Transition to Secondary School
At St Mary’s School, Gerrards Cross, our aim is to make the transition to Senior House as smooth and enjoyable as possible for students and parents alike.
The transition process is full of opportunities and activities for students to familiarise themselves with the school, understand and be excited for the opportunities on offer, and give them reassurance that there is support for their well-being and how they can access it. By the time each student joins, she will feel happy and comfortable going to school, be familiar with the school layout, recognise key members of staff, be familiar with her peers and feel confident making friends. Great value is placed on the transition programme – it is an important process and ensures that every family feels that they are welcome and part of the extended family at St Mary’s from the time they accept an offer.
The Transition Programme, to prepare girls for Secondary School at St Mary’s, is comprehensive and varied and starts at the point an offer is made – this allows a consistent schedule of opportunities during the months leading up to students joining in September. Activities include:
- Breakfast Meetings at school.
- Open Events.
- A Transition Day (where students meet their tutors and find out their house!)
- Transition prefects (sixth form) and peer mentors (Year 10) to support them to settle in.
- An introductory afternoon to Year 7 in September before the whole school returns.
- A personalised postcard from a current Year 7.
- A visit to the student’s primary school, from our Head of Year 7.
- A 3 day Welcome Week at the end of the Summer Holidays.
The ultimate aim of all these activities is for girls joining Year 7 to have fun, find friends with common interests, and find their feet in their new setting so that September simply can’t come quickly enough for them.
Once in Year 7, girls are surrounded by support and activities to help them settle into school life and new routines. Their first year is a hive of activity, trips and team building days to instill positive relationships and to support them in making friends who will last a lifetime!
Some of the highlights of Year 7 are PACCAR team building afternoon in the Michaelmas term, and a residential trip for one night to celebrate the end of exam week in the Trinity term. This is not to mention the countless co-curricular clubs on offer to build confidence and learn new skills – everything from Netball, Gymnastics and Tennis to Crochet and Japanese club. Year 7 students can also take part in our whole school musical, represent St Mary’s at a wide range of sports fixtures and can take part in a wide variety of house competitions.
They do not only turn their hand to new activities in Year 7 but also push themselves out of their comfort zone and grow in confidence daily – their St Mary’s Spirit shines through from the minute they join us!