Congratulations to all who have been offered a place at BCCS! We look forward to meeting you all and welcoming you to our school. 

 Transition timeline:

• First week March – National Offer Day
• Third week March – Deadline to accept your offer online
• Third week of May – Visits to primary schools and data collection from primary schools
• First week June – Data collection form emailed to parents/carers
• Throughout June – Enhanced transition tours and meetings 
• Throughout June – Enhanced transition tours and visits 
• Third week of June – Year 6 Welcome Evening
• First week July – Year 6 Transition Days
• First week Sept – First Day of Term 1

Communication Between Now and September

• While in Year 6, your primary school remains your first point of contact for questions about transition.
• Transition planning begins in the spring term with meetings with all feeder primary schools. Teachers and staff meet to discuss each child and consider the most supportive groupings.
• If there is anything you would like us to know, please inform your primary school so it can be passed on to our pastoral team, and ensure you complete the BCCS data collection forms thoroughly. 

 Key Communications

• Year 6 Welcome letter sent in March 
• Year 6 Induction days letter sent in June 
• Year 6 Welcome Evening in June 
• Year 6 Welcome Information pack 
• Enhanced Transition letter

 

Leaving Primary, Joining Secondary:

Supporting Your Child During Transition to Secondary School

The transition from primary to secondary school is an exciting milestone, but it can also feel daunting for children and families.

 There are many ways you can support your child in preparing for Year 7.

Developing Independence

Encouraging independence is one of the most effective ways to prepare your child:

• Encourage your child to pack their own equipment and manage their time.
• Practise opening combination locks for bikes, tying ties, or managing bus money.
• Practice journeys to and from school. 
• Talk through the school day, including moving between lessons and meeting new teachers.
• Discuss ways to ask for help if something goes wrong.

Friendship and Social Preparation

Moving to secondary school is a fantastic opportunity to make new friends:

• Explain that if they are currently in Cathedral Primary current friendship groups may be split across different tutor groups and classes.
• Encourage your child to welcome others who may be joining alone.
• Talk positively about Year 7 as a fresh start and reassure your child that everyone may feel a little nervous.
• Discuss strategies for joining conversations, introducing themselves, and forming new friendships.

Practising the Journey to School

BCCS is a city centre campus school. It is important your child feels confident in getting into town and making their way into school. 

Confidence in getting to and from school can help your child feel independent:

• Walk, cycle, or drive over the summer holidays.
• If using public transport, practise the bus journey, including finding stops, reading the route number, and getting off at the correct place.
• Encourage your child to carry important contact numbers and know what to do if something goes wrong.

Keeping Reading Levels Up

Maintaining reading skills over the summer ensures your child is ready for secondary school:

• Set aside daily reading time, mixing fiction, non-fiction, and other materials.
• Discuss books together — favourite parts, new words, predictions, and facts.
• Visit your local library to explore books that spark your child’s interest.
• Below are some suggestions:

Optional Summer Activities and Prep Work

These activities may help your child prepare for secondary school in a fun, low-pressure way:

1. My New School Journey

• Create a poster or booklet showing the route to school, timings, three things you’re excited about, and one worry with a solution.

2. Subject Explorer

• Research one secondary subject of interest. List three facts, one famous person linked to the subject, and a question to ask your new teacher.

3. Reading Response Journal

• Keep a diary of summer reading with book title, favourite moment, new words, and a short review.

4. Creative Writing Challenge

• Write a story about the first day of secondary school, a diary entry from a Year 7 pupil, or a letter to your future self to read at the end of Term 1.

5. Organisation Practice

• Make a checklist for schoolbag items, and design an effective study space at home.

Supporting a Child with SEND During Transition

We recognise that transition can feel particularly challenging for pupils with SEND.

You can help by:

• Talking about what will change and what will stay the same between primary and secondary school.
• Using visual support like calendars, maps, or countdown charts.
• Visiting the school site and practising routes.
• Encouraging your child to share worries so staff can address them early.
• Maintaining communication with your child’s primary school so important information can be passed on.

Our SEND team works closely with primary schools and families to provide tailored support. Pupils who may benefit from enhanced transition support will be invited to extra visits and tours with their Head of Area. 

For more information on SEND support at BCCS, please visit our SEND pages.