Secondary Transition Events & Open Mornings
Open Events for Student Entry September 2020
The School has one Open Evening in the Autumn Term each academic Year when students and their parents/carers are invited to tour the facilities and hear the Head Teacher speak about the school.
Our Open Evening for September 2020 entry will take place on Tuesday 17th September 2019, 5.30-8.30pm.
SMHS School Tours (Student Year 7 Entry Sept 2020)
These tours are for any Year 6 student and their parents/carers. They provide an opportunity to tour the school buildings to see students and staff at work, meet senior staff, to ask questions and to get a feel for what learning is like at St Mary’s. Places on tours can be booked by phoning the school 01992 629124 or emailing admin@st-maryshigh.herts.sch.uk.
There will be open mornings for parents/carers and their Year 5 children to tour the school to see students and staff at work between 9 – 10.30am on selected mornings during the summer term 2019. Dates for Year 5 tours will be published after Easter. Please contact 01992 629124 to register for a tour.
Visits to the School
Visits to the School for prospective parents/carers and their children can be arranged at any time throughout the year. If a visit to the School or assistance in completing the application form is required, please contact the Head Teacher’s Personal Assistant.
Families who are interested in applying for a place at St Mary’s have plenty of opportunities to visit the school to see students and staff at work and to ask questions. Tours dates are offered in May/June and Sept/Oct of each academic year. Places can be reserved on tours by contacting 01992 269124. Once a place has been offered at St Mary’s for a Year 7 student starting in the next academic year, the activities described below take place as part of our comprehensive transition programme.
Secondary Transition Evening (for entry Sept 2020): Tuesday 17th September 2019 5.30 – 8.30pm
This is our annual open evening for parents/carers considering St Mary’s for their child’s secondary education. Most parents/carers will attend our transition evening when their child is in Year 6 but some also come when a child is in Year 5 when they are beginning to consider what they are looking for in a secondary school. All are welcome to join us for this very special evening when there will be presentations by the Head Teacher and the opportunity to tour the school with our Student Ambassadors. Specialist facilities will be open to visitors and parents/carers can meet and talk to staff and children can take part in a range of activities.
The Transition Programme
The transition programme for students joining St Mary’s runs for over a year and aims to provide opportunities for new students to become familiar with the building, staff and other students as well as the standards and expectations of the school. Our Transition Programme for students joining Year 7 in September 2019 is outlined below:
Welcome Meeting: Tuesday 12th March 2019
All students who have been allocated a place at St Mary’s will be invited, along with their parents/carers, to come along to the School to share a welcome drink, meet key staff, hear more detail about the transition programme and have the opportunity to ask questions.
There will be a letter to all families allocated a place at St Mary’s from the Head Teacher following the Welcome Evening, giving details of the transition programme.
SMHS School Tour (Student Year 7 Entry Sept 2019): Tuesday 2nd April 2019
This tour is for any families who did not have a previous opportunity to visit St Mary’s and/or to see the School at work. Parents/carers of students with SEN or who may need additional support during the transition process may also choose to visit the School again as part of a more intensive transition programme.
Primary School Visits: April – June 2019
Every student transitioning to St Mary’s in September 2019 will be visited in their own primary school by a member of St Mary’s Transition Team. This is a demonstration of our commitment to knowing every child well by the time they join our school. This is an opportunity for students to share their aspirations and other information about themselves as well as for St Mary’s staff to meet with Year 6 teachers.
New Year 7 Targeted Parent / Carer Meetings : May – July 2019
These meetings will take place for any parent/carer whose child has special needs or if there is any additional support that is needed to support transition.
New Year 7 Parent / Carer Information Evening: Tuesday 25th June 2019 6.30 – 8.30pm
All parents/carers of the new Year 7 cohort are invited to the School to see a presentation about the curriculum provision that will be delivered to students. Staff will provide information about how to support students with their learning and how to actively promote excellent study habits as they start secondary school. In addition, there will be an opportunity to complete the admission administration such as providing the school with emergency contact, medical or dietary information as well as to book appointments with our uniform suppliers.
New Year 7 Transition Day 1: Wednesday 26th June 2019
The new Year 7 Students will spend the day at St Mary’s to start to familiarise themselves with the buildings, the routines for using the dining room and facilities, to get used to moving about the School, as well as spending time with their tutor team and other staff.
New Year 7 Transition Day 2: Thursday 4th July 2019
This will be a second day spent at St Mary’s preparing for the start of the next academic Year. Students will take some very basic tests and experience some taster lessons so that they feel more confident about what to expect when they join the School formally in September.
New Year 7 Term Starts (Year 7 only): Tuesday 3rd September 2019 8.25am
Parent / Carer Welcome Tea: Tuesday 3rd September 2019 12-1pm
All parents/carers are invited to join the Year 7 Pastoral Team and their child(ren) for tea and cake at the end of a busy morning. This is a final opportunity to ask questions and check that all students are ready for the start of their first full day of the academic year on Wednesday 4th September. Students will leave school with their parents/carers after tea at 1pm.
New Year 7 Student Team Building Day*: September/October 2019
This is a very important opportunity for students to experience their first offsite visit. They usually visit an activities centre where they will take part in a range of different challenges such as raft building or climbing aimed at developing the ability to work with different groups, build confidence in attempting new challenges and try out a range of different activities.
*Please note there is usually a request for a voluntary contribution of £20-25 for this activity.
