Transition Support

Ensuring that our students enjoy a smooth transition and introduction to secondary education is extremely important to us King James I Academy. We understand the move to secondary education is a significant change for students and families and we want to make students feel as comfortable as possible and support them as we welcome them into our Academy so they can enjoy the next stage in their journey.  

At King James I Academy we offer a wide range of transition support which begins before students join the Academy and continues throughout their time here until they are ready to move on to Higher Education or Employment. We have a strong relationship within our Bishop Auckland cluster schools and we work together closely throughout the year to plan and collaborate on outreach projects and activities that benefit all of our children and aim to make transition through education easy and enjoyable. We continue this support once students have settled within the Academy at key transition points until they are ready to move on with their future education and career pathways.

Please see the information below to find out more detailed information of the transitional support we offer.

Primary Outreach

Our outreach support starts as early as Early Years Education and runs right through until students leave their primary school.

Subject Specific Outreach

We offer subject specific outreach support and activities designed to introduce children to secondary school education early and often. As well as the benefit children will get from specialist facilities and teaching that is not always available in Primary School, it introduces children to our Academy at a younger age so it becomes more familiar to them throughout their time at primary school. We work closely with our primary schools to design and plan outreach opportunities that their children will benefit from the most. Outreach activities could involve children cooking in out Food room, working in our specialist Science labs, taking part in Arts Challenges, learning a new musical instrument, using our excellent sports facilities, or visiting our library.

Y5 Curriculum Week

In June each year we host our curriculum week, Y5 children are invited to King James to take part in a range of different activities and lessons. The week aims to give students a taste of life at King James I Academy and introduces them early to what life is like at secondary school. Students follow a timetable of different lessons, similar to what they will encounter in secondary education. They move around the school and also have the opportunity to learn about all of the exciting enrichment activities we have here such as Forest School and Duke of Edinburgh.

Y6 Open Evening

Once students enter Y6 and are starting to think about their choices we host our Y6 Open Evening for Y6 children and their families. This is our opportunity to welcome you to King James I Academy and introduce you to all of the exciting opportunities, facilities, and teaching that students at King James experience. Our Academy is open for you to explore and discover, we teach model lessons that you can drop in and out of as well as having some of our delicious school meals on offer for tasting. We also have all of the key information you need to know with specialist staff to answer all your questions and help you make this important decision.  Children and their families are welcome to visit King James for a personal tour to gather more information and ask questions.  

Transition to Year 7

Once your child has their place at King James confirmed we have a schedule in place to make the transition process run as smooth as possible.

School Visits

Out transition lead and Head of Year 7 Janet Stephenson begins to visit schools to introduce her role and will become a familiar face in your child’s transition journey. We feel it is important to meet all new students and welcome them to King James I Academy at the earliest opportunity. We will answer questions, describe the transition process and give out important information.

No Wasted Weeks

No Wasted Weeks is a programme of sessions where children are invited in once a week in their final half term to taker part in specialist lessons. We communicate with your child’s primary schools to plan specific English and Maths lessons aimed to bridge the gap within these subject areas between them leaving primary school and starting at King James. Children also take part in some exciting team building and creative sessions. This is also a great opportunity for children to meet teachers as well as their new classmates and make friendships early.

Year 6 Induction Days

During our Year 6 induction days at the end of term students will be put into form classes and they will meet their new form tutor. Students will follow a timetable of sessions similar to what they can expect when they start in September. This again gives students the chance to meet their classmates and build relationships.

Welcome Evening

Families and children are invited to attend welcome evenings and settling in evenings at different points throughout the year. The first initial welcome meeting is designed to give you all of the information you need before starting as well as meeting key staff. During Year 6 induction days you will be invited in to meet tutors and gather more information before the end of term. Once the new term has began in September you will be invited in once more to see how your child is settling in and meet teachers.

Summer School

Our Summer School is designed to ensure all pupils who are about to start King James in September have plenty of friends and feel confident in their new surroundings from day one.

Students first spend two days in school during the summer holidays, taking part in a range of fun learning activities and team games, all of which are organised and led by a team of staff and Sixth Form students. Activities include creative art projects, team games, sports tournaments, science experiments and drama and dance sessions. Students are also given a guided tour of our academy buildings to make sure they can easily find their way around in September.

Following this, the group enjoy three days of fun and new challenges at Weardale Adventure Centre, where they are able to try out a wide variety of outdoor activities, most of which they have never experienced before. Activities include canoeing, kayaking, rock climbing, river walking, archery, high ropes and raft building. These are all chosen to build confidence and resilience and to promote team working, as students push themselves, and encourage their peers, to succeed. Participants soon learn that they are capable of so much more than they thought and all return with a great sense of personal achievement alongside many new friends.  

Supporting student choices

In Year 9 students are introduced to their GCSE options. This is another key transitional point and students are given the chance to specialise in their chosen option pathways and select the subjects that they wish to study at GCSE. These choices are very important for the future and students need to carefully consider their options. We offer support to students and families at this point by giving them as much information as possible. We host an options evening where families are invited in to the Academy to discuss the options process and speak with departments and teaching staff before making a decision. We have different option pathways tailored to the needs of our students. These pathways are designed to support students in their learning and in achieving the best possible outcomes and reaching their potential.  

Aim Higher Support

Our Aim Higher programme inspires students in Years 9-12 to begin thinking about higher education options by giving them a taste of university life in a variety of cities across the UK. We have a dedicated Google Classroom for sharing information, advice and guidance for students wanting to explore studying at university. We offer use of Springpod to support post-18 decision making in our sixth form. Specialist assemblies are offered to Year 12 students exploring Post-18 Options and Year 13 students about transitioning to higher education. A weekly programme of sessions are in place to support students in completing their university applications, writing their personal statement and choosing the right courses and university for them. Parent/carer sessions are also available to support their child with the application process and student finance. University campus visits are available to students from Year 9 to Year 13 alongside visits to The UK University and Apprenticeship Search Fair. Medic Mentors and NHS Allied Health Careers virtual work experience opportunities are offered to students wanting to pursue a career in medicine, nursing, dentistry and veterinary to support their applications into these competitive fields. In addition to this the penultimate week of summer term 2 is allocated for all Year 12 students to undertake work experience.