Page 22 - link magazine

This is Greendown • 2

Leading the field in primary school liaison

In September this year the Secreta ry of State for Education Estelle Morris There is a close working relationship with primary school staff and
stated she wanted to see closer liaison between secondary schools and children have been involved in exciting drama, science and PE projects.
feeder primary schools in order that there is a smoother transition Now we have gone one stage further. Earlier this year we appointed a
between phases and less disruption in educational progress. primary school teacher Mrs Angela Proctor to our staff to develop our
Greendown has always highly valued its partnership with West Swin- links with partner primary schools, a good six months before the
don primary schools as This is Greendown has reported over the years. Minister announced she wanted this kind of initiative to take place.
In September over 270 children joined us from 15 primary schools.
Their wide backgrounds from different schools is something we value
and celebrate whilst being a challenge in building a sound foundation
for their future learning.
"Good links have long been established between Greendown and
West Swindon primary schools and my job is to develop them" said
Mrs Proctor. "As an experienced primary-trained teacher, I am in an
exciting position to build bridges between schools which enables the
sharing of good practice across the phases of education. This means
I can teach primary classes to give year 6 teachers the time to visit
Greendown and observe teaching methods and also coordinate visits
by our teachers to the primaries.
"Meetings between year 7 tutors and year 6 teachers for exchanges
of information will take place during the year so they can plan
Mrs Proctor working with children at Shaw Ridge primary, from left,
teaching 'transition units' to-
gether. These will be based Jamie Kavara, Rebecca Hanmore, Elena Amoroso, Andrew Bradley
on what has been taught
well as what needs to be taught and learnt in year 7. Some of this is
and learned in year 6, as
set out in the National Curriculum but we want to give it a West
Mrs Helen Swanson from Swindon flavour."
Tregoze School spent a day Mrs Proctor said that getting to know children is very important. "I
observing class work at really do enjoy teaching year 6 children; it gives me the chance to get
Greendown. She is pictured to know the pupils who may be coming to Greendown.
with children who moved "I am currently tracking a group of pupils, who have started at
from her school in Septem- Greendown, to find out how they have settled in and what they have
ber, from left, Kayleigh learned. This information will help in my work for the coming year
Dunsby, Lucy Harris, Sam because I will have more sense of what pupils need in their
Feeney and Bradley Watts transition."
Induction days, an important way for easing the move to big school

It's always good to see keen, smiling faces in school and in July 270 pupils from year 6 came to Greendown for their three days of induction.
They met pupils from schools across West Swindon, their head of from the headteacher.
year Miss Sophie Hesten, and also their tutors. Year 10 peer educators We know that year 7 settle quicker when they know and trust older
supported all year 6 classes, working with tutor groups for all three pupils and another innovation this year has been the appointment of
days. peer mentors from year 10. These senior pupils act as guides for
All the pupils had work to do. They had lessons in all the subjects younger children throughout the year and support those youngsters
they would study in year 7 and they started their 'Learning Passport.' who need that extra hit of assistance. They have been specially
This is a new feature of induction days for Greendown. All subject selected and trained to do their valuable work. They will help to keep
tutors decided what ideas or skills they would like 11 to 12 year olds the smiles on pupils' faces as well as supporting them on the road to
to be able to demonstrate. Once the pupils acquired the skill for each achievement. This is another example of Greendown's commitment
subject, their passports were stamped to show that they were forming to supporting pupils. Success is our aim and, with everyone pulling
a firm foundation for success. The ten best passports received a prize together, we will get there.

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Above, year 6 children working in one of our computer suites during the induction days
Left, with their Passports to Greendown, year 7 newcomers, from left, Scott Alder,
Charlene Coomer, Lauren Gibbons and Bradley Farrell