Rationale

The school aims to make the transition between key stages as smooth as possible for pupils, whilst providing the staff who will teach them with the necessary information for the pupils' academic, social, emotional and spiritual development in a new setting.

Broad Guidelines

Home - Nursery - Reception

To encourage the smooth transition between home and school, parents and children are given the opportunity to spend time, as needed, in the Nursery meeting staff and pupils. Children invited to spend a session together in school in the term preceding entry into Year R. A short parents' meeting with teachers provides a forum for discussion and to address any anxieties.

Key Stage One - Key Stage Two

To ensure the satisfactory transition of pupils at the end of K.S.1, the procedures are:

• A morning spent in the new classroom with the new teacher
• Liaison between members of staff
• Transfer of records
• When children relocate records are forwarded on request
• Parents' Guide issued
• Pupils' Guide issued
• Parents' Transition evenings held

Preparatory School - Senior School

To ensure the satisfactory transition of pupils at the end of K.S.2 the procedures are:

• A taster day
• Liaison between members of staff
• Transfer of records
• Entrance exam
• When children relocate, records and references are forwarded on request
• Head of Pastoral Care must oversee reference writing
• All references must be approved by the Head or Deputy Head
• Individuals may discuss interview skills, as required, with the Head or Deputy Head
• Induction Day
• A taster evening for parents and pupils
• A transition booklet for pupilsd
• A transition booklet for parents.
• An introductory talk to parents
• A first parents' evening early in Autumn term to meet Form Tutors

Year 9 - Year 10 GSCE

• During Year 9, subject staff begin discussing the focus of their subjects for GCSE
• Early In the Spring term each pupil is given leaflets detailing GCSE courses, syllabuses, and general requirements and the compulsory elements. These are taken home to be discussed with parents before the Options Evening
• At the Options Evening the Headmistress gives general guidelines and the parents are invited to meet subject staff to discuss the options
• The pupils' First Choice Option Sheet is completed - every care is taken to offer first choices and the bands are matched to the girls' individual requests

Year 11 - Year 12

• Careers advice begins to concentrate during Years 10 - 11
• Morrisby Test offered
• Sixth Form Prospectus given out detailing options offered
• Sixth Form Options Evening - parents and students meet individual teachers to discuss a programme of study
• Taster Session
• Headmistress and Deputy Head interview year 11 students following Mock Examinations
• References are prepared and sent by request to other FE Colleges or employers
• Target setting and reviewing are set up and continued.
• Induction morning on entry into lower sixth, with target setting and forum for discussion within Sixth Form Common Room.

Year 12 - Year 13

• Headmistress interviews students following AS results in September.
• Target setting and reviewing are revisited and reviewed.
• References are written for HE institutions or for other intentions.
• Practice interviews arranged as necessary