Transition Information

Moving from primary school to secondary school is an easy process. Within the first week, I knew my way around school and had made lots of new friends. I have settled in really well.

On the first day, I got a tour around school and the older students were really helpful if I ever got lost.

Madelaine R.

The transition between Markland Hill and Rivington and Blackrod High School was, I thought, smooth and I began to feel comfortable as I settled in.

This is because they have the Lower school which made it easier as I was able to make friends before I move up to the ‘upper’ school in Year 8. This allowed me to avoid feeling lonely when I was amongst the older children at Upper school.

I am currently enjoying Rivington and Blackrod. Every lesson I believe is fun and you learn lots of interesting things.

Charlotte

When I first started secondary school I was very scared as I was the only person in my year going to Ladybridge High School. On my first visit for the transition day,I was so nervous that I nearly cried when I was dropped off but I was looked after and I soon realized that I had nothing to be scared of.I ended up really enjoying it.

Another thing that really helped me to settle in to my new school is the fact that Ladybridge hosted a summer camp for the first week of summer holidays when you could try out all the fun lessons; art, music, PE, cookery etc. On the last day we even had a barbecue!

On my first day I was still a bit nervous but everything was fine when I got there as all the teachers helped me to find any classrooms when I was lost and all the people were really nice to me.

I love Ladybridge High School now as I have made lots of friends and the work I am being given is not only ideal for me but very interesting. All the teachers are very friendly and help me if I am stuck with my classwork. The homework is nothing to worry about, its not too hard and each piece doesn’t take very long.

Primary school was excellent and I miss everyone but it already seems like I left a long time ago.

I hope this is useful and will help the current and future year 6 pupils

Grace

I found the transition from Markland Hill to Canon Slade both easy and exciting. I think you get to a stage in Year 6 where you feel ready to move on to something bigger. I already knew quite a lot about Canon Slade because I knew several people who have gone there and I went to the open evening during the Autumn Term whilst in Y6. Once I was allocated a place, a teacher from Canon Slade school came to Markland Hill to talk to us about the different opportunities. This made it all feel real. I went with the other children from Markland Hill on an induction day which was great fun. We got to go on the bus! Once there, we did lots of secondary school activities and visited some of the many different departments. My favourite was technology! Towards the end of Year 6 the school invited us in, with our parents, to an evening where we met our form and form tutor. I found this helpful as I then knew a few friendly faces to look for in September.

Over the summer, we bought my equipment and uniform, which I found very exciting. I even got to pick out a fancy bag! On my first day I went off on the bus with my Markland Hill friends, we all looked very smart. That day we were given a tour of the school by our form tutor. I quickly worked out that they do excellent food, including bacon butties at break!

Now I am all settled in at Canon Slade, in fact, I love it! I still find all the different departments exciting and have really taken advantage of lots of the clubs that they offer at lunchtimes; these are a great way of making new friends. The fact that we are in sets for certain lessons was already quite a familiar way of working, I think Markland Hill prepares us well for this as we got used to moving around to different groups with different teachers there. I am very proud to say that I’ve been chosen to be in the gymnastics team as I’ve tried really hard at gymnastics club! I’ve made lots of new friends so now I have my Markland Hill buddies on the bus and lots more friends besides when in school. The teachers are kind and helpful, some of the senior staff wear black gowns in assembly! There is homework but it comes in chunks which are easy to manage and not overwhelming at all.

There are always lots of new and interesting things going on and everyone is encouraged to join in. The new Headteacher told us all, during his very first assembly with us, to try new things and set ourselves new challenges; I’m certainly doing that! My parents are delighted with the way everything has gone and, like me, are very impressed with all aspects of the school.

My advice to you is to get stuck in and join in everything you can, you are going to love it!

Hope this is helpful.
Alice

Before going to Bolton School, I was very nervous, as everyone in my year was. My first day at Bolton School was quite different from primary. Being at the bottom of the school instead of at the top was daunting but everyone was very helpful and kind. In only took one term to get used to the school and it didn’t seem that big or scary. I made lots of new friends so it doesn’t matter if you’re not going to the same school as you’re friends. No matter how frightening secondary school might seem, you fit in straight away and you grow to love it.

I hope this helps.

Zayna