Year 6 Transition Frequently Asked Questions
What time does my child need to be in school for each day?
All students should to be in school for 8.40am at the latest. The first bell rings at 8:40am to indicate that all students should go to their form rooms, and registration begins promptly at 8:45am.
What time does tutor period or registration start?
Tutor period and registration is every morning and starts promptly at 8.45am. This is always with your form tutor in your tutor room base.
How long is tutor period?
Tutor period lasts for 15 minutes, from 8:45am until 9:00am.
How many lessons are there each day and how long is each lesson?
There are 5 lessons each day and each lesson lasts for 1 hour.
What time does the school day finish?
School finishes at 3:10pm every day.
What equipment will my child need each day?
Students will need the following equipment every day; pen, pencil, ruler, rubber, pencil sharpener and a pencil case. This list of basic equipment will be displayed in the students’ planners as well as on their tutor room display board. Students are also required to bring in their PE kit on the days that they have PE (Under current Covid-19 Regulations students are required to attend school in their PE kits on their PE day) . On some occasions, students may be asked to bring in other items, such as ingredients for practical Food Technology lessons, they will be notified about this in advance.
What subjects will my child be learning at Ysgol Treffynnon?
Students are taught a wide range of subjects within the curriculum. They will study; Art, Design & Technology, English, Food Technology, French, Geography, History, Information Technology [IT], Mathematics, Music, Physical Education [PE], Religious Education [RE], Science and Welsh.
Will my child have the opportunity to have some transition days prior to starting at Ysgol Treffynnon?
We are aware that due to current circumstances your child has not had the opportunity to experience the same transition programme that has been so successful over many years. Due to current WG guidelines we are unable to have Primary School students in the building as all schools have to maintain social distancing and have students and staff in ‘bubbles’.
We are working hard to put plans in place for September. Everyone at Ysgol Treffynnon are all very excited to meet you and your child and are looking forward to working with you over the next five years. We are in the process of planning to ensure that your child’s first few days are as special as we can make them in order to ease their transition from Primary to High School. When we have more information and details we will send these out to you. However, when September arrives we will strive to make up for your child not being able to experience the transition process.
We hope that you have enjoyed the transition information and activities so far and that it has been both informative and helpful. There is more to come over the next few weeks so keep a look out for this on the school website and via email.
In the meantime, if you have any questions or worries then please do not hesitate to contact us directly using the email address: [email protected]
Will my child be set homework at Ysgol Treffynnon?
Homework is a very important aspect of study to both students and members of staff at Ysgol Treffynnon. It cements the enhancement of learning as well as teaching other important skills to your child. For example: providing students with valuable experiences of working to deadlines as well as allowing students to develop the practice of private study. This is vital at the later stages of secondary education and thereafter. The amount of homework that is set and guidance on the time it should take will differ for each year group. The average for Year 7 should be around 15 minutes, per subject, per week (i.e. 1 hour every four weeks). Each teacher will decide, after negotiation with their class, on which days they will set and which days they will collect homework. Teachers will ensure that students have enough time to complete their assignment. This information must be recorded into Student Planners. Teachers will also ensure that all homework is recorded on Satchel One and Google Classroom, the school’s online learning platforms.
The school offers additional levels of support for students in order to ensure that homework of quality can be produced. When the school is able to run after-school clubs, there will be a daily after-school Homework Club plus additional study support during lunchtime. This is on offer to all students. When your child gets to Years 10 and 11, breakfast revision sessions at examination times are also offered to all students.
When will I meet my child’s teachers?
Ysgol Treffynnon usually holds a Settling-In Evening for Year 7 Parents in October. This is an opportunity for parents to meet their child’s form tutor and discuss how they are settling in to secondary school. Later in the school year there is a more comprehensive Parents’ Evening, where parents have the opportunity to speak to their child’s various subject teachers about their progress in individual lessons [this year we have carried out Parents’ Evenings online and they have been very successful].
Due to the current situation with COVID-19, the school calendar for the year 2021-22 has not yet been finalised, so we can’t confirm the exact dates of these parents’ evenings just yet, however we will keep families informed as soon as plans are finalised.
Will my child be able to use their mobile phone at Ysgol Treffynnon?
The use of mobile phones and tablets are not permitted at Ysgol Treffynnon. If your child needs to bring one to school then it must be switched off and put in their bags from the minute they walk onto the school grounds [in the morning] to the moment they leave the school grounds [at the end of the school day]. If a child uses their mobile phone in school then various levels of sanction will be put into place. Certain allowances are made in situations for students who need to use their mobile phone for specific medical or health reasons.
How will my child be rewarded for positive behaviour and attendance?
Students will be rewarded throughout the school day for various acts of positive behaviour. These include behaviours like performing well in class, helping others, trying hard, being polite and completing class and home works. They will be rewarded through the school’s ePraise system. Each point they receive equates to a monatory value and they can buy products from the ePraise shop. The shop sells anything from pens, to online vouchers, to a ticket to the Blackpool Pleasure Beach at the end of the year. If there is a product that isn’t included in the shop then students can request those products to be included there. Attendance is rewarded in the same way, however, there are also half termly and termly rewards for positive attendance [prize draws and chocolate for example]. At the end of the Autumn and Summer terms there are whole year group reward trips that are linked closely to behaviour and attendance.
How does the canteen system work?
There are 2 different places that your child can access food and drink from at school. Both are in school atrium on the ground floor. The main [upper] servery has more hot food and main meals whilst the lower servery sells more snacks and cold food. The canteen is cashless so no money changes hands. In order to use the canteen your child will be set up on the school system with either their finger print or a pin number. To use the canteen, you can put money into your child’s account in 2 ways. Either through the ‘School Gateway App’ or by putting money into the school-based cash machines. If you are using the App then the school must have the correct email address on records and these can be updated through the main office.
When will my child know what form group they are in?
An email will be sent to all parents, carers and guardians before the end of the summer term. The email will tell you who your form tutor is and the name of the form group. Due to GDPR we are unable to send the whole class list out to each individual child. By asking you friends you will find out what form group they are in.
The year 7 form tutors this year are:
Miss T Burns – 7TB
Miss C Jones – 7CJ
Miss S Owen – 7SO
Mr M Hobbs – 7MH
