Year 6 to 7 Transition 2025

We are delighted that your child has been offered a place in Year 7 and we are really looking forward to the start of their journey in September 2025. They will be part of an ambitious, enriching, happy and high-achieving environment, and we are very excited about what they will achieve with us. We work really hard to ensure your child has the smoothest transition from primary to secondary school because we want them to feel part of our school community and excited about their new start long before they first put on their uniforms in September. Please do take the time to read the information below which outlines everything we have on offer to support your child.

Please take a look through the links below for more information regarding the transition process.

You can download the presentation from the new parent information evening below.

Transition Team

Should you have any questions or need to speak to the Transition Team, please contact us using the email addresses below:

Mrs Ruby, Head of Year 7 and Year 6-7 Transition Lead: cruby@orchardparkhigh.net

Ms Palmieri, SENDCO: send@orchardparkhigh.net

Mrs Mathys, Medical: kmathys@orchardparkhigh.net

You can find all the communications sent to our new Year 7 families here.

You can find our parent and student guide to school policies here.

Our home school agreement can be found here.

You can find our term dates for 2025-26 here.

You can find information about uniform requirements here.
Please note that our September 2025 Year 7 cohort will wear jumpers with a red stripe and red ties.

Transition timeline

Support	Who?	When?	Location
Welcome letter This will be sent out to all families in early March. This details all upcoming events and key dates for the diary. If you do not receive this, please contact vongley@orchardparkhigh.net as we may have an incorrect email address on file.	All who have been offered a place at Orchard Park	Early March	Sent via email
All about me: Google Form So that we can get to know each individual student better, please complete our ‘All about me’ Google form that we will share with our Year 7 transition team.	All new students	To be completed by 23rd May	Students complete this Google Form with their families.
Primary school data collection A Google Form will be emailed to primary schools in order to collect data on pupils transferring to Orchard Park High. Our SENDCo will make contact with primary school SENDCo by the end of April with a view to collate information on SEND students.	Year 6 Staff/ SENDCo	Released in March to be returned by 12th May	Primary school
Primary school data collection dialogue One-to-one meetings/calls with primary teachers to get further information on each student transferring to Orchard Park.	Primary teachers and transition coordinator.	From May-July	Online/phone/in person
Primary school visit An opportunity for students to meet a member of staff from the transition team who will inform students about life at Orchard Park and outline the transition process. This is also an opportunity for students to ask any questions they may have about life at secondary school.	All schools for students transferring to Orchard Park High.	From May to July	Primary School
Performing and creative arts workshops (optional but encouraged) A chance to come to Orchard Park High, meet some of the teaching team and some of your new peers. Students will take part in either drama, music or art workshops.	Open to all students joining Orchard Park.	Wednesday 21st May 4-5pm Sign up here Wednesday 18th June 4-5pm Sign up here	Orchard Park High
EHCP/SEND induction day	Encouraged for all students with an EHCP (including ELP) and those invited by the SENDCO.	TBC	Orchard Park High
ELP induction day	Encouraged for all students joining our Enhanced Learning Provision	TBC	Orchard Park High
New intake parents’ information evening This evening is led by the student’s new Head of Year and the transition team. This session gives parents key information for Year 7 and the upcoming transition day. NB: We will be selling second-hand uniforms at this event.	All parents of those transitioning to Orchard Park (students are welcome to attend this event too but it is not compulsory).	Thursday 26th June 5-6pm	Orchard Park High
Transition day A shortened day (9.00am-2.30pm) at Orchard Park High that focuses on familiarising pupils with the school and its routines. Students attend in their current school’s uniform and will take part in a variety of different lessons to give them a feel for day to day life at Orchard Park. Students will be given a self-quizzing booklet to complete over the summer. This is linked to our school rules and routines to support student understanding.	All students joining OPHS.	Friday 4th July	Orchard Park High
New intake parents’ meetings Individual meetings for students and parents with a member of staff. Appointments will be sent to parents by email. Students with SEND needs will meet with a member of the SEND team.	All parents of those transitioning to Orchard Park.	Tuesday 15th July	Orchard Park High
Summer programme (optional but encouraged) Our summer school promises to be two days of fun and friendship and an opportunity for Orchard Park to feel like home before September.	All students joining OPHS.	Tuesday 26th and Wednesday 27th August 10am-3pm	Held at Orchard Park High Complete this Google Form to sign up.
Attendance and behaviour support meetings These meetings are held with our attendance and conduct teams for students and their families based on information received from primary schools. These meetings are designed to support students and families to get into good routines and habits for secondary school.	Identified new Year 7 learners.	After summer programme and in early September	Held at Orchard Park High
Dedicated induction day Students in Year 7 start school a day early in September and will spend the day with their new tutor and tutor group, getting to know each other and learning our routines for success at Orchard Park high.	All new Year 7 learners .	Tuesday 2nd September	Orchard Park High
Group work session Small group sessions during the school day for any students who have struggled with the transition period. These are based on individual needs and could include; support for organisation, homework or resilience. These sessions are always with a member of the school’s transition team.	Identified Year 7 learners.	Throughout September	Orchard Park High
Year 7 meet the tutor evening We will be inviting parents to the school. There will be a welcome presentation, followed by a meeting with your child’s tutor. There will also be an opportunity to speak to our SENDCO at this event.	Parents of all new Year 7 learners.	TBC	Orchard Park High

A typical day at Orchard Park High (a guide for our new students)

This is an example of a Year 7 timetable, it shows you what your week might look like in September. We have a two week timetable, which means that you will have a different timetable to follow every other week.

Every morning we start the day with roll call. This is when your homework and equipment is checked before we enter the building. We then start our morning routine with tutor reading. Your form tutor will read one of the brilliant books from our tutor reading cannon, and you will track along as your tutor models high quality reading aloud.

We have two lessons before break and these are usually double periods. After this, we have break time when you can head to the playground or to the canteen to purchase a healthy snack. At the end of break, your teachers come to collect you from the playground and walk you to your next lesson (that way you don’t have to worry about getting lost). We have two more lessons after break and these are also usually a double period. We then have lunchtime where you can eat lunch, head to the playground, go to the library to read and get help with your homework or attend one of our many character clubs.

At the end of lunch, your teacher will collect you again and take you to your final lesson of the day. This begins with a 20 minute Vocabulary session where we are taught new words and how to pronounce them correctly as well as apply them in the correct context. At the end of the day, most students will stay to attend a Character Club until 4pm.

Example of a Week A timetable

Week A	Mon	Tues	Wed	Thurs	Fri
8.25-8.35am	Roll call – every morning in the playground. Homework and equipment is checked at roll call.
P0- 8.35-9.00	Assembly	Tutor Reading	Tutor Reading	Tutor Reading	Tutor Reading
P1: 9.00-9.50	English	Science	PE	Maths	Science
P2: 9.50-10.40	English	Science	PE	Maths	French
Break: 10.40-11.00	Break
P3: 11.00-11.50	Maths	Drama	Geography	Science	English
P4: 11.50-12.40	Maths	Dance	Geography	Science	English
Lunch: 12.45-1.25	Lunch
P5: 1.30-1.50	Vocabulary Training
P5: 1.50-2.50	History	History	Art	French	Choir
3.00-4.00	Character Clubs (We have over 50 to choose from)
Homework	KO: English 30 minutes reading Sparx Maths	KO: Science 30 minutes reading Sparx Reader	KO: History 30 minutes reading Sparx Maths	KO: Geography 30 minutes reading Sparx Reader	KO: PE 30 minutes reading Sparx Maths

Example of a Week B timetable

Week B	Mon	Tues	Wed	Thurs	Fri
8.25-8.35am	Roll call - every morning in the playground. Homework and equipment is checked at roll call.
P0- 8.35-9.00	Assembly	Tutor Reading	Tutor Reading	Tutor Reading	Tutor Reading
P1: 9.00-9.50	RS	Maths	PE	French	Science
P2: 9.50-10.40	RS	Maths	PE	French	Science
Break: 10.40-11.00	Break
P3: 11.00-11.50	English	Music	History	English	Geography
P4: 11.50-12.40	English	Computer Science	History	English	PSHE
Lunch: 12.45-1.25	Lunch
P5: 1.30-1.50	Vocabulary Training
P5: 1.50-2.50	Science	Computer Science	Maths	Art	Choir
3.00-4.00	Character Clubs (We have over 50 to choose from)
Homework	KO: French 30 minutes reading Sparx Maths	KO: English 30 minutes reading Sparx Reader	KO: Science 30 minutes reading Sparx Maths	KO: Dance 30 minutes reading Sparx Reader	KO: Music 30 minutes reading Sparx Maths

Download
New Parent Information Evening Presentation 2024.pdf

Orchard Park High School

Join Us

Year 6 to 7 Transition 2025

Should you have any questions or need to speak to the Transition Team, please contact us using the email addresses below:

Transition timeline

Transition timeline

A typical day at Orchard Park High (a guide for our new students)

Example of a Week A timetable

Example of a Week B timetable