will have four taster lessons across a range of subjects as well as an assembly, meeting the staff that will be supporting them throughout their time at Heart of England, trying school dinners from the canteen and moving round school with other students during school at the same time.  Miss Lancaster said: “I have appointed 16 Year 7 buddies who will be supporting the children on the day and will be able to answer questions and be a friendly face when they arrive in September.  The newly appointed Year 10 prefects will be available on the day too to support each class”.

Commenting on her role, Pastoral and Transition Manager Mrs Simpson said: “I have enjoyed visiting the children in their schools.  Everyone has been really lovely and we have a fantastic year group joining us in September.  We are really looking forward to seeing everyone in school on 6 July, to take the next steps in the Transition process and to welcome them to our community.”