Welcome to the Hammersmith Academy Community
Starting secondary school can be both incredibly exciting and a bit daunting for both students and parents alike. There is so much to take in and so many new things to learn. To help make the transition process as smooth as possible, Hammersmith Academy has a dedicated Transition Leader in the Key Stage 3 Team who oversees the whole transition process.
Key Stage 3 Team
The Key Stage 3 Team will be your key point of contact at the Academy throughout your child’s time in Year 7-8. They will help your child settle into secondary school and ensure that your child stays on track with their attainment and development.
Pastoral team contact details:
- Kevin Yiminyi, Assistant Head/Deputy Safeguarding Lead – kyiminyi@hammersmithacademy.org
- Jennifer Arnaouti, Head of Year 7
- Your designated Tutor
Transition Tasks & Resources
You and your child will have received a transition pack from the Academy just before the summer holiday which prepares both the student and parent for life in secondary school. These tasks give an indication of the level of work they are expected to do when they start in September. The work submitted when they join in September will give an indication of the progress that individual student has made over the course of the summer holiday. There are also activities students and their families can do together throughout the summer break which they can share with us when they start their first day.
You can download the resources here:
Year 6 Parent Induction Booklet
Maths Transition Task
English Transition Task
History Transition Task
Sports Day Activities Resource
Session 3 – Summer Activity Booklet
Science Transition Task
Starting Secondary School Checklist
It is normal to feel nervous and excited a few days before starting secondary school. There is a lot to consider and prepare for, more so than primary school. To help you and your child prepare for the first day of school, we have created a quick checklist to make sure you don’t forget any pieces of equipment or uniform. Click to download and print.
Starting Secondary School – Checklist
Summer Transition School
Summer Transition Schools form an important part of young people settling into a new and sometimes daunting environment. Hammersmith Academy ran its very first transition camp during the summer of 2021 for incoming Year 7 students.
The summer school programme is designed and led by the Year 7 and Pastoral team here at Hammersmith Academy.
Summer School aims:
- Allowing students to see their new school environment and become familiar with it.
- Allowing students to meet their new peers and teachers.
- Allowing school to get to know students ahead of their start in September including identifying any additional needs they may have.
- Maintaining learning over the summer holiday period.
- Creating enthusiasm and enjoyment around secondary education and learning in young people.
The bespoke programme includes the required balance of literacy and numeracy sessions alongside team building activities and a range of sports. The activities are carefully timetabled to ensure an enjoyable yet challenging experience for participants of all abilities.
Activities include:
- Literacy and Maths Workshops
- How to Best Prepare for Secondary School Workshops
- Team Building Games/Challenges
- Social Workshops: Whole group and small group work.
- Sports
Frequently Asked Questions
What work should my child be doing to prepare them for secondary school?
- All students will be provided with a summer work pack to complete over the summer holiday during the induction event. This work will need to be returned to the students’ teachers for marking in September.
Where and when will I be able to buy the uniform?
- Parents can start buying school uniform when they have their child’s place confirmed at Hammersmith Academy. Our uniform supplier is School Uniform Direct and you can visit our uniform webpage here for full information about uniform.
My child does not have many friends who will be joining me at Hammersmith Academy. How will class groups be decided?
- Our induction days will help students settle in and meet their fellow classmates. Our induction activities are designed to help students make new friends and integrate into the Academy Community. After a couple of weeks, students become well adjusted to the daily routines with their new classmates. All classes at Hammersmith Academy are mixed ability. We make careful decisions when creating the groups considering a fair spread of ability and sex (male/female) and balancing any behavioural or special educational needs.
How will the Academy look after my child?
- Hammersmith Academy has a vast pastoral team to support you and your child. The first point of contact is your tutor. Each year group has a Pastoral Support Officer (PSO) who looks after the whole year group. Students will also be supported by the Head of Lower School and the Assistant Headteacher for KS3, who is also the Designated Safeguarding Lead (DSL). We have trained first aid staff and a School Nurse. If your child is ever worried or scared about anything they can tell any adult that they feel comfortable to talk to, their tutor would be the best place to start. The SENCO and counsellor are an extra level of support for some students.
What are the lessons like?
- Lessons at Hammersmith Academy are 80 minutes long, students have four lessons in day. The lessons will begin with a ‘do now’ and there will be a daily, weekly or monthly review of previously learned materials. Students will be presented with new concepts in small steps, including using models and guided student practice. The teachers will check for student understanding and ask lots of different types of questions. You can expect scaffold to support students with difficult tasks and anticipate challenge in lessons. We ask all students to show resilience. All lessons will include independent practice, paired group and practical work where appropriate.
What are the rules like at Hammersmith Academy?
- The rules at Hammersmith Academy are clear and consistently applied. There are high expectations of all students and we expect everyone to follow the rules at all times. A copy of the behaviour policy can be found on the Academy website: https://www.hammersmithacademy.org/information/policies/
What Clubs can my child take?
- There are a full range of clubs that all students can sign up for. We call them Session 3 and they include a full range of provision including sports, academic and leisure activities. For examples please check out the website: https://www.hammersmithacademy.org/academy-life/session-3/
What food options do you have?
- The Academy’s Cafeteria serves a range of meal options. There is always a halal, vegetarian or fish option. Please visit our catering page to see examples of weekly menus and what is on offer.