Year 6 Transition to Year 7
A big welcome to Ewell Castle School!
We very much look forward to meeting our new Year 7 pupils, both those moving up from our Prep School and those joining us from other schools. Throughout this webpage, you will find information about moving up to Year 7 which we hope pupils and parents/guardians will find helpful and informative.
Moving to senior school is a big step in every child’s life and it is normal for them to feel a mixture of excitement, fear and nerves and we are very much here to support pupils through these new experiences. At any point during the transition process, if pupils or parents/guardians would like further help or advice, please do not hesitate to contact our Admissions Team at admissions@ewellcastle.co.uk.
Year 6 Transition to Year 7
We believe that a smooth, positive and exciting transition from Year 6 to Year 7 is vital to the start of a pupils’ time at Ewell Castle School.
During the Summer Term, we will visit Year 6 pupils (who will be joining us in Year 7 in September) at their current school, to introduce ourselves and get to know the children individually. We also liaise closely with their teachers to learn more about the children.
We organise an information evening in the Summer and Autumn terms for pupils and parents/guardians, as well as an induction day and trip for pupils.
We are launching a new app called Classlist that will allow parents to communicate easily with one another. It will also be used as a communication tool from the PTA, more information to follow.
We are delighted that you have chosen to join Ewell Castle School for your child’s secondary education.
Your child will be joining a school with a true family ethos, dedicated to inspiring their best achievement, whether in: academic success, sporting excellence or exceptional performing arts. The School’s reputation for an ambitious and personalised approach to each pupil is well founded, creating a rounded and grounded experience for all.
Ewell Castle School’s ethos is to focus our energy on the learning and welfare of our children. What happens in the classroom is the beating heart of the School, stretching and challenging our pupils to achieve more than they thought possible, and to support them when they are struggling. I firmly believe that “I don’t know” is a starting point to stimulate young people’s thinking and is never the end of the discussion - developing a growth mindset means that effort and struggle will always eventually be rewarded. Moreover, carefully nurtured social and emotional intelligence enhances communication skills and empathy, increasingly valuable qualities that will never go out of fashion in life beyond formal education.
Your child can look forward to exciting times ahead: full of opportunity to learn and excel both academically and through our wide-ranging co-curricular programme.
I look forward to welcoming you and your child to our Ewell Castle family.
Silas Edmonds MA NPQH
Principal
Dear pupils and parents/guardians,
I am delighted to welcome you all to the Ewell Castle family!
A successful transition is vital in supporting all children in adapting to life in a secondary school and we will work closely with you to ensure that the transition to Ewell Castle School is as smooth as possible; we will all aim to support you in whatever way we can.
The staff and I are very much looking forward to meeting you all at the following events :
- New Parent/Guardian Information Evening in June
- Pupil Induction Day and Induction trip
- Parent/Guardian Information Evening in September
Please also look at our website, where you will find a lot of information about what we do at Ewell Castle School, not only with regards to the curriculum but also with regards to Co-Curricular activities and Mindfulness programme. In addition, do not miss the very useful tips provided below by our current Year 7 pupils!
A very warm welcome to you all.
Ms P Hernandez
Head of Year 7
We thought the best people to give advice to pupils are those that have recently gone through the process you are about to. Here are some tips and advice from our current Year 7s.
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- Pack your bag the night before, have your uniform laid out and check you know how you will get to school
- Don't get stressed, everybody is very kind and welcoming
- Don't be afraid to ask the teachers questions and pupils that attended Ewell Castle Prep may also be able to help
- Smile at as many people you can because they will be feeling nervous too
- Listen carefully to all of the information given out
- Stay clear of silliness
- Talk to new people (not just those from your previous school), the more people you talk to, the quicker you will settle in
- Be helpful
- Be respectful of your surroundings
- Complete your homework on the night it is set if possible, ask the teachers for help if you are unsure on any homework set
- Organise your schedule, know which day you need your PE kit and any equipment for other subjects
- Always try your best
- Be yourself and treat others as you would like to be treated
- Try as many new things as possible, you may find a new hobby/ activity that you didn't even know you enjoyed
- Have fun and enjoy yourself!
We are very excited to meet you soon and welcome you to the Ewell Castle family. We are keen to help you settle in as quickly as possible and want your first day with us to be one you will remember. So, what can you do to make sure you make the most of this experience?
The night before
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Have your bag packed, including the 'Transition' booklet Miss Hernandez gave you when she visited you in your previous school, your pencil case and a water bottle
- Have your named uniform laid out ready
- Check that you know how you are getting to School and who you are travelling with
- Set your alarm to allow plenty of time to get up and be ready for the day
- Have an early night
The first day
- Make sure you have breakfast, so that you have plenty of energy for the day ahead
- When you arrive at School, you will be welcomed by Ewell Castle members of staff and you will meet other pupils, your form group and your form tutor
- Are you feeling nervous? Most pupils will, so please do not feel you are alone! We will make sure that you feel a lot more comfortable and confident by the end of your first day.
- Make sure you smile at other people and try to start engaging in conversation, both with pupils from your form and others; it will make your experience far more positive!
- You will have a welcome assembly with Miss Hernandez (Head of Year 7), all the Year 7 form tutors and your whole Year group; during this assembly you will be told about the School’s expectations, and you will have a chance to ask questions.
- You will also have some time with your form tutor. Listen carefully to all of the important information being given. During this time, you will have a tour of the School with your tutor to become more familiar with where everything is. You will also be given your timetable and you will be able to see all the rooms that you will have your lessons in throughout the year.
- Please feel free to ask as many questions as you want to; there will be plenty of people around who will be delighted to let you know all about our great school and community!
Something very exciting to look forward to!
During your second week at Ewell Castle School, we will have our very own Induction Trip! During that day, the whole of the Year 7 team will go to Chessington World of Adventures, allowing you to make new friends and have great fun together!
Monday | Tuesday | Wednesday | Thursday | Friday | |
Registration 08:25 |
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Period 1 08:55 |
History | Science | Drama | French | English |
Period 2 09:55 |
Computer Science | English | Spanish | English | Science |
Period 3 11:10 |
Spanish |
Mathematics | Science | Physical Education | Geography |
Period 4 12:10 |
Mathematics | Mathematics | Geography | Physical Education | Art |
Lunch 13:05 | |||||
Period 6 14:05 |
Games
|
French | English | History | Religious Studies |
Period 7 15:05 |
Games | Music | Religious Studies | Mathematics | Design & Technology |
Co-Curricular Activities 16:00 – 17:00 |
To find out more about our uniform, go to https://www.ewellcastle.co.uk/about-us/uniform/.
To refresh your memory of the School and our facilities, take a look at these videos.
When pupils join Ewell Castle School, they are put into one of four Houses named after local castles; Arundel, Bodiam, Carisbrooke and Dover and there are regular House and inter-House activities and competitions. A pupil transferring from the Preparatory School will usually remain in the same House.
House competition is principally of a sporting nature; however Chess, Music, Drama and Debating currently flourish. All members of teaching staff are assigned to a House and offer support to the Head of House with House activities and pupils are expected to support their Head of House and House Captain in an appropriate fashion.
House Coordinator – Miss S Earthrowl
ARUNDEL CASTLE
The Head of Arundel House is Mr P Bunce, the House colour is green.
BODIAM CASTLE
The Head of Bodiam House is Mr R Skinner, the House colour is blue.
CARISBROOKE CASTLE
The Head of Castlemaine House is Mr T Hall, the House colour is purple.
DOVER CASTLE
The Head of Dover House is Mr T Stone, the House colour is orange.
Our staff work very hard to provide a vast array of additional activities for pupils to join in with during their time at Ewell Castle School and we encourage them to take full advantage of what is on offer and try out new activities. It is a great way to make new friends, find new hobbies and develop new skills. To find out more, go to https://www.ewellcastle.co.uk/senior-school/co-curricular-activities/.
Mindfulness
We are fortunate to have Mr Bader-Clynes, our Director of Drama and qualified mindfulness teacher at the School and he is currently rolling out programmes across the year groups. In Year 7, pupils will have the opportunity to participate in this wonderful programme which will improve their emotional resilience, wellbeing and self-awareness. For more information, go to https://www.ewellcastle.co.uk/about-us/mindfulness/.
Emotional Literacy Support Assistant (ELSA)
Mrs Greensmith is our full time ELSA at the Senior School. An ELSA is a beneficial role within School, supporting pupils (who are referred by their Heads of Year) if struggling with overwhelming emotions such as anxiety, anger, stress, low self-esteem, sadness.
School Counsellor
As a school we recognise the importance of mental health, particularly during the teenage years, and therefore offer pupils the opportunity for individual counselling with a qualified counsellor. The service is led by Mrs Varney and can be initiated by a pupil self-referring, at the enquiry of a parent or because a member of staff has identified that it would be beneficial.
For more information about our ELSA and School Counsellor, go to https://www.ewellcastle.co.uk/about-us/wellbeing-and-counselling-services/.