Amy GibsonYvonne Simpson

TRANSITION MENTORS

At

ALEXANDRA HIGH SCHOOL,TIPTON

Funded by B.I.P.(Behaviour Improvement Plan)

• Three Transition Mentors in a team of

23 Mentors.

• Initial two year contract which

has been extended.

• To work with our allocated feeder primary schools to ensure the smooth transition of

Year 6 pupils going onto Alexandra High.

• Times and specific support to be negotiated with individual Heads and Year 6 staff.

• We have two primary schools each and form an important link for Alexandra High.

Our Role

• In-class support, working with all ability levels.

• Working with targeted small groups to address specific needs and issues.

(Withdrawing groups if necessary)

• Taking part in TAC meetings and being the ‘link’ to make sure any planned programme for the

pupil starts from the first day of term.

Our Role…

Our Role…

• Liaising with staff at our primary schools to share information, share and also continue good

practise already in place for individual pupils.

• Keep a check on pupil attendance patterns to address this at Alexandra High.

• Mentoring where the need arises to help with issues like low-esteem, behaviour, bereavement

etc

Our Role…

• Identifying SEN and vulnerable pupils and bringing that info across to high school

(includes medical info)• Identifying pupils with behaviour issues and

sharing this with the Inclusion team at high school.

This allows these departments to prepare, have workshops and put solutions into place before September to ensure the best possible start.

Quotes from…‘The transition process put in place by Alexandra High School has been consistently excellent.

Yvonne Simpson has visited Joseph Turner Primary School weekly throughout the year and has supported Year 6 pupils in whatever capacity she has been asked (never intrusive and always supportive). She has a wonderful relationship with all the pupils and staff. I highly

recommend her and the transition process. There is no doubt that children moving to Alex in 2008 have benefited tremendously from her visits.’ Mrs. S. Owen – Year 6 teacher, Phase

Leader

‘When my daughter struggled to settle in Year 7, the mentors were there for her and my family. We couldn’t have got through it without them. They are brilliant!’

Mrs.Webb – Parent

Transition Mentors contribute a significant degree of enrichment to the process of transfer and transition. They provide a vital conduit for the transfer of pupil information between partner primary and secondary schools; they facilitate and enhance staff relationships between the

two phases and they are often the first friendly and familiar face both pupils and parents recognise at induction meetings or on that all important ‘first day’. Their work in primary

schools aims to promote pupils’ self esteem and to enable them to feel prepared and confident to raise to the challenge of the move to secondary schools. The special

relationship they build can then continue at secondary school, supporting the young people through the induction activities and ‘settling in’ phase, and sometimes beyond.

Mrs. D Townsend – Deputy Head Teacher, Line Manager

On working party for…• The Transition Blogs – 2nd year running.

• We were heavily involved in the development of the Blogs, working with the Lead Mentoring Team and a few other Transition Mentors.

• Delivering the sessions to pupils allocated to Alexandra High.

• Small group and whole class sessions after SATS.

These Blogs will be used on the Common Induction day as part of tutor time and in Year7 PHSE, as a resource and follow up to how pupils

have settled, as well as a keepsake.

We were involved in the making of…

• Sandwell’s Transition ‘We’re Moving Up’ dvd shown to Year 6.

• This was a joint venture between several primary and secondary schools to aid

transition.

Feeder Primary Schools

• Tipton Green – 55• Joseph Turner – 33• Summerhill – 28• Sacred Heart – 8

• Jubilee - 8• Glebefields - 12• Great Bridge - 45• St. Martin’s – 16• Burnt Tree - 7• St.Paul’s - 19

• Cronehills - 1• The Priory - 1• Wednesbury Oak - 3• St.James - 1• Foxyards (Dudley) - 1• Wallbrook (Dudley) – 1• Newton - 4• Tividale Community - 3• Hargate – 1• Harvills Hawthorn - 1• Rowley Hall – 1• Primrose PRU – 1• St Mary Magdalene - 1

Pen-pal Scheme

• In recent years, we have run a pen-pal scheme in which we pair up children from different primary schools, allocated to Alexandra High.

• During the pairing up process, we took into account gender, interests and ability.

• Towards the end of the summer term, we organised a party for pen-pals to meet.

Transition Bus

Target:Pupils from the other primary schools in the borough and outside, who have been allocated

to Alexandra High.We have ordered the Blogs for these pupils and

have organised a day at Alexandra High where these pupils can meet up and build relationships

with their peers, mentors and staff.A chance to familiarise and build confidence.

(schools with 5 or less)

• For the schools with more than 5 pupils coming to Alex, we will visit the primary and deliver the session there.

• We are in the process of developing our ‘living jigsaw’ programme where every single pupil will make a contribution and this will be put together, on display at Alexandra High in September.

Transition Bus

• Organisation and running of the AA’s.

• Advertise, selection and hold interviews.

• Organise AA’s to represent our school – open days, Induction days, parents evenings, assemblies at primary schools, Transition Bus.

• Involved in the Anti-Bullying programme and AA’s are part of team delivering and supporting.

Alexandra’s Ambassadors

• Part of Extended Schools, providing activities in the holidays.

• Gives us a chance to get to know and work with primary pupils from Tipton.

• A positive way of advertising Alexandra High.

• Gives us the opportunity to get our current mentees active in the holidays.

In September…

• We will be based at Alexandra High full time, keeping a high profile.

• Our base runs an ‘open house’ policy at break and lunch times.

• Homework club after school.

• Setting up ‘Transition groups’ within a month. List from HOY, tutors and our knowledge of the pupils. Edgmond trip or similar to finish.

• Identified Year 7 pupils are referred to the Transition team.

• We will work with the pupil to overcome their individual barriers and facilitate them to reach their potential.

• 1:1 sessions, in-class support, re-integration programme.• Working with parents, carers and liaising with staff.

• Attend meetings eg TAC, Underachievers, parents

evenings, subject evenings, LACE, etc.

Year 7 Mentoring Programme

Care, guidance and support Grade: 2

‘Good liaison with primary schools ensures that pupils get off to a good start in Year 7.’

‘Mentors successfully focus on providing intervention programmes and support in lessons to enable pupils to develop their academic and personal skills.’

Nov 2007