Cranford Community College Year 6-7 Transition Guide 2017

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Welcome Dear Student and Parent/Carer, First of all, I would like to welcome you to Cranford Community College.

We are very proud of our school, both of the students who make it such an exciting place to work and the families who care so much for the education of their children. Cranford students and staff work together as a united and harmonious team to create a huge range of opportunities and achieve amazing results - we hope you will be able to join us.

I am sure you will find much to excite and motivate you here and we look forward to working together to ensure the very best future for you. This publication is designed to help you understand more about Secondary School and particularly what you can expect of Cranford and what we will expect of you.

I look forward to meeting you all and am delighted to welcome you to our outstanding school.

Yours Sincerely, Kevin Prunty Executive Headteacher, National Leader of Education

Pastoral Manager Role Tammy Jenkins Your Pastoral Manager will look after you throughout your time at Cranford. As well as being a first point of contact for parents and carers, they will provide caring emotional and academic support throughout your journey through Secondary School to make sure you become the best student you can be.

Head of Year Role Deepak Bahra Your Head of Year works with the tutors and teachers of your Year Group to ensure the highest academic standards.

They lead your assemblies and form time activities and help create a happy and positive atmosphere, rewarding all your successes throughout your time at Cranford. You can monitor events for your year group on the school website: www.cranford.hounslow.sch.uk

Beavers - Berkeley - Cranford Park - Cranford Primary - Featherstone - Norwood Green - Springwell - William Byrd. Alexandra Junior - Bedfont - Blair Peach - Chatsworth - Crane Park - Dairy Meadow - Fairholme - Forge Lane - Grange Park - Grove Road - Harmondsworth - Hayes Park - Heathrow - Heston - Highfield - Hounslow Heath - Hounslow Town - Iver Village - Ivybridge - Khalsa - Laurel Lane - Minet Junior - North Primary - Orchard - Oriel - Pinkwell - Pippins - Rosary - Smallberry - Sparrow Farm - Southville - St Lawrence St Michael & St Martin - St Helen’s College - St Richard’s Three Bridges - Victoria Wellington - Westbrook - Wolf Fields - Yeading

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Learning at Cranford

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At

Cranford, learning is at the heart of everything we do. All students study a broad, balanced, dynamic and personalised curriculum and are constantly challenged to do their very best. The teachers are experts in their subject and will help you to enjoy your learning and achieve the highest possible standards in every subject.

Subjects

The School Day

At Cranford you will study an exciting range of subjects from Year 7: Maths, English, Biology, Chemistry, Physics, History, Geography, Design and Technology, Religious Education, PE, Art, Music, Drama, ICT, Languages.

There are five lessons of timetabled learning in the school day but you must also continue your learning through engaging in extra-curricular opportunities and proving yourself to be a hard worker by learning more independently outside of school.

As you get older you might also study: English Literature, Philosophy and Ethics, Psychology, Sociology, Media Studies, German, Spanish, French, Urdu, Panjabi, Business Studies, Economics, Food Studies, Health and Social Care, Computing. This list is always growing.

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Everyone at Cranford has the right to: l LEARN and the responsibility to support others in their learning.

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l be SAFE and the responsibility to ensure the safety of others. l be RESPECTED and the responsibility to respect others.

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believe everyone has important rights and responsibilities. At Cranford the behaviour of students is excellent and this ‘outstanding’ behaviour is not just about how you manage yourself in lessons and around and outside the school but also about your attitude and enthusiasm for your own learning and the learning of others. We all work together and have high expectations and ambitions, Cranford is a happy place where everyone can be successful.

Marking and Attitude to Learning All students’ work is marked regularly and you will always be congratulated on what you are doing well and given next steps to follow in order to continue to make excellent progress. We expect all students to respond to teacher comments and advice in green pen and this ongoing conversation with your teacher about your work will help you make the best possible progress. All students also get an Attitude to Learning grade to let you and your parents know how you are working in lessons. Homework is set regularly and at least once a half term, a practical or extended written task is assessed to make sure you are on track to do brilliantly in every subject.

Attendance Attendance Officer: Amina Hassania It’s really important that you come to school on time, coming late has a bad effect on your studies and the others in your class. You should come to school every day and should aim to have 100% attendance. If your attendance level goes down, your achievement begins to slow and your progress in all your subjects will suffer, as well as your examination results.

School is closed for 13 weeks each year and you can only take holidays during this time. Holidays in term time are not permitted and the school enforces this strictly.

If you are absent your parents/carers must contact the school by 9am on the first day of absence and tell us why you are not in school. On the third day of absence your parent/carer should call the school to update. When you are well enough to return to school you should bring a letter from your parents/carers to explain your absence. A medical letter or certificate will be required for absences longer than 3 days. Only hospital appointments and visits to the orthodontist will be authorised (evidence will be required). All routine medical and dental appointments should be made after school hours. The full attendance policy is available on the school website: www.cranford.hounslow.sch.uk 6_to7_Transition_booklet_2017_outlined.indd 3

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In addition to your lessons, there are loads of activities happening before and after school every day. These include a whole range of sports clubs from dance to boxing; musical bands, orchestras and singing groups; homework clubs for you to get support with your work and other great opportunities like the Duke of Edinburgh Award scheme or the First Story writing group and Cranford computer coding club. There are many more and we are always looking for staff and students to start new ones.

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Cranford we have a positive approach to behaviour which means all students are rewarded for the good choices and extra effort they make.

DREAM points for Discipline, Respect, Enthusiasm, Achievement, Maturity are awarded to all students and you can win prizes for yourself and also your form group, including certificates, vouchers and pizza parties. At the end of every school year we have a Rewards Day with trips for all students based on how many DREAM points you have accumulated. There are fantastic outings to theme parks, sporting activities and museums and cultural visits around the country.

Being at Cranford means understanding what happens if you do not follow the expectations of the school. Initially we prefer a Restorative Justice (RJ) approach to support good behavior and the school works closely with parents to support students to ensure this. The Cranford Rights and Responsibilities apply to everyone and to be part of the Cranford community and to keep the school a safe place at all times, they must be adhered to.

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Which would you choose?

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as all the other exciting things happening at Cranford, we have something entirely unique: on Wednesday afternoon every week is the WFactor. The WFactor gives all students and staff the chance to learn something new in an exciting and innovative way. It is all about offering you something extra to enrich your school life.

There are over 60 different activities and the list is always growing and changing. You will work on a different activity of your choice each half term, making sure you get to learn new skills, experience sports and creative pursuits, have the chance to expand your horizons and the opportunity to play an important part in your local community.

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Debating Volunteering in the community Construction challenge Current affairs Psychology for KS3 Shadow of the Wind book club Beginners Urdu The Listening Project Latin and ancient civilisations Rounders Rowing Running Football Basketball Lacrosse Cricket Boxing Mindfulness Street Dance Athletics Rugby Tennis Swimming Get into Jazz and Blues Modern Man Exotic Animals Astronomy First Aid Beginners French Journalism Touch Typing Knitting Puppetry The Hounslow History Project Sports Leadership The International Schools Project Social Change Campaign Sculpture and Ceramics Craft Sketching Bollywood dancing Stand Up comedy Jamie’s Farm Duke of Edinburgh Drama Production Driving theory Rock Choir Charity Work Yoga Future Learning Culture Vulture The Social Change Campaign Music for all 14-Sep-16 11:45:56 AM

Uniform You have probably guessed by now we are extremely proud of our school and at Cranford we expect everyone to wear their school uniform with pride. School uniform is compulsory from Years 7-11 and the Sixth Form have their own smart professional dress code. All students at the school have to dress smartly.

Everyone in the school must dress in a way which: • is not likely to render them vulnerable to criticism or allegation • is not likely to be viewed as offensive, revealing or sexually provocative • does not distract, cause embarrassment or give rise to misunderstanding • does not include any political or otherwise Mobile Phone Agreement contentious symbolism or slogans At Cranford we have a duty • is not considered to be discriminatory to safeguard the learning of all students and therefore we • is respectful of ethnic and cultural differences Hair must be smart and formal and no jewellery is allowed, nor is nail varnish or make-up permitted in Years 7-11. You can wear a watch and stud type earrings. Symbols of religious faith can be worn where they are essential to your religion but nonuniform items will be confiscated until the end of the academic year.

The full uniform policy is available on the school website and you should read this in detail. www.cranford.hounslow.sch.uk

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Essential equipment list

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It is really important you have all the equipment you need in every lesson to help you progress in your learning; your tutor will check this regularly. Here is a basic list of what you need. We will provide you with a school planner and all your exercise and text books.

actively discourage students from bringing a mobile phone or other valuable items to school. If you need to use a telephone, school land lines are available and you can store important phone numbers and information in your planner. Your parents can contact you at school via Reception or your Pastoral Manager. The full Mobile Phone Agreement is on the school website and signing this is requirement for entry to the school.

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Pen Pencil Ruler Rubber Folders Pencil sharpener Scientific Calculator A reading book Headphones for ICT A sensible bag big enough to carry all of your things.

• PE Kit (with all items labelled with your name and in a separate bag)

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ranford is a big school with great facilities and you will soon learn your way around. We will give you a map but we are a very friendly school and if you get stuck any teacher or student will help you. Here are some of the places you need to know about.

Learning Resource Centre (LRC) Mahavir Ladva The LRC is open from 8am until 4.15pm Monday to Thursday and until 4pm on Fridays. It holds everything you need to help you with your studies and independent learning: over 11,000 books, 48 computers, a wide selection of DVDs and newspapers and magazines.

With a membership card, you can borrow items as well as using the homework club and take part in exciting activities such as quizzes, chess club, author visits and trips and competitions throughout the year.

The School Shop Julie Prunty The School shop sells school uniform and all the essential equipment you need for all of your lessons. It is open every day during term time and for much of the school holidays. For holiday opening times and prices you can always check the school website: www.cranford.hounslow.sch.uk

Literacy and Numeracy College (LNC) Kerry Mulhair The LNC provides help to students who need a ‘boost’ to their learning. It makes sure you have all the skills you need in English and Maths and the literacy and numeracy skills to support students in all of your other subjects. It is open before and after school, as well as at break times to help students with their studies.

You will find additional information on our website about Special Needs Education and our Family Support Services.

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The school canteen serves a great variety of healthy food and drinks before school (Breakfast service: 8am - 8.30am) and during Breaks one and two. Year 7s eat in the canteen during Break one and Break two they must use the Concert Hall. At Cranford we do not accept cash at any of the tills. Instead, students access their accounts by scanning their thumbs. You can top up your account online, by cheque, or by using the revaluer machines on the concourse. If you are entitled to free school meals, the allowance is credited to you automatically each day.

Before you start at Secondary School you should spend some time talking to friends and parents about how you will get there. Cranford is easily accessible by public transport and the 105, 111 and H28 buses stop right outside.

You could also cycle to school and there are bike sheds available but make sure you bring a secure padlock and wear bright visible clothing.

Remember all children aged 11 and over must have an Oyster card and you can collect a form at your local post office or register online at www.tfl.gov.uk/oyster 105 - 111 - H28

Cranford Community College, High Street, Cranford, Hounslow, Middlesex, TW5 9PD (: 020 8897 2001 | Fax: 020 8759 8073 Website: www.cranford.hounslow.sch.uk 6_to7_Transition_booklet_2017_outlined.indd 8

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