St John’s CE Academy
Student Transition
Starting strong. Feeling ready. Belonging early.
A warm welcome to St John’s CE Academy. We are delighted that you are considering St John’s for your child’s secondary journey and look forward to supporting families as they explore what our school has to offer. We are committed to ensuring every child experiences a smooth, positive and well-supported transition into Year 7.
At St John’s, we are building a strong and caring community where every student and family feels a true sense of belonging. While we continue to develop all aspects of our new school, ensuring a safe, confident and successful start for every child remains our highest priority.
We will provide regular updates by email and through our transition events, where key information will be shared and families will have opportunities to ask questions, meet staff and feel fully prepared for September.
Key Transition Events
Year 7 Welcome Evening & Community Social
29th June 2026
- 4:00pm – 5:00pm: Welcome Evening for Year 7 students and families
Meet members of the staff team, hear about school life and learn more about starting in September. - 5:00pm – 6:00pm: Community Social Event
An opportunity for families to connect, meet one another and enjoy light refreshments in a relaxed setting.
Year 7 Transition Day
9th July 2026 | 8:30am – 3:00pm
A full-day experience at St John’s where students will:
- take part in lessons
- meet staff and classmates
- receive key information
- become familiar with routines and expectations
- begin building confidence ahead of September
Please Note: All students should bring a water bottle and pencil case, and wear their current primary school uniform.
Primary School Visits
During the course of the summer term, we will visit Year 6 students in their primary schools to make an early introduction, share information about St John’s, highlight key details, and answer any questions students may have.
Additional Transition Support
SEND Transition Support Programme
Tailored transition support for students with SEND, working closely with families, primary schools and external professionals throughout the summer term.
Strong Primary Partnerships
We work closely with Year 6 teachers and primary schools to gather important information so that every child’s move to secondary school is as seamless as possible.
Peer Mentoring
As our school grows, we are developing structures where older students provide guidance, encouragement and support to younger pupils as they transition into secondary school.
In turn, our Year 7 students will also have opportunities to support pupils in the primary phase, acting as positive role models, building leadership skills and strengthening the sense of one all-through school community.
Parent Workshops
Each year, we run a series of parent workshops covering key aspects of school life at St John’s and how families can best support their child’s success. These sessions may act as helpful reminders, provide updates on key information or changes, and for some families serve as a first introduction to life and learning at St John’s.
Induction Programme & Support
During the first weeks of term, students will follow a structured induction programme designed to help students settle quickly, build friendships, understand routines and feel confident in their new environment.
Baseline Assessments
Low-stakes reading & subject based assessments in Term 1 help us identify strengths, spot gaps, inform teaching and provide early support where needed.
Tutor / Parents Evening
In Term 2, families will be invited to an early parents evening with their child’s tutor. This provides an opportunity to review transition progress, celebrate successes and discuss next steps together.
Further Information
More information about the secondary site, facilities, layout, uniform, the school day, example timetables, the role of the tutor, behaviour systems and recognition can be found in the attached transition information.