& keepA pull-out feature Primary in Essex – Pull-out Secondary Times Schools Guide Choosing your new school with in Essex With Open Days /Evenings Directory View the magazine online at www.primarytimes.net/essex Primary Times, North & Mid Essex • Back to School 2016 11 Alec Hunter Academy Stubbs Lane, Braintree CM7 3NR. T: 01376 321813. www.alechunter.org Alec Hunter Academy in Braintree engender between our young is an 11-16 comprehensive people and the adults who work “The academy is a harmonious community school with a growing reputation with them on a day-to-day basis. and students support one another well” as a forward-thinking learning We believe that students learn [ Ofsted (March 2015) [ community, founded on high best when they feel valued and Alec Hunter Academy is an 11-16 comprehensive school with expectations and traditional values. when the expectations of them Trevor Lawn, the school’s Head are high. We anticipate that our a growing reputation as a forward-thinking learning community, Teacher says “we pride ourselves learners will attend school with founded on high expectations and traditional values. Our mission on the positive relationships we a positive attitude to learning, is to provide opportunities for all our young people to progress, that they will embrace challenge enjoy learning and fulfil their academic potential in a safe, caring where they encounter it and will be environment that prepares them well for a successful future. The enthusiastic, resourceful, adaptable school works in close partnership with Saffron Walden County and resilient.” High School, one of the highest performing schools in Essex, The Open Morning is on through the sponsorship of the Saffron Academy Trust. Saturday 8th October, from 9.30am-12.30pm. Students will The staff and students look forward to be on hand to offer guided tours welcoming you to our and the Head Teacher will give a brief introduction to the ethos of OPEN MORNING the school and the educational on Saturday 8th October 2016, 9.30am-12.30pm. experiences provided. From Monday 10th October, see the th school at work. There will be During the following week, commencing Monday 10 October, you are most welcome to come and see the school at work, as school tours every morning, led there will be school tours every morning, led by senior staff. by senior staff. Please contact the school office to reserve your place. Call 01376 321813 to reserve Alec Hunter Academy, Stubbs Lane, Braintree, Essex CM7 3NR your place. Visit www.alechunter. T: 01376 321813 F: 01376 326839 E: [email protected] org for more information. “Living for Learning, Learning for Life” Founded 1642 New Hall School New Hall School The Avenue, Boreham, CM3 3HS. An independent ‘diamond model’ school, city of Chelmsford T: 01245 236098. Magnificent campus with extensive and safe grounds www.newhallschool.co.uk Day (3-18 years) • Boarding (7-18 years) From the moment you join Preparatory • Girls’ Division • Boys’ Division • Sixth Form the Preparatory School, you become part of a family. New Hall are dedicated to ensuring that children can develop as well-rounded individuals. They operate the highly successful ‘diamond model’ structure, that is, co-education in the Preparatory School (ages 3-11), single-sex education in the Boys’ and Girls’ Divisions (11-16) and co-education in the Sixth Form (16-18). An additional Year 5 class The quality of pupils’ personal development will be introduced in 2017 and 2018, for day pupils and boarders joining is excellent at 9+. A new Pre-Prep building will open in April 2018, providing two- OPEN MORNING ISI inspection report form entry at 3+ and a further class for 4+ joiners. A new Science Centre is planned from 2019, for use by the Preparatory and Senior Divisions. Saturday 24 September 2016 • 9.00am - 12.00noon Please visit them to see for yourself why New Hall is such a wonderful To book your place, visit newhallschool.co.uk/openmorning. place to be educated. The next Open Morning is on Saturday 24th Alternatively, please call 01245 236098 to arrange a visit at a time to suit you. September. See www.newhallschool.co.uk for details. newhallschool.co.uk The Avenue, Boreham, CM3 3HS | [email protected] “A Catholic foundation and ethos, welcoming all” 12 Primary Times, North & Mid Essex • Back to School 2016 To advertise in Primary Times call 01376 322120 The Next Step Is this your child’s final year at Primary School? As parents, we can help prepare them with the move to secondary school. Trevor Lawn, head teacher at Alec Hunter Academy in Braintree explains what we can do to help... It is well documented that some of the most stressful times in all of our lives occur when Shirt signing is a fun part of every child’s last day at primary school we make a transition. Taking on a new job, moving house, starting a family – all are fraught in GCSE syllabuses across all subjects. More materials; it is the children who carry their with concerns and uncertainties, and the same than ever, children need to expose themselves entire world around in their pockets who is very true in education. Whether it is the to a range of reading material to broaden their are most susceptible to losing things. anxiety around starting school, moving into the vocabulary and command of language. Rather Whilst I have concentrated heavily on how juniors, or taking the step up from primary to than recommending any particular texts, since parents can help their children to prepare for secondary school, the prospect of settling into there are so many to choose from and this secondary life, there is a far more important a new routine, in unfamiliar surroundings with should largely be guided by personal interest, role, in my view, for mums and dads to play different teachers can be a daunting one. I would propose instead imposing restrictions once term gets under way. With a timetable However, whilst the youngsters themselves on games console time throughout the containing different lessons every day, may sometimes be hesitant or slightly holidays, since this can easily eat up whole including some practical subjects, such as disorientated at these points, in my experience days if there are no agreed quotas. Simply by PE and Technology, which may require special as a secondary Headteacher, they are, on the insisting that there is a ‘gadget-free window’ equipment, the additional organisational whole, more excited by new experiences and which must be utilised for quiet reading every demands on our 11 year olds are considerable. challenges than us cautious adults. As a result, day as part of the holiday routine, good habits Moreover, there will be homework from a range it is usually the parents who are far more may be established which can be sustained of subjects, each with varying deadlines to be agitated about their children joining us in once term recommences. met. It takes some time for most youngsters Year 7, and whom I do my best to reassure. to adjust to these challenges, but there is no So what can we do as parents to equip our “ We delight in the beauty doubt that this process is smoother where children suitably for the demands of secondary parents are playing a very active part in school life? Well, the summer holidays are, of of the butterfly, but rarely establishing the evening routine of checking course, a fabulous opportunity for relaxation admit the changes it has that homework is complete and the bag is and recharging of batteries, but they also offer gone through to achieve packed with the right books and resources. opportunities to broaden horizons and expand Each child’s ability to do this independently your child’s range of cultural experiences. that beauty” – Maya Angelou will develop over time, but a guiding hand is I am often shocked, in conversation with our certainly beneficial in those early months. students after the long, 6 week break, to It is natural, particularly for parents whose There is no magic formula for ensuring discover that a few have not taken part in eldest child is joining secondary school, to that students adjust well to secondary school. any structured activity or excursions at all feel obliged to purchase lots of equipment We all try to play our part, both in school and throughout this period, and this can leave in readiness for the range of lessons ahead. within the family, to facilitate this, but it is hard them somewhat restricted in class discussions Our Year 7s often arrive clutching pencil cases to foresee and eliminate every possible since their reference points are limited. Many bulging with all manner of multicoloured pens, obstacle to success that they may encounter. museums, exhibitions and galleries offer free geometry sets and other random stationery This is why the most useful thing that all admission, but there is just as much to be items, many of which are completely parents can do is to encourage their children gained from a visit to a country park, a unnecessary. In this (pencil?) case, less is to be resilient, to take the rough with the historical monument or a picnic in a previously frequently more. Invest in some good quality smooth, to enjoy success and not to be undiscovered part of this picturesque county. rollerball or handwriting pens that will help crushed by setbacks but to learn from them. Both the primary and secondary curriculum to keep work looking neat and professional, If they can approach their secondary education have changed in recent years, with increased some pencils and basic items such as a ruler, with this mindset, they will undoubtedly emphasis on higher level literacy skills and rubbers and sharpeners.