Monday 22 June 2020
Guernsey's primary and secondary schools have been working very closely together to ensure the current Year 6 has a smooth transition into Year 7.
Year 6 children always look forward to the opportunity to visit their new secondary schools during the summer term, to start to learn their way around the building, meet their new teachers, and experience taster activities for some of the subjects they will study at secondary school. The announcement of the move into phase 5 means that all secondary schools, including the grant-aided colleges, are able to offer a full day of transition activities on Monday 29 June, meaning that this year's Year 6 cohort will not miss out on this important event. Secondary schools will contact parents with more information.
Secondary staff will also visit primary schools this week to talk to Year 6s about what to expect and to answer any questions. Additional conversations have been taking place between primary and secondary staff to ensure the smoothest possible transitions for all students, with additional support put in place for particular students as required. This has been supported by the feeder school system introduced last year, which has led to strengthened relationships between secondary schools and their feeder primaries.
Claire Judd, Headteacher at La Houguette Primary School, said:
"We are so pleased and relieved that the transition day is able to go ahead. Our Year 6 pupils are very keen to visit their secondary schools and it is a really valuable experience for them to be prepared, meet the teachers and students that they will be with in September. They are also grateful to have the opportunity to ask all those important questions that they have, for example, what equipment do we need? Who will my form tutor be? And what time is lunch?"
Liz Coffey, Executive Headteacher, said:
"Staff have been working closely with teachers across the primary schools to make sure we are able to give every child the best possible start to their secondary education. We are looking forward to welcoming our incoming Year 7 cohort at the transition day next week, and to giving more information at this week's parents and carers evenings."
The Committee for Education, Sport & Culture wants to thank staff in both primary and secondary schools for their hard work ahead of this year's transition, which comes off the back of working throughout lockdown to look after some students in school, while also providing a successful distance learning programme.
