Joining us in Year 7…
Welcome to Birchwood Community High School and what will be the start of a wonderful period in your lives!
Secondary school is incredibly exciting, challenging and rewarding and we understand it is a significant milestone for both students and parents. Our team is dedicated to getting to know your child and ensuring they feel comfortable and supported as they join our Birchwood family.
On this page, you will find lots of information about our transition process and materials to help you to get a taste of who we are and why our community is so special.
MR BURROWS
TRANSITION & PRIMARY LINKS LEAD
I am delighted to welcome you and your son/daughter to our website and to our School Community in September!
Our comprehensive and supportive transition programme is designed to ensure that students who join Birchwood settle in easily and make friends quickly. I lead a wonderful team who look after the transition of our new Year 7 each year and we will use this website to communicate to parents and children over the coming weeks and months. We work closely with your current schools to ensure that we are ready for your arrival and that we know each of you.
I look forward to meeting all of you and helping support you with your first steps in your Birchwood journey.
If you have any concerns or questions about the transition, please do not hesitate to contact us at transition@birchwoodhigh.org – we are here to help.
THE YEAR 7 TEAM
KEY DATES
Head of Year 7
Mr Cowdell
Assistant Head of Year 7
Ms Davies
| September 2024 | Transition journey begins | Open Evening visits |
| 31st October 2024 | Deadline for Parents to select a Secondary School |
| 3rd March 2025 | National Offer Day – Children receive school placements |
| 17th March 2025 | Deadline for parents to confirm child’s school offer |
| May – June 2025 | Birchwood visits primary schools to get to know students and support their transition |
| 30th June 2025 | SEND Transition Coffee Morning |
| 1st & 2nd July 2025 | Transition Day at Birchwood – Student experience their new school environment |
| 2nd July 2025 | Transition Evening for Parents & Carers |
GETTING STARTED
STUDENT REQUEST FORM
We understand that your child will likely be anxious to let us know which friends they may want to be paired with in their Year 7 form. Please help them by completing our friendship request form.
Want to know more about our school?
Frequently Asked Questions
FAQ: What does Transition at Birchwood look like?
At Birchwood Community High School, we are committed to supporting students’ journey from primary to secondary school. Whilst this is an exciting time, we also understand how challenging this can be which is why we have a comprehensive support offer in place, for all students who are new to our school.
Our smooth transition process begins as soon as we meet your child.
They’ll discover our friendly and welcoming environment, where they will soon feel comfortably at home.
You’ll get to know us through our Open Events and Taster Days – and decide whether we’re the right fit for your child before you apply.
Then, if you accept the offer of a place, we’ll make sure you have all the information you need for your child to make a successful start with us. A member of our transition team will visit your son or daughter at their primary school for a chat and to reassure them ahead of our Transition Days in July.
On the Transition days they will meet their Form Tutor and take part in some taster lessons. In the afternoon, there’s the opportunity for you to join your child and meet their Form Tutor and Head of Year.
FAQ: I have a question about the transition process, who should I contact?
Please contact Mr Burrows, your Head of Transition and Primary Links lead at transition@birchwoodhigh.org if you have any questions about transition.
FAQ: My child doesn’t know many students and is worried about making friends.
This is quite common. At BCHS we know how daunting it is to join a new school and make new friends. The year 7 tutors and Mr Cowdell and Ms Davies will encourage students to get to know each other. In addition, we have a buddy system to help students in those early weeks. There will also be a number of events and House competitions in that first term for students to get to know each other.
FAQ: My child’s current school is very small and they are worried that they will get lost and be late for lessons.
Don’t worry we are a close-knit and caring community. We are experienced in helping students who are new to our school. There are lots of staff present during those first few days to help any lost students.
FAQ: How much homework will my child get a night and what if they don’t do it?
We understand how important it is for students to regularly revisit key knowledge to support long-term learning. That’s why students in Years 7, 8, and 9 are expected to complete 30 minutes of homework and 30 minutes of reading for pleasure each day.
To support this, teachers set homework on the same day each week and give at least a week’s notice before it’s due. If homework isn’t completed, students will be referred to lunchtime or after-school support sessions in computer rooms, where a teacher is always available to help.
Negative behaviour points are issued for missed homework. If a student misses three or more homework tasks in a half term, the class teacher will contact home. Where homework is regularly missed across subjects, the form tutor will work with parents to put an action plan in place.
FAQ: Will my child be able to have a packed lunch?
Yes they can, however, we also have an extensive canteen menu, serving a range of hot and cold foods available at break and lunch. The canteen uses a cashless system. Children access their accounts using a biometric system.
