Welcoming a new Year 7 cohort has never been smoother thanks to a local school’s fantastic transition programme.
On Friday 1st March, Year 6 students finally found out what schools they had been allocated to start as the fresh cohort in secondary schools in September 2024. Changing schools can be an unsettling time for students and parents as all will now need to navigate new surroundings, some will have to travel independently and experience meeting new people.

At Brentford School for Girls, the process of moving from primary school to secondary is something that they are keen to support. They understand that the change affects both students and parents; who will have a different social experience with fellow parents with no longer meeting at the school gates as a regular occurrence.

Over the years, Brentford School for Girls has developed a transition programme to make students and parents welcome to the school community prior to joining in September. After receiving welcome packs through the post, the school engages the new cohort with several planned events. These are all designed to bring familiarity to the school environment, to give information about starting the school in September and, most importantly, building social interactions between the students and parents who will be going through the process together.

The transition process is outlined below:

Meet the Headteacher Events

It is important that all the new cohort have an opportunity to meet the head of the school so she can explain the vision of the ‘Brentford Girl of the Future’ and they can ask questions that they would like to put to the person in charge. The ‘Meet the Headteacher’ events allow parents to attend during school time and speak directly as a group to Ms Leenders.

Year 6 into 7 Welcome Evening

The school is keen to invite parents and students of the new cohort to the school and personally welcome them to the school community. Here parents get the opportunity to find out a bit more about joining the school and the transition activities that are specifically designed to ensure that joining in September is with excitement rather than trepidation and students are ready to become the ‘Brentford Girl of the Future’ .

Parents and students will also get a chance to meet others who will also be joining the Brentford School for Girls community in September.

Year 6 into 7 Interviews

Parents and their daughter are invited in for a face-to-face meeting with a member of staff so that the school can find out more information about the new students as well as providing the opportunity to ask any questions about starting in September. All of this is in aid of better supporting her when she starts in September.

Subject Taster Sessions

This is a wonderful opportunity for the new cohort to once again meet with the students who will be starting with her in September. There are a range of subjects offering sessions that each student can sign up for so that she can experience first-hand a taster lesson in a secondary school environment. The evening ends with a brief presentation from your daughter’s head of year in the main hall.

Year 7 Induction Day

This is the first full day at Brentford School for Girls that the new students experience. As with all borough schools, this takes place on the first Tuesday of July. The day gives the opportunity for the student to meet her tutor and other students in her tutor group as well as to take part in team building activities and taster lessons.

All of these events have proven to be successful in ensuring the new cohort, both parents and the students, look forward to the move to the school and settle as soon as they arrive in September to continue the school’s excellent record of achievement and personal development.
One Year 7 student commented: ‘‘My biggest fear when starting secondary school was being late to my lessons, as in primary you don’t have to move classes every lesson. I didn’t need to worry as we are given enough time to get to our lessons. My favourite subject is food technology as I get to make lots of delicious food and I get to take it home and share it with my family.’’

Another added: ‘‘When I first came to BSfG I was nervous that I would not make any friends but I ended up making so many friends. My favourite subjects are science, maths and history. I love going to after school clubs because there are many to choose from.’’