New Families

Moving from primary school to secondary school can be a truly daunting prospect, so at Stanley High School, we are keen to make that transition as smooth and as stress-free as possible.

All the information you need about starting at Stanley High School can be found on the ‘Year 6 Transition’ page and we hope that this will help you feel as prepared as possible.

We are really excited about you joining Stanley High School. Should you have any questions or queries please do not hesitate to contact us at enquiries@stanleyhigh.co.uk

School Day

The school day is broken down into the following.

08.40 Registration or Assembly
09.00 Lesson 1
10.00 Lesson 2
11.00 BREAK
11.20 Lesson 3
12.20 LUNCH
13.00 Lesson 4
14.00 Lesson 5
15.00 Extra-Curricular/Home time

Welcome Pack

You will receive a Welcome Pack before you start school in September.

What to bring on the first day in September

  1. School bag.
  2. Pencil case with basic equipment.
  3. Packed lunch or money/money on ParentPay
  4. A reading book.
  5. Bus fare or bus pass, if required.
  6. Pupils’ ‘Moving Up booklet’ (received in your welcome pack).
  7. PE Kit will NOT BE needed on the first day.

In the evening, check your child’s timetable for the items required for the next day.

The first week will be Week A.

You will receive a Stanley High School Planner, a paper copy of your timetable and a map of the school.

If you lose your planner, new ones can be purchased from the office for £5.00.

The Pastoral Office can also print you a copy of your timetable if it gets lost.

Open Evening

We hold an annual Open Evening for any prospective pupils and parents to come and view our fantastic school.

Each department will be open with some live demonstrations and fun games to showcase what they have to offer, including examples of real-life work and lessons. It really is a great chance to get a feel for Stanley High School and to meet some of our brilliant staff members.

Please keep checking this page as dates and times will be uploaded when confirmed.

FAQ

This page is designed for those pupils making the switch from primary to secondary and is filled with a wide range of information about what life at Stanley High School is like. We’re aware that you will have a whole list of questions of your own, so where better to begin than with a list of our frequently asked questions?

Is everybody nice?

Lots of people are very friendly and welcoming at Stanley High School. If you ever feel that somebody has been unfriendly, you must tell a teacher or an older pupil, so that we can help.

How will I make friends?

We will make sure that you are in the same form group as someone from your primary school. Some new pupils are the only one from their Primary and in this case, we will try to find other people you might know e.g. from clubs outside of school. Otherwise, our teachers and pupils work hard to reassure you and help you to settle in quickly. Trying out organised activities is a good way to make new friends. These include transition activities in the first few days or extracurricular clubs once school starts. If you are worried about not knowing anyone, please contact Mrs Urquart (Head of year 7) and she can assist you further.

What if I get lost?

Our older pupils will be more than happy to assist you in September should you struggle to find your way. Your form tutor will always be on hand as well. On your first day, you will be given a map of the school. This will ensure that you don’t easily get lost. However, if you are ever unsure, do ask any pupil or adult in school – they will be eager to help you!

Do we share the yard with other years?

Yes! Year Seven have early access to the Dining Room and yard for the first 2 weeks, to help you to settle in, make new friends and feel comfortable in your free time.

What kinds of clubs are there?

There are a number of lunchtime and afterschool clubs to join in, you will be told which activities are on each day. Everybody is welcome.

What should I do if I lose my PE kit?

The PE department keep spare PE kit which you may borrow if you lose something. Check around school and at the PE changing rooms if you have lost an item of kit. You will also be able to purchase a locker (£5 refundable deposit) to store your kit and books in. Make sure that all your kit is clearly named so that if an item is lost, we can easily return it to you.

How much homework will we get and what will happen if I forget it?

At Stanley High School, we set extended learning tasks. Teachers will usually expect you to spend around 30 minutes on each task. You should receive no more than three tasks per night. We always recommend reading. See your teacher to apologise if you have forgotten your extended learning for any reason. If you do this repeatedly, there may be a consequence. Our best advice is to complete tasks straight away and make sure that your bag is correctly packed before you go to bed.

What if I don’t understand my extended learning task?

Ask your teacher in the lesson, or at the end. If you are unsure at home, see your teacher the next day.

What can I do if I forget my lunch?

You can choose to bring a packed lunch or buy lunch from the Dining Room. If you forget your lunch or have accidentally run out of money, tell your Form Tutor or your Head of Year. You can usually borrow some money for your dinner in an emergency.

What if I feel ill at school?

Often, being busy at school can take your mind off feeling a bit poorly. However, if you need to go home your teacher will give you a ‘medical slip’ to take to the school first aider who will contact your family.

How do I find out my lessons and teachers?

On the first day in September, you will receive your timetable, which shows your lessons and teachers for each day. Carefully pack your bag to ensure you have everything you need for the five lessons.

What happens if you get a detention?

Detentions are set for poor behaviour. A teacher may keep pupils in for part of break or lunchtime. For more serious issues, there is after school detention. This takes place at the end of school on a Friday and parents are informed. Don’t worry though, because most year 7 pupils NEVER get detention!

Or if I’m late to school?

If you are late to school, sign in at the office and go to your assembly or lesson. If you are late due to a medical appointment, bring in a letter to show us. If you are late, without a valid reason, you will receive a lunchtime detention.

How hard is the work at secondary school?

The majority of subjects are taught within a mixed ability setting. You do not need to worry, your teacher has lots of experience of making schoolwork fit to all ability levels. The work you do should fit your ability and provide a reasonable challenge. If you feel your set isn’t quite right for you, tell your parents, who can make an appointment to talk to your Head of Year.