Transitioning to Year 7
Starting secondary school is an exciting milestone for children and their families, and we are here to support you every step of the way.
Our goal is to make the transition from Year 6 to Year 7 smooth, enjoyable, and full of opportunities for success – both academically and personally.
We collaborate closely with local primary schools and have designed our Year 7 curriculum to build on everything students have learned in Years 5 and 6. This ensures they continue learning seamlessly as they move into secondary school.
"Children feel safe, valued and confident from the moment they arrive." Ofsted 2026
To help students and parents feel confident about the transition, we visit local primary schools to meet our prospective Year 7 students, answer their questions about transition to secondary, and share information about our academy and its systems. We engage with families and invite them for parent’s information evening in June and invite our prospective year 7s to experience our school first-hand on a transition day in first week of July.
During our open mornings in October, students and families can experience regular classes, meet our students, and get a real feel for our friendly and welcoming environment. These experiences help ease any worries and build excitement for the journey ahead.
Once families decide to join our Academy, we continue to offer support to ensure everyone feels ready for the first day of Year 7. This includes a full transition day in summer getting to know their new school before September and Year 7s start one day before the rest of the students in academy in September, helping them know find their way around in a big school.
Supporting parents every step of the way
Once your child has a place at Harris Garrard Academy for the next academic year we will give you lots of helpful information to help make the transition as smooth as possible. See our Starting Year 7 - Useful Information for Parents page.