Welcome to Year 7 2024!

We would like to extend a very warm welcome to all those who are starting Year 7 in September.

For some of you transitioning from Rowan Unit, the school is already familiar but with the phase changes comes new teachers, new timetables and new expectations. For some of you joining us from other schools everything is brand new. I am sure you are all as excited as we are that you are coming to join us.

The young people will start to move around the school to their next teacher, have different lessons and have lots more people to communicate with. They are also able to be more independent than perhaps they have been used to.

What we ask of our parents

Transition can potentially be as difficult for parents as it is for the young people. New experiences, coupled with your feelings about leaving your child in a new place, can be a stressful time in a family’s life. It is normal and acceptable to feel anxious as a parent/carer, but it is important not to pass these feelings on to your child. Support your child and encourage them to take those first steps into a new experience.

Talk about up and coming change with your young person and approach the transition in a positive and exciting way. Help your young person to express their feelings, worries and emotions about the change and acknowledge their feelings.

Get to know your link worker and tutor – these are the people who will see them the most. Contact them if you need to and if you are concerned, always let us know. They will see your young person every day in most cases and so they are a great point of contact.

Encourage a good daily routine and healthy habits including getting enough sleep, doing exercise, eating healthy food, hobbies, socialising or relaxing.

Keep encouraging a growth mindset - make sure they understand they won’t be good at everything YET – things take time and practice and they should not give up!

Information for Parents gives you answers to some of the common FAQs but please get in touch if you have any questions about the next steps. You can email me directly at wgosling@highclose.org.uk if you have any individual questions you would like to ask.

Sign up to ParentHub using the information given out at the admissions meeting as a lot of school information is sent out via this app.

What we ask of our Young People

Take a deep breath - new experiences and change can sometimes be a bit worrying but they also open doors and can be very exciting. We ask that you take a deep breath and give it a go.

Find an adult you can trust. We will do everything we can to ensure you are safe and happy so you can feel ready to learn. You will have a tutor and a link worker who are dedicated to your well being and will be there to help you understand the school and talk with you about your day.

Have a GROWTH MINDSET - you will be given a lot of different learning opportunities every day, some of which will be easy to master and some will be more tricky. Practice and more practice will be really important and knowing you may not be able to do it YET!

Accept and understand the non negotiables. Every school has rules that are in place to keep the young people safe and to help the school run smoothly. These are rules that can not be changed and all young people are expected to follow them.

Talk to the staff at the school. We are all here to help and want to support you through your learning journey at school. In order to really help you, we have to know what your needs are and how to best support you. We rely on you communicating with us and talking through everything you need.

Information for students gives you answers to some of the common FAQs and you can watch the virtual tour of the school before you arrive to help you remember what the school is like.

If you have any questions you can email me directly at wgosling@highclose.org.uk and I will get back to you as quickly as I can.

Mrs Wendy Gosling

Principal, High Close School