New to QKS: year 6 families joining in september 2024

Transition Lead: Ms Holliday laura.holliday@queenkatherine.org

Head of Year 7: Miss Kerr laura.kerr@queenkatherine.org

   Ms Holliday                                                                    Miss Kerr

Welcome

A very warm welcome to The Queen Katherine School. 

Your child’s transition to secondary school should be a positive and exciting experience and it is our job to make the process as smooth as possible. 

Moving to secondary school is an important milestone in your child’s life and it is important to get it right.  At QKS, we will support your child to become more independent and provide the opportunities for them to discover what kind of person they are and who they want to be.

It is normal to feel a bit anxious about the transition to secondary school – anything unfamiliar can cause worry. If you have any queries, please do not hesitate to contact Ms Holliday using the email link above and she will get back to you as soon as she can. 

Transition Information 2024

Communication

• The parent who made the application will receive a welcome letter and Year 7 Handbook in the post on 2 March. This letter details an online form that must be completed so we have up-to-date contact details for both parents. Children will receive a welcome card.

• Ms Holliday will send information at the beginning of each month by email to both parents. This will contain important information for each stage of our Transition Programme.

• If you have any questions about transition, please contact Ms Holliday: laura.holliday@queenkatherine.org

• Either Ms Holliday or Miss Kerr (Permanent Head of Year 7) will visit your child and their teacher/s in their primary school in April/May

 Events

• Attend our Getting Ready Evening on Monday 17 June, 6.00 - 7.30pm

• Year 6 Induction Day is on Monday 1 July, 8.45am – 3.20pm 

• Induction Evening is the same day (1 July), 6.00 – 7.30pm

• Optional Year 6 Summer School, 22, 23 & 24 July 

Transition schedule 

Year 7 residential in Scotland, February 2025

In the Spring Term, Year 7 students have the opportunity to go on our new residential trip to Scotland! We ran the 'bigger and better' trip for the first time this year. Over 100 students enjoyed this amazing experience and we want to take even students more next year!

This really is an invaluable opportunity to build self-confidence, make friends and practise resilience. We are committed to helping our students discover who they are and all they can be. 

There is a short, information presentation at our Getting Ready Evening to learn more.

Year 7 Team Building Day

Early in the Autumn Term, our new students have a day away from lessons and classrooms to get to know their new form members and form tutor.

Student have lots of fun working in teams to complete challenges before going on an adventure walk in the afternoon. Making friends is very important and this is just one of the ways we help our new students settle in to life at QKS.

'Get Excited!' videos for Year 6s

These videos were filmed during the first lockdown in 2020 but current Year 6s may find them helpful. The videos will help your child familiarise themselves with the QKS environment. These light hearted videos are designed to remind children that starting secondary school is a fun and exciting experience.

Video 1 - Performing Arts Department

Video 2 - PE and Art & Photography

Video 3 - Technology

Video 4 - Science

Video 5 - Lower School - breaks and lunch times

Supporting well-being

Your child's happiness, mental health and well-being is our absolute priority and this has never been more important at this time. 

There are lots of fantastic resources to help your child prepare for the move to secondary school. We recommend the following:

Be Awesome, Go Big: transition activities for Year 6s

Be Awesome, Go Big: transition resources for parents

BBC Bitesize transition resources

Transport

If you qualify for assistance with travel costs under the Authority’s ‘Home to School’ transport policy, please contact School Transport in Carlisle, 01228 226428 or click here.

For those students travelling to QKS by train, Northern Rail Educational Season tickets are  available for parents to purchase online from 1 August, for more  information please visit:  
https://www.northernrailway.co.uk/educational-season

First Day - Wednesday 4 September 2024

Year 7 students begin the Autumn Term a day earlier than other students to allow time for them to settle in. 

Students spend most of the first day with their Form Tutor getting organised with lockers and logins as well as practising reading their timetable etc. There will be lessons in the afternoon so students need to bring appropriate equipment and their PE kit.

ParentMail payments

Parents will be sent ParentMail login details in the first week, therefore students will need to bring money to school if they wish to purchase lunch in the first few days.

Extra-curricular Clubs

Most clubs begin in the first 2-3 weeks of the Autumn Term.

A list of clubs will be sent out to all parents in the second week of the Autumn Term. An updated copy will also be published on our website.

Homework

In September, only Maths, English and Science homework will be set to support students’ adjustment to secondary school life and learn how to use the ‘Edulink' app.

From October, all subjects will set homework if it is meaningful and manageable.