Key Information:
Head of Year: Mr Tom Mayes (year7@hws.haringey.sch.uk)
KS3 Pastoral Support: Ms Malm
Year 7
Starting secondary school or changing schools is a big step for anyone to take, and at Highgate Wood School we do all we can to make the process easy and enjoyable.
Year 7 transition
We pride ourselves on the strength of the links we have established with our feeder primary schools and with the effectiveness of our transition process. Jen Burniston, who as Head of Seacole House has very considerable experience in pastoral care, is now Acting Assistant Headteacher with specific responsibility for primary school transition. She leads a carefully planned programme of induction that supports new students every step of the way.
The demands of secondary school learning can seem quite different from life in primary school. Fourteen different subjects taught by different teachers can take some time getting used to. Our focus is to ensure those basic skills of reading, writing and arithmetic are solidly in place for all students. We have Dedicated Reading Time for students in all years, but in year 7 schemes like Sound Training and Accelerated Reader are particularly valuable to build reading and writing, whilst our Making the Most of Maths programme assists everyone to improve their understanding and application of mathematics.
Curriculum Development
Our key focus at Year 7 is to ensure those basic skills of reading, writing and arithmetic are solidly in place. We have Dedicated Reading Time for students in all years, but in Year 7 the support offered by schemes like Accelerated Reader and Reading Mentors are particular valuable to build reading and writing, whilst a range of different programmes, including Making the Most of Maths, assists everyone to improve their understanding and application of mathematics.
Students in Year 7 extend their knowledge from primary school in subjects like Computer Science, where programming is taught from the outset, and in Drama, Design Technology, PE, Art, Science, Music and Modern Languages where our specialist staff, equipment and resources enable students to build significantly on their prior learning and experiences from primary school.
Year 7 students benefit from a carefully structured programme of PSHEE lessons, enrichment days and tutor-time activities. These help students develop as independent learners and critical thinkers whilst exploring issues around personal safety, healthy relationships and general well-being. It is through the PHSEE programme that young students explore concerns and issues around current events and are supported to become good citizens and successful individuals in a world that is constantly changing and presenting ever more complex demands.
The year 7 timetable has 50 one-hour periods on a fortnightly cycle. Parents are advised of their rights to withdraw their child from REP and Sex Education. Students will be supervised but no alternative curriculum is available.
“The teachers here are lovely and supportive and they make you feel right at home.”
Parents’ Consultation Evening
Appointments for Parents’ Evenings are made through e-praise. You are able to log on to e-praise on a computer with your own details or, alternatively, with those of your child. If you go to Community, then Parents Evening and click on the Year 7 Parents’ Evening box. Booking appointments should then be straightforward. For 2021-22 we intend to continue our successful Virtual Parents’ Evening through Microsoft Teams. More information will be shared before the evening itself.
If you have any difficulties accessing the system please email data@hws.haringey.sch.uk. Appointment bookings are scheduled to open from approximately 10 days before the event.
Appointments will be on a first come, first served basis though the school will be contacting some families in advance to pre-book a few slots. Please be aware that the appointments are scheduled at 3-minute intervals to allow teachers with multiple classes to see as many families as possible. For most classes the time allocated will be multiples of this (usually six-minute slots). For 2021-22 we intend to continue our successful Virtual Parents’ Evening through Microsoft Teams.
Should a member of staff become fully booked parents/carers will need to request feedback via telephone or email. This can be done by contacting members of staff directly, your child’s form tutor or Head of House. Please be aware that Parents’ Evenings are to meet your child’s subject staff rather than their form tutor.