Year 6 Transition
Principal’s Welcome
Transitioning into secondary school can be exciting, scary, daunting and inspiring. This page is here to help you out as you prepare to join us at your new school. We will be working hard to meet you all and will be in touch with plenty of information and guidance. If you have any questions, please do get in touch with us. In the meantime, we cannot wait to meet you all very soon.
Ms Andrea Pomphrey – Principal
Important dates/information
Transition Day
(date tbc)
A day at the Academy just for Year 6 students with an Academy place. Students will spend a day away from their Primary School and attend the Academy to get to know the building, meet staff, teachers and Level Leads, and take part in a range of learning sessions.
Students should arrive at the Academy by 8:55am at the latest for this event (Harley Road entrance) for a 9.00am start. Lunch will be provided for all students. However if you prefer students can bring in a packed lunch.
The day will be very carefully managed and all students will be supported to ensure that they feel looked after and cared for.
Parents’ Information Evening
(date tbc)
Reserved for parents only, this evening begins with an informative talk by the Principal, who explains key expectations as well as the importance of the Academy and parent relationship. Any questions you have regarding your child’s education will be answered by one of the Leadership, Transition and/or admissions teams. You will also have the opportunity to meet your child’s future form tutor.
Summer School
(date tbc)
This hugely important week allows students to bond with their fellow students before the start of term in September. A full and varied range of activities is on offer, including art and music workshops.
First Day for Year 7 Students
1st September
This special day in the calendar begins with a Welcome Assembly by the Principal. Over the remainder of the day, students meet their tutor, fellow form members, experience the lunch system for the first time, while taking part in activities that help them understand the school layout and how to navigate their way through the building.
Welcome Evening
(date tbc)
This evening gives parents another chance to meet staff and ask any questions following their child’s first week of school. Staff will also share any further important information about the week ahead.
Watch our subject introductions…
In these videos, some of our departments and faculties explain what you can expect to learn when you join in September.
Preparing to Go Big!
Be Awesome, Go Big are activities to help students transition into Year 7. It can be used by students and parents at home and in school with teachers in class. It is designed to be motivational, helpful and reassuring and to help young people feel valued, loved, encouraged and equipped for the journey ahead.
Resources for Students
Each session has a corresponding section in the workbook, so make sure you have it ready before beginning your work.
Be Awesome Go Big Workbook
Session 1: Being awesome
Session 2: Unlocking your mind
Session 3: Dare to take risks
Session 4: Making the change
Session 5: Lost but not lost
Session 6: Bouncebackability
Session 7: What is normal anyway?
Session 8: Friendships and fallouts
Session 9: Living well
If you have time, try completing some of the additional activities in Getting ready to Go Big
Resources for Parents and Carers
These resources provide information, tips and questions to help you open up discussion with your child about the transition and help prepare them for starting secondary school.
Building Resilience
Growth Mindset
Helping Your Child Get Into Good Habits
Making the Change
Transition into Secondary School
Getting the support you need
Here at the Academy, you will receive excellent academic and pastoral support from staff who are dedicated to ensuring you feel comfortable and safe in your new environment.
We have five houses (Cygnus, Equuleus, Lyra, Orien and Vela) and you will be assigned one of these houses for the duration of your time at the Academy. You will belong to the same household for the duration of your time at the Academy, enabling you to draw on support from those who know you best: your tutors, Learning Sets and Heads of House.
Finding your way around the Academy
We know it can be daunting trying to navigate your way around a new building, especially when you are having to manage a new timetable. If you find yourself struggling to find a classroom or space in the building when you first arrive, just ask another student or member of staff for help.
Extra Curricular Opportunities (we call it SDL – Self Directed Learning) & Trips
Much like everything else, our extensive SDL timetable has been affected by the pandemic and for the past year has been running online. However, this term marked our return to onsite activities and students once again had full access to a full and diverse programme of activities. Click here to be directed to our curriculum plans page, where you will find the SDL timetables.
Uniform
Students at the UCL Academy are required to wear a uniform that is designed to foster pride in the Academy and promote good self-presentation skills important in future life. All items of uniform are affordable and easily available.
For details of uniform requirements for students from Foundation through to the end of Level 2+, please click here. The uniform can be bought via uniform4kids.
More information can be found in our Prospectus and Foundation Guide for Parents:
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If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to contact us. Send an email to [email protected]
