Transition - Key Stage 2 to Key Stage 3

Welcome Year 6 to St Richard Gwyn Catholic High School

Are you worried about starting a new school? Don't be because there's no need to be worried!! Most people remember being really scared on the first day and now they can't think why they were so worried about it!! As soon as you are in the school it will feel like you've always been there. Your first day won't be a nightmare because there are lots of people to help and everyone here is really nice. You will also have visited the school during the evening and you will also have spent a day here so you will know your way around a little and you will have made some new friends.


Transition arrangements

The Head of Key Stage 3 will visit you in your school in Year 6 and give you lots of information about St Richard Gwyn. We will also arrange an evening for you and your parents/carers to visit. During the evening you will meet your new form and your new Form Tutor and the Headteacher and senior staff will talk to your parents about the school and school policies.

In July there will also be a Day Visit for the Year 6 pupils, you will have sample lessons with your form and you will also stay for lunch!


We hope you enjoy your five years here!

On your first few days here you might find it difficult, eg finding your way around, bringing the right books and getting to lessons on time but the older pupils and the staff will all help you. During the first three days in school all Year 7 and their Form Tutors go on a residential visit to a place in West Wales called Llangrannog where we do lots of different activities such as quad biking, horse riding, dry ski slope skiing and we even have a walk to the beach.

All Year 7 form groups will have two special Year 11 prefects working with their form; they are called BFPs - Big Friendly People! These BFPs also come on the residential visit to Llangrannog. You will meet them and get to know them in the summer term. You will also meet lots of new people and many of them will become your friends.

In St Richard Gwyn you will have a Form Tutor who will be your Tutor for registration and will also give you day to day academic and pastoral support. This teacher will also teach your PSE (Personal and Social Education) lessons and if you have any concerns about school or your work then your Form Tutor will be able to help you.


How BIG is St Richard Gwyn?

St Richard Gwyn may seem big compared to your old school but once you get used to where the classrooms are located it then seems fairly small. Don't worry about getting lost because everyone here at St Richard Gwyn will always be willing to help you. The teachers are really nice and they will understand if you lose your way or are late to your first lesson. The older children and the prefects will also help you if you are confused about anything.


A quick guide to where different classrooms are.

If a room number starts with 1 it is on the ground floor.
If a room number starts with 2 then it is upstairs on the first floor.
Most rooms are also in subject areas and they will be next door to each other.


Timetables for St Richard Gwyn

There are 5 lessons a day. We have two one hour lessons first thing in the morning, then a break for 20 minutes, another two 55 minute lessons then a lunch break for 40 minutes. After lunch we have a one hour lesson and then we have a 20 minute pastoral session with your Form Tutor. We also have Assemblies for each year group during the pastoral sessions.

Friday mornings start with a Mass from 9.00 am to 9.25 am, then we have two lessons, then break, two more lessons, lunch and then one lesson in the afternoon.

Your lessons are split into two weeks, Week 1 and 2 so it will take you a couple of weeks or so to get to know what lessons you will have. You will have a timetable and a school diary to help you understand this system.


What lessons will you have in Year 7?

At St Richard Gwyn we have many more lessons than your Primary School. The lessons are Religious Education, Mathematics, English, Science, Geography, Welsh, Design Technology - Textiles, Food, Resistant Materials, Art, Music, Information Technology, Physical Education, French, History and PSE (Personal and Social Development).

You may be able to study a second foreign language such as Spanish in Year 9.


Uniform

Boys and girls wear an embroidered burgundy V-necked sweatshirt with an embroidered gold polo shirt and grey or black tailored trousers. Girls may also wear grey or black skirts instead of trousers!

Coats - black/navy topcoat (no logos) or an embroidered school fleece.

Shoes - all black flat shoes. Grey or black socks.


Sports Clothing

Boys and girls wear an embroidered burgundy polo shirt, with plain black shorts and jogging bottoms, burgundy socks and trainers. Boys will need football boots.


Sports Clubs

Sports clubs held during lunch and after school include: netball, football (girls and boys), gym, basketball, dance, rugby, badminton, cross country, tennis and athletics.


Music Lessons

Peripatetic music staff visit the school weekly and tuition is provided in Brass, Woodwind, Strings, Percussion Studies, Vocal Studies, Guitar and Piano/Keyboard Studies.

There is a school choir and a school orchestra, rehearsals are held during lunch and after school.


The Learning Resource Centre

The Learning Resource Centre is open during break and lunch for you to use and contains a wide selection of books, videos, CDs and audio tapes for reference and borrowing. You can also start your homework in the library, carry out research for projects or just read for pleasure. Computers can be booked for you to work on.


What is the Food Like?

The canteen in the hall will be open before school for Breakfast Club, and also during break times and lunch times. The canteen sells great food from quick snacks like toast, cheese toasties, bacon rolls, pizzas, sausage rolls to hot-dogs as well as set school meals for lunch! Pasta and soup is available most days. There is also a salad bar where you can choose your own salad from a wide choice. Fruit is always on sale. Chips are on the menu once a week.


The Vending Machines

We also have two vending machines which sell crisps, chocolate bars and drinks. Both machines are in the 'Street'.


We look forward to meeting you in September!