Cowbridge School
Ysgol Y Bont Faen
Middle School
Transition
The transition from primary to secondary school is a very important period in a child’s life. At Cowbridge School, we aim to ensure that for each child, the transition is as smooth and stress-free as possible. In order to support your child’s transition, we have put together the following guides which, we hope, will help to answer some of the questions you may have and alleviate some of the worries and anxieties that your child may have.
Key dates and events for pupil and parent engagement:
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September |
Year 6 parents - Online school admission open via the Vale of Glamorgan admissions website. Year 7 pupils - First day induction, timetables and planners given, pupils follow their new timetables. Only Year 7 and 12 on site for the first day of school for a small scale introduction. Year 7 parents - Skills Information Evening - how to support your child with skills development at home including Literacy and Numeracy. |
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October |
Year 6 - New intake evening - pupils and parents are invited to tour the school and attend a talk with Mrs. Thomas, Headteacher. Year 7 - Settling in review week with the pastoral team. Learning Support Department PCP meetings for Year 7 new starters in line with agreed transition arrangements. |
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November |
Year 6 - Closing date for applications to the Vale of Glamorgan for school admissions (usually the penultimate week of November) |
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December |
Year 6 - Pupils are invited to Cowbridge School to be part of the audience for a matinee performance of the school’s annual show. Year 7-Learning Support Department Tyfu Parent Engagement Session: Celebration Event. |
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March |
Year 6 - Parents advised of places by the Vale of Glamorgan. Year 6- Learning Support Department Parent Engagement Session for Year 6 Pupils with ALN. Parents are invited to visit the Tyfu provision and meet the ALNCo. Year 6 - ‘A parent/carer guide to transition’ is sent to all those families with accepted places (and also available on the school website). |
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April |
Year 5 and 6 - Key transition staff and past pupils visit primaries for an introduction to Cowbridge School, Conduct for Success and Q+A. |
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May |
Year 6 - Small school group ‘familiarisation’ visits commence at Cowbridge School. Pupils attend an expectations talk with Mr. Lewis (Assistant Headteacher, Head of Middle School) and Mrs. Leftley (Assistant Headteacher) in addition to an orienteering exercise and a ‘getting to know you’ task. Year 6- Learning Support Department enhanced transition visits and plans begin for identified pupils with ALN. |
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June |
Year 6 - New Intake Parents’ Evening - parents and pupils attend Cowbridge School for a presentation from Mrs. Thomas, Headteacher and the Middle School Pastoral Team. Year 6 - Transition Day - pupils attend Cowbridge School to be allocated their form classes, meet their Form Teacher and experience a day of lessons with the rest of the school. Year 5 - Science workshops |
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July |
Year 6 - Tyfu Transition Day- Learning Support Department invites all pupils with identified ALN to attend an afternoon session to meet key staff and other pupils from cluster primary schools. Year 6 - ‘A pupil’s guide to transition’ is available on Cowbridge School’s website to assist Year 6 pupils in their preparations for September. Year 5- Learning Support Department Parent Engagement- Parents/pupils are invited to visit the school and meet the ALNCo. |
A Pupil's Guide to Transition
The following guide will help prepare your child for transition, to help them understand what to expect when they join us and most importantly, what to expect on their first day with us.
Click here for the Transition Guide
Some Words of Advice From Our Current Year 7
Click here for Words of Advice
Frequently Asked Questions
Click here for FAQs
Ask a Question
If you have any other questions about school transition, click here
Our A to Z of Cowbridge School
This short video was made by a few of our Year 7 pupils and produced by one of our Senior Prefects Cai Hopkins.
Cowbridge School Virtual Tour
This will introduce your child to the Year 7 Team and help them familiarise themselves with the layout of the school site and classrooms.
‘Tips and Tricks’
This short film was made by some of our Year 7 and 8 pupils with the help of a production company. It features the children’s experiences of transition, their initial worries and how they settled into their new school.
Sample Lessons
Introduction to the French Department
Introduction to the Welsh Department
Developing Young Musicians
