Transition to secondary school

Mrs Downs, our transition lead, visits most of the primary schools to meet with the in-coming year 6 students.  During this visit, everyone gets to take part in some fun transition activities, as well as sharing some information about themselves for their new teachers at Chailey.  We also have two whole days where Yr6 students come to Chailey and spend the days getting to know one another and their tutor, and finding out about the school. Students will also get to take part in taster sessions in some of the subjects they will study in year 7.

If you are coming on your own from a primary school, or maybe with just one other student, you will also be invited to attend an extra session so you can make some friends with students in the same position as you. Usually the peer mentor team will be around to help you through these sessions.

Once you arrive with us in September, you will find that everyone is really friendly, and will be doing their very best to make sure you settle in quickly, and make lots of new friends.  The Peer Mentor team take a leading role in this.

You will have two Peer Mentors to each form, and for a whole week we will be there to take you to and from all of your lessons.  You will definitely NOT get lost!  We will also take you to your buses, along with the year 11 bus prefects, for the first week, until you are confident in getting on the correct bus.

Once a week, your Peer Mentors will come along to your form room and run a session for you all.  This may be a discussion, a quiz, or just a simple game.  We have found this to be a brilliant way of helping everyone to bond as a team, and make friends.

As senior students, we really want you to have the same positive experience of Chailey School that we have all had.  We will be there to listen to you, to help you, and we will always have a smile – just like our yellow smiley badges that we all wear. You can stop us at any time around the site to ask for help, or just say hello.

Below we have listed some questions that we regularly get asked.  If you have any others for us you can email Mrs Downs jdowns@chaileyschool.org 

FAQs by Year 6 Students

Q: What time does school start and finish?

A: School starts at 8.40am and finishes at 3.05pm.

Q: How will I know which bus to catch?

A: You will receive a bus pass from East Sussex school transport before you start at Chailey.  That will give you the number of your bus.  For the first week, Peer Mentors and bus prefects will escort you to your bus at the end of the day.  There are always teachers on duty though, so even after that first week, there will always be someone to ask if you are not sure.

Q: How many lessons are there every day?

A:  There are 6 lessons every day.  Each lesson is 50 minutes long.  You will be escorted from lesson to lesson for the first week, so you won’t get lost.

Q: What happens if I get to school late?

A: If you arrive to school after the bell for any reason, it is really important that you sign in at the main office.  Try to make sure you get to school on time in the mornings.  If you are persistently late for no good reason, this could result in break or lunchtime detentions.

Q: What are the rules on mobile phones?

A:  Mobile phones are banned in school.  Please see our policy on mobile phones.

Q: What can you do at break and lunch times?

A: You can buy food from the canteen at lunchtime. There are also clubs most lunchtimes that you can join.  This is a great way to meet new friends.

Q: How will I keep up with homework?

A:  We use an online tool called Satchel(Showmyhomework) which will help you, and your parents/carers to keep track of your set tasks.

You will only get Maths and English homework for the first few weeks. It is always good to do the homework as soon as it is set, so that you don’t get a backlog.  If you find it easier to work in school, there is homework club four days a week in the library.  Here you can get support from a teaching assistant or older students, as well as a drink and a biscuit. You will need to arrange to get picked up afterwards though, as the buses do not come back for you!

If you have any more questions of your own, please email jdowns@chaileyschool.org and Mrs Downs will get back to you.