Transition team overview
Making the move to secondary school easier
The Newbury transition team helps Year 7 students in Enfield schools adjust to secondary school. They work with students one-on-one or in small groups (up to 10 students in each school per half term).
The aims are to help students:
- learn new skills to succeed in secondary school
- improve behaviour and attitudes toward learning
- feel proud and successful in their schoolwork
- build social, emotional, and behaviour skills
The desired outcomes are:
- students manage school life on their own
- improvement in behaviour, attendance, punctuality, and more motivation
- higher achievement and bigger goals for the future
- to notice any special educational needs (SEN) early
- to guide schools and families to extra support
- help parents and carers support their child
- reduce the need for alternative education
- fewer suspensions and permanent exclusions in Key Stage 3
- make the transition between primary and secondary as successful as possible
Learner criteria
- Year 7 students with behaviour concerns
- Students must not already have an Education, Health and Care Plan
The process
- A referral is made from the school via Mentor referral form below
- The Newbury team manager assigns a mentor
- Group sessions run for 6–7 weeks depending on the term length
- One-to-one sessions last at least 8-12 weeks
Special project
In 2023-24, the team worked with Primary Behaviour Support Service (SWERRL) to run a 6-week project for Year 6 students moving to secondary school. The project included:
- 2 weeks at SWERRL and 4 weeks at Newbury
- Weekly mentoring during the first 4 weeks of secondary school
- Students used photography, collage, and digital art to explore their feelings and build confidence
- All students in the project got a place at a local Enfield secondary school
This will now be a permanent program run by the transition team.
Behaviour Support
- Group Support: Weekly sessions with feedback to the school
- One-to-One Support: Each student has a mentor who visits them in school and keeps records of the sessions. Mentors provide updates and progress reports to the school and communicate any concerns.