Senior School Transition

Year 6 is a very important time for our children and one of our aims at Teesside High School is to effectively prepare them for the next stage in their school career.

The move from Year 6 to Year 7 can be a daunting one for some children; we work closely with each individual pupil to ensure their personal transition is as smooth and seamless as possible.

The transition to the Senior School starts early in Year 3, with the introduction of some Senior School teachers in the Prep curriculum and the opportunity to experience the classrooms and facilities of the Senior School.  Prep pupils are taught by the same teaching staff in subjects such as Music and Physical Education as pupils in Year 10 and 11, for example, and our youngest also enjoy regular visits to the Senior School through instrumental music lessons, Science visits and masterclasses led by Senior specialists.

In Years 3-6, Prep pupils are invited to join the Senior School in hearing from inspirational guest speakers at special events and through our Tea-Time Talk series, and through our active Able, Gifted and Talented programme.

In Year 6, more of our co-curricular programme is spent in the Senior School and Senior students are often welcomed to support after-school activities such as Computing. In addition, all Year 6 pupils are invited to two Transition Days in January and June, providing the chance for pupils to experience a ‘normal’ day in the Senior School, following a Senior timetable and meeting more subject staff. These Transition Days also provide a chance to meet other Senior School pupils and quiz them about their experiences, as well as to bring the incoming Year 7 cohort together to eat lunch together and take part in enjoyable co-curricular activities and sport.

Our teachers and our leadership team understand how important a positive transition can make to a child’s start in the Senior School and their journey ahead. The school’s Pastoral Support Officer visits Year 6 Parents’ Evening to be on hand for any questions from pupils and parents alike, working together with the Year 6 Form Teacher to ensure each and every child looks forward to the next step in their educational career at THS.