In order to further support your child’s positive transition to secondary school, we would like to let you know about a key part of our bespoke transition process (Year 6+).  This has been designed in response to feedback from former pupils and their parents.  We aim for all Year 6 children to have an enjoyable end to their time at Ashdown, but are also fully prepared for the next stage of their education. We always strive to achieve the best possible outcomes for your child and we believe that our innovative programme, will do this.

The feedback we are given is that the transition to secondary school is difficult in a number of respects, mainly remembering where to be, when to be there and with what equipment.  They also report difficulty with the increase in home learning.  In order to better prepare the children for these changes and to avoid any distress caused, we are introducing the following changes in term 6. From the start of Term 6 (Tuesday 2nd June 2026), we begin a specially designed programme called Year 6+ which will provide a stepping-stone to secondary school.  These key changes are outlined below:

•  Each child will be expected to supply their own equipment; which must be named to reduce the chance of it being lost.  The equipment list attached is adapted from the current one on the Beacon website and will therefore be appropriate for the majority of children.  If your child is going to a different school, you can provide any calculator as other schools may have slightly different requirements.
• Children will have an adapted timetable with different lessons on different days, some of which will be in a different classroom or location around the school.
• The children will need to be responsible for all of their own equipment and books in the classroom and will store it in their own bags.  The children will be expected to bring the books home each day and have the correct books in school when needed.  They should not bring all books in every day as this will not be practical next year and will not help them to prepare them for self-organisation.
• Home learning will be given, with increased regularity and the expectation is that it will be completed in a satisfactory manner, on time.
• Misdemeanours will be given (in the form of negative house points) for minor uniform, behaviour, homework and equipment issues. A record of these will be stored by the teacher. House points will still be given but will be known as credits.
• Year 6 will be allowed to go for lunch at any point during lunchtime and will therefore be responsible for their own timekeeping (basic watches may be useful, as long as they conform with school policy).
• After break and lunchtime, at the sound of the bell/whistle, Year 6 will have the responsibility to take themselves back into lessons when it is safe to do so and do not have to wait to be told to enter the building.

We will continue to develop our locational and place knowledge with a case study of South America.  We will be analysing land use, cultural vulnerabilities, environmental impact and economic trade. In Art, the children will also be designing and evaluating a 3D structure made from wire mesh and tissue, focusing on decorative techniques inspired by multicultural research undertaken within our geography learning - Rio carnival here we come!

If you would like to find out some more information about our upcoming topic then please feel free to look at: