Merchant Taylors' Girls' School Year 7 Transition

General Information Key Information

Welcome

Welcome to Year 7, we look forward to seeing you again in September

Your start date is :

Wednesday 6th September, 2023

We have put together this information booklet which we hope will answer some questions you may have about your first day at Merchant Taylors' Girls' School

As you embark on the initial weeks of term there will be a lot of information to absorb, but our network of Staff and Pupils will be on hand to help you every step of the way as you adjust to a new routine

We will do everything we can to ensure that your transition into Senior school is as smooth as possible, but if you do need anything at all, please just ask

The Year 7 Team

Contact Details

Merchant Taylors' Girls' School 80 Liverpool Road Crosby Liverpool L23 5SP

Reception Telephone Number : 0151 924 3140

Email Address : infomtgs@merchanttaylors com

Useful Telephone Numbers

To Report an Absence

Please telephone Reception (by 8:40am) 0151 924 3140

Welcome to MTGS

This is the beginning of a very exciting journey for all of you, and it gives me great pleasure to welcome you to Merchant Taylors’ Girls’ School Our motto is: Ambition, Character and Excellence

We want you to be ambitious, there is no limit to what you can achieve, there is no need to be fearful of failure, this is where you get to try everything I really mean this You have the world at your feet, you can be whatever you want to be You just need to remain open to all the wonderful opportunities offered at Merchant Taylors’ School

For this, you will need great character, you will need to get back up when things do not go to plan, you will need to ask for help, whenever you need it You will need to celebrate your own success and that of others You will need to laugh and cry and learn from all of your wonderful experiences that are ahead of you

Excellence does not come from just talent alone Excellence comes from hard work, consistent hard work, coupled with the ambition and character mentioned above All of the staff at MTGS look forward to welcoming you in September I know that all of our current pupils will be excited to meet you and show you around the school

We look forward to seeing you very soon

Small things grow in harmony

Merchant Taylors' School Ethos

Mrs B Ward Head, Merchant Taylors' Girls' School

Welcome

Moving to senior school is a big and exciting step in your education You might be anxious about leaving primary school and its routines behind, and not know what to expect, but we promise this will not last long

At MTGS you will have five lessons a day, taught by different subject teachers in specialist rooms In addition to the core subjects of English, Mathematics, Biology, Chemistry and Physics, you will also be introduced to Technology, Classics, Latin and new languages including French and Mandarin Alongside PE, Geography, History and RE - you are sure to have a new favourite

In PE you will have the opportunity to participate in a variety of sports such as swimming, hockey and netball and for some of these you will travel to our facilities at Hall Road or the Sports Centre at MTBS

You will enjoy performing scientific experiments in laboratories and you will get creative in Design Technology, which is also taught in a specialist facility Within a couple of weeks finding your way around will be easy!

Education is what remains, long after the lessons have been forgotten, and crucial to the MTGS education is the range of extracurricular activities that we will offer you

These are some of the most memorable, enjoyable, and character forming aspects of your education You will be able to choose from a huge range of activities including Drama, Music and many clubs and societies Whether it’s astronomy or baking, there is plenty to do Our aim is to offer the sort of exciting challenges that will help you develop self-confidence, self-belief, and pride in your achievements

You can take risks and experience victory and defeat in a safe environment, whilst also having plenty of fun

Miss Taws Head of Minerva House

Mrs Mee Head of Thalia House

Mrs Houghton Head of Gaia

Make the most of every moment! Time is precious, do not waste it and never be frightened of new challenges

This is such an exciting time for you, and we are very much looking forward to getting to know you The support network will be broad in your first year so ask staff for help and look up to our senior students and learn from their outstanding examples

We are here to encourage you, guide you and help you grow, so do come and see us with any issues We look forward to hearing all about your successes both inside and outside of our school environment and we will work closely with you

and your parents to celebrate your unique qualities and help you to find out what your potential really might be

As a final thought, ‘be kind to each other, always!’ You will all be very different, but you are on this journey together as a Year group and you will need to be patient, thoughtful and compassionate in how you interact with each other If you can do this, you will have a strong bond and be successful as a Year group

So, MTGS Year 7 2023, welcome!

Let the adventure begin!

Merchant Taylors' Girls School

Welcome to Merchant Taylors’ Girls’ School!

We are all so excited to meet each of you and have you here at Merchant Taylors’ Girls’ School

We want to assure you that you will receive the support you need to feel safe and secure here at school and help you to feel settled in and ready to begin your new learning journey It can be difficult and quite overwhelming to venture into a new environment, but Merchants provides a huge sense of family and community which will help you to settle in quickly

We know that it can be quite daunting to start at a new school but trust us when we say that so many other girls are in the same boat as you are, as well as there being many older pupils who have been in your position, so we can promise you that you are definitely not alone

Our girls will be able to support you and help you to adjust through our vertical tutor groups, which enable you to mix with some of the older students and get advice and support from people that have been through a similar experience to you, as well as the wonderful staff and teachers who will be there to support you throughout your time here at Merchants and ensure you feel welcomed and settled in as quickly as possible Please don’t forget that we are here to support you too and to be your voice in school, so please don’t be afraid to approach any of us if you see us in the corridorwe are more than happy to chat with you!

So, what is Merchants?

Merchants is not just a school; it is a family environment where so many students can flourish with the amazing opportunities given

Merchant Taylors' is a place for every student to feel heard, included, and somewhere that pupils can go to make everlasting relationships Merchant Taylors' provides a structured environment for learning and socialisation which can help pupils to develop skills and knowledge that will benefit them throughout their lives It also provides opportunities for pupils to explore their interests and passions and to develop friendships and connections which will last a lifetime

Merchants can also provide a sense of purpose for so many students and help pupils set high goals which can be achieved and attained by using a sense of responsibility

In school, each day is a chance to try something new, and you should try to grasp every opportunity that arises by throwing yourself into school life This will allow you to make lots of friends and to learn new things about yourself and new hobbies that you may enjoy doing

When you start here in September, try to immerse yourself in lots of exciting new opportunities, this will allow you to meet many different people, who could become lifelong friends No matter if you already know anyone or not, it is always a good idea to take advantage of opportunities you are being given to meet new people and try to make lots of new connections

Moving to secondary school is a big change for anyone, especially those moving from a different school You may feel scared about what is to come, but don’t worry, this is natural As the head girl team, we were all once in your position and felt the way you are now feeling However, we are here to remind you that although this may be daunting it is also exciting and you have many things ahead to look forward to

As we were once where you are now we can offer some useful advice to help you make this step Firstly, Merchants has a lot to offer and as we mentioned earlier, we encourage you to take every new opportunity that comes your way to ensure you have the best time possible whilst here Throw yourself into every experience even if you have to venture outside your comfort zone Merchants will be a welcoming environment with a friendly face around the corner, don’t be afraid to reach out to someone if you need help or reassurance, this is perfectly normal and nothing to shy away from

You will meet many amazing new people and make friends for life and it is important to remember not to compare yourself to others, everyone ’ s experience is different Finally, your first day is one of many so don’t be disheartened if your new school life is not immediately perfect Take it day by day and remind yourself this new experience is a journey

Something to look forward to about Merchants

is that it will allow you to demonstrate who you are as a person and reach your full potential You will be able to discover what inspires you and the things you are passionate about During your time here, you will develop as an individual and discover more about yourself We encourage you to push yourself in all aspects of school life as well as take a break when you need it and look after your mental health

You’re lucky to be at the very beginning of your story here, you have endless possibilities awaiting you We are very jealous as we have loved our time here and made lasting memories, it has flown by so make the most of every moment

We hope you have an amazing time at Merchants and we can’t wait to meet you and offer any advice you may need

Head Girl Team Merchant Taylors' Girls' School

A Special Welcome from our Current Year 7 Pupils

Hi, my name is Lucy! and I hope you are all excited about joining Merchant Taylors, if you do have any nerves, that’s understandable however there is no need to worry as it is a great school

When I first started Merchant Taylors, I was extremely nervous because I did not know anyone, and coming from a small school and moving up to a big school was a little bit scary I have two brothers, Jack is in Year 13 and Jimmy is in Year 12, and it made me feel even more welcome to the school because the girls in their years were extremely nice to me and it made me feel very happy

On your very first day here you will be put into one of the three houses The houses are Minerva, Gaia, and Thalia I’m in Minerva - the best house! Once you have been put in your house, you will stay with the girls throughout Year 7 to Year 9 for all your lessons, a little bit like Hogwarts for those Harry Potter fans

I quickly made friends with the girls in my house, and with girls in the other houses too As well as being put into houses; you will be put into a form Your form will have girls from different year groups, and you will get registered with them and you will go to assemblies with them This is a great way of making friends with the older girls who are always there to help and offer advice if you need it

When you first start you will get a map of the school and a timetable with all of your lessons on it After a few weeks, I knew my way around the school Do not worry if you are late for your first classes, if you get lost, the teachers understand

The school has so much to offer so you will be busy with exciting and challenging activities I am part of some of the school sports teams and I have even started sports I have never played before such as hockey, cricket and so much more As well as being part of the sports teams, you could get involved in bands, choir, drama, art, science, and more

I am in the middle school choir, and I have taken part in a number of concerts and my highlight was singing a solo at St Faith’s Church in December I play the cornet which is a mini trumpet in the brass band and in one of the concerts I played alongside my brothers, and it was amazing

In May, I was part of the Year 7 play and we performed at the Shakespeare Theatre in Prescot, we performed 'A Mid Summers Night Dream' in front of parents and family, and I played Helena; it was so much fun It also helps you to make friends with the boys from Year 7 if you did not already know them

I am having so much fun at Merchants and if I could give you any advice, it would be to join a club because it allows you to make many more friends

When we first started, we went away on Year 7 Residential, and it was a great way to make new friendships with people you didn’t know in your group and help push you outside of your comfort zone Later on in the year, the girls on the school netball team (I was one of them) also went on a PGL Residential trip, where we played a tournament against different schools, and we did different adventure activities In the tournament, we came first, and we were all so happy It showed us that teamwork really does pay off!

My time in Year 7 has gone by in ' a blink of the eye ' and I can't believe I am now in Year 8 Our school motto is Concordia Parvae Res Crescunt –Small Things Grow in Harmony and it is true

I hope you all have a fantastic journey in Merchants because we are all one big family, and I am sure you will all enjoy it I am always here if you ever need me

Lucy Bovil

Present Year 7 Pupil, Merchant Taylors' Girls' School

Welcome Merchant

Taylors' Girls School

I hope you are as excited about starting Year 7 as I was last year My name is Lakshmi, some of you may remember me from last year as the Head Girl in Stanfield, if you don’t know me and you see me around school feel free to come and say hello

My first day at the Girls' school was very exciting and I just couldn’t wait to get started I came up to the Girls’ school with a whole bunch of friends which was very comforting, if you aren't coming with friends, I am sure you will get to know people very quickly as after my first day I knew a tonne more people coming out of school than I did going in You will be put into 1 of 3 houses (Minerva, Thalia, and Gaia) and you will stay in these houses throughout your time here Then you will be put into a Vertical Tutoring Form, you will be put with two or three girls out of your house and put with girls from other year groups all the way up to Upper Sixth form This may seem very complicated, but I assure you after your first couple of weeks you'll get the hang of it

You will have five lessons a day and a transition in between Transitions are usually 10 minutes long and are used for getting to your next lesson If you are in transition and you aren’t too sure where to go for your next lesson, I'm sure older girls would love to help you At break times and lunchtimes, there is a range of activities to choose from, they can vary from choir to tag-rugby to drama Whatever you ' re into I'm sure there will be a club for you Break times can also be a good time to catch up with friends and relax and wind down in your social space

Throughout the year there are lots of big events There is a production by the drama department every year, and this year it was Shakespeare shorts If you don’t like being centre stage then there is the backstage lighting crew or costume designer There are lots of sporting events such as netball, cricket, football, and hockey fixtures There are also football, netball, cricket, and hockey teams that do weekly training inside and outside school time And of course, the big one: Sports Day

Choir also provides lots of fun as you get to perform on speech day and at some of the concerts throughout the year

When you first start lessons, teachers don’t usually set an awful lot of homework as they like you to settle in and get the hang of how they do it here You have a teacher for every subject, I know this is a lot of names to remember but I’m sure in no time you’ll know their names as if you always have The teachers are always there to talk to and are always lovely at explaining things if you don’t get it The teachers try and make lessons as fun as possible but when it comes to exams, they can’t really make it fun then Progress checks are little exams that see how well you ’ ve managed to pick things up over that term Don’t worry they’re nothing to stress about

There is a reward/sanction system that goes on Firefly (firefly is a web app that shows your homework and subjects) Rewards are usually for really good work or showing enthusiasm in-class participation Sanctions however are for bad behaviour or late homework Don’t worry teachers are usually quite easy-going for the first couple of weeks

My advice for you is:

I know you will love it here and we can’t wait for you to begin your amazing journey, here at MTGS

Lakshmi Chandrashekar Present Year 7 Pupil, Merchant

Taylors' Girls' School

Messages from our Year 7 Girls

"On my first day, I was really worried about my new class What would they be like? But as I walked through the door, I saw everyone smiling up at me, making me feel welcome "

"The food is varied and is extremely tasty even fussy eaters will enjoy it "

"It is not as scary as it seems Even though you may think it is big, it is not If you get lost, ask someone and if you arrive late they will understand "

"Senior school is really awesome! Trust me, you will have a really good time here Making friends is incredibly easy here at MTGS When you see a group of girls you won't realise that in a day you will probably be best friends! I don't think there has been a day when I haven't smiled since becoming a MTGS girl "

"Before I started I was a bit worried that my new subjects were going to be much harder than my old ones, but now they are among my favourites and the teachers are really nice and make their

"Merchants' teachers are helpful and kind If you are confused in a lesson don't be afraid to ask for help The staff will understand and are always

homework I would get, but once I got into the routine I found it really easy to cope with "

and ended up with some GREAT friends and I am loving it here at Merchants "

The school day runs from:

The school day is very busy and starts promptly at 8 40am You will need to be in your Form Room with the correct equipment, wearing your school uniform appropriately and sat at your desk ready to listen to your Form Tutor at this time

Lessons

You will have a different teacher for each subject Below you will find a summary of the lesson times Special areas are used for different lessons for example the laboratories for the Sciences and the Art room for Art lessons

You will have five lessons in a day with three in the morning and two in the afternoon All lessons are 65 minutes long You will be given your own timetable of lessons on your first day Do not worry, you will soon get used to things when you have been here for a few days

Many of our pupils tell us that one of their favourite things about school is the food! A wide range of choice is available, from homemade soup, to well known European, Asian and English dishes, such as fish and chips on a Friday You will also find a daily salad bar and delicatessen, and plenty of chopped fruit and yoghurt We are sure that you will find many things that you enjoy

All of our meals are prepared daily with fresh ingredients Each term we have a different rotation of menus, which are all based on a three weekly cycle You can see the menus on the school website, but here is a sample:

What to bring on your first day

In order to take full advantage of your lessons you should have the correct equipment with you in your school bag These should include the following items:

Pencil case containing blue and black pens, HB pencil and pencil sharpener/ eraser

Some coloured pencils/pens

A glue stick and some round tipped scissors

Ruler - 30cm is preferable

A re-usable water bottle

Calculator - see advice from the Maths department as they would like you to have a particular one which can be ordered through school

PE/Games Kit is not required on this day

Additional Information

Mobile phones must be switched off and handed in at reception

At break time the dining room sell toast and snacks/drinks so you may need a small amount of money to buy these You can also bring in your own snack for break Remember your water bottle and fill it up at break and lunchtime – not during lesson time!

Please DO NOT bring valuable items to school in case they get damaged or lost

You will be in your school uniform, remember to tie back your hair and no jewellery other than a single gold or silver stud in each ear lobe

There will be plenty of staff to help show you what to do and where to go when you come in on your first day

Subjects & Lessons at MTGS

Art Biology

Business

Chemistry

Classics

Computing & ICT

Design & Technology

Drama

Economics

English

Geography

History

Mathematics

Modern Foreign Languages

Music

P E

Physics

Politics

PSHE

Psychology

Religious Studies

Taking part in the wider life of the school will be an important part of your time at MTGS There will be so many different activities that you can join in with during lunchtime and after school that will enrich your time at MTGS as well as help you to become a more confident member of the school community You can not only learn new skills but also make new friends and may have the opportunity to take on additional responsibilities and develop your leadership skills

These opportunities might be in academic subjects or in other areas like sport, music, drama, art or chess, costume design, knitting or stitching, gardening or cooking There are many other opportunities to join committees and social groups too

Extracurricular Opportunities

House Competitions

MINERVA THALIA

GAIA

During the year you will get to know the other girls in your House really well through taking part in a variety of Inter-House competitions which include: Drama, Music and Sport

The Houses at MTGS are:

Minerva

Minerva is the blue House and Minerva is the Goddess of Wisdom and Strategy

Thalia

Thalia is the red House and Thalia is the Goddess of Comedy and Joy

Gaia

Gaia is the green House and Gaia is the Mother of Life, Mother Nature

We also run an Inter-House Quiz and there are likely to be other subject related events for you to enjoy The Houses also work together for charity events too

The House Cups and Shields are all highly prized and competitively fought for in challenging and fun competitions Be proud of your House and try to represent it in different competitions You will get to know girls in other years who are in your House and they will cheer you on Each House has a House Captain – have a look on the House noticeboards near to the Heads of Section office to see what is going on within your House

House Captains

MINERVA

Hi! My name is Inaaya Ali and I am delighted to be your Minerva House Captain I have been a part of Minerva House since I joined MTGS, it has always been an outlet for free reign of creativity, exploration, and curiosity The goddess Minerva was the goddess of art and wisdom; hence our House is filled with activities allowing for creative freedom and constant curiosity I look forward to meeting the new members of Minerva House and anticipate the new ideas and curious minds that are sure to come along See you soon!

GAIA

THALIA G M T

Hi, my name is Lizzie Wake and I am your new Thalia house captain The name Thalia means “to flourish” which no doubt all our new members of Merchants are bound to do in the coming academic year As your House Captain I will endeavour to make your time at MTGS as productive and enjoyable as possible and hopefully, you can strive to embody the core qualities of our house, courage, and kindness I can’t wait to meet you all in September and welcome you to MTGS!

Hi, my name is Mitisa Nesarasa and I am Gaia House Captain Gaia is the Greek goddess of Earth and is known to be the mother of all life She is symbolic of the colour green So as Gaia girls, we endeavour to possess caring and kindhearted qualities and look after our planet as well as each other too I am really looking forward to meeting my new Gaia girls in September and welcome to MTGS!

Inaaya Ali Minerva House Captain

Lizzie Wake Thalia House Captain

Mitisa Nesarasa Gaia House Captain

After a few days in school, you will start to get homework Your tutor will make sure that you have a homework timetable and it will be up to you to organise yourself and make sure that you meet deadlines

You should keep track of what tasks have been set and when work needs to be handed in If you are not sure about anything, please make sure that you ask your subject teacher or your tutor so that they can help you

Try to pack your school bag the night before so that you have everything with you for the day ahead

All of your uniform and equipment should be clearly labelled with your name so that if you misplace it we can return it to you quickly

Please also name your school coat as well as your blazer Naming your belongings will help to ensure they are returned to you if they become lost

You will have a locker near your classroom to store your books in during the day, try to use this sensibly so that you are not carrying too much in your school bags during the day It is best to unpack your school bag into your locker when you arrive in the morning and then just put back into it your first two lesson’s books Remember you can return to your locker at the break and lunchtimes to re-organise your bag for the next two lessons

You will also have a cube locker for your PE kit, please clearly name your PE bag on the outside before storing it and all bags should be secured with a padlock as your cube lockers are open fronted This just deters anybody from ‘borrowing’ your kit!

Organisation & Homework

In order to keep you organised, fully informed and give you access to learning materials from each of your teachers, Merchant Taylors’ School uses Firefly This takes over the role that homework diaries or planners used to have Firefly is a website that will act as an organiser, telling you what lessons you have coming up It will also have resources to help you learn, such as videos, presentations and documents Firefly helps you in recording homework, keeping a schedule of what homework needs to be done, and by when It will even allow you to submit work to teachers from home

School Rules

Our school rules are there to keep you safe and happy and most of them you will just find out about along the way but here are a few to remember when you first arrive

Be on time to school, lessons, lunchtimes, clubs and meetings

Walk on the left in the corridors and on the stairs

Be courteous to each other and to the staff

Hold the doors open for each other, say please and thank you

Hand your mobile phones in - you cannot use them during the school day

Do not chew gum - it is not allowed in school!

No make-up and no jewellery other than a gold or silver stud in the lobe of pierced earsremember you HAVE to remove earrings for every PE lesson

No food or drink can be consumed in a classroom or in a corridor - only in the dining room or outside

Keep our school tidy and put all litter in the bins

Do not run inside the school building

Do not leave your school bag or your PE bag in the corridor

Keep your locker areas clear of belongings –store your things inside your lockers

Observe the Upper Thompson Building One Way System

Sing in assembly - remember you are part of our MTGS school community

Observe the silence rule going into and out of assembly

Skirts must be knee length

Hand in your homework on time

Care about others in school and help everyone to be happy

School

Uniform

General Guidelines

The School welcomes the co-operation of parents in seeing that the pupils pay proper attention to their appearance and that they look after their uniform and wear it correctly

Hair-styles should be neat, simple and suitable for school Long hair must be tied back

School uniform must be worn by pupils on their way to and from school and when they are engaged in activities connected with the School, unless permission to the contrary has been given

Parents are reminded of the importance of naming all items of clothing and sports kit Each School has a lost property room and you can speak to Reception staff to find out when they can be accessed

False nails, coloured nail varnish and false eyelashes are not allowed Only clear or natural varnish is permitted

PE Lessons

Earrings are not allowed when taking part in PE Please make sure that any piercing takes place at the start of the summer holidays so that may be removed on the day of PE lessons

On PE days pupils to come to School wearing their PE Kit Uniform should be worn on the remaining days

School Shop

Monkhouse Schoolwear Shop is an independent concern run by F R Monkhouse Ltd, specialist school suppliers, who operate in several other leading schools in the North of England

The address for the shop is : 80 Coronation Road, Crosby, Liverpool L23 5RH

Tel: 0151 924 0975

Details of specific opening times can be found at www monkhouse com

'Nearly new ' uniform can be purchased at very reasonable prices if required Please contact Mrs C Byrne via email for more information

c byrne@merchanttaylors com

GIRLS - Winter/Spring

School blazer* this may be worn inside school in winter

Plain navy skirt or plain navy trousers Skirt should be no more than 8cm above the knee when kneeling and always worn appropriately Trousers should be straight leg in style

Long-sleeved open-necked blouse* in School material Must be worn tucked into waistband of skirt/trousers

School V-necked, long-sleeved jumper* with light blue stripes at neck and cuffs

Y10 - 11 may wear a plain navy V-necked jumper

Plain dark navy knee-length socks or tights

Plain black shoes, flat heels only without motif or contrasting material Open sided/sling back shoes or trainer style are not allowed

Coat (optional) Navy or Black outer coat, plain in colour with no trimmings (Coat or Blazer must be worn to and from School ) Coats are strongly recommended for those pupils not travelling by car

GIRLS - Spring/Summer

School blazer* (must be worn to and from School)

Short-sleeved, open-necked blouse* in School material May be worn with winter skirt/trousers Must be worn tucked into waistband of skirt/ trousers

School V-necked, long-sleeved jumper* or School cardigan* with light blue stripes at neck and cuffs

Y10 - 11 may wear a plain navy V-necked jumper

Plain dark navy knee-length socks or tights

Plain black shoes, flat heels only without motif or contrasting material Open sided/sling back shoes or trainer style are not allowed

GIRLS - PE Uniform

All articles of clothing MUST have name tapes on the OUTSIDE, NOT inside Socks, racquets, training shoes and swimming caps should show the full name in special indelible ink

Navy crested Polo Shirt*

Navy Games Skort*

Navy blue Tracksuit Trousers* or Navy blue athletics leggings*

Games Socks*

White Ankle Socks

Navy Blue half-zip Sweater*

Swimming Costume (Spring Term)*

Swimming Cap - latex (Spring Term)*

Navy Blue Sports Holdall

Gum shield/shin pads for Hockey (Autumn Term)

Please note - pupils are expected to wear Sports Trainers (these are sturdy trainers suitable for a wide variety of indoor and outdoor activities) It is advisable to wear Astro boots for Hockey

Any Team kits will be ordered by the PE staff

Accessories

Navy/Black gloves

School scarf*

Plain navy or blue elastic ties or ribbons

Plain navy or black slides of simple design No jewellery is allowed except simple earrings, Not jewels - maximum of one in each ear A plain gold or silver chain with a religious symbol may be worn under blouse Bags should be black / navy and large enough to accommodate all necessary exercise / text books

* School Regulation items, which are available to purchase from Monkhouse Schoolwear Shop

Learning

Support & Pastoral Care

Pastoral Care

General pastoral care is provided by every member of staff, but each pupil is cared for more specifically by the Form Tutor/Teacher, who monitors academic progress and emotional wellbeing The Form Tutor/Teacher should be the first person to whom a pupil turns for help or advice If required the Form Tutor/Teacher can refer a matter to the to the Pastoral Counselling Team

Learning Support

At Merchant Taylors’ we strive to provide a caring and supportive environment for each of our pupils We aim to develop self-esteem, confidence and resilience as well as addressing the needs of the whole child We recognise pupils of all abilities may experience obstacles to learning and we treat each child as an individual, providing them with personalised learning and the support they require to flourish and achieve their maximum potential

Pupils can see the Pastoral Care Team about concerns such as friendships, family life, bereavement, food issues, motivation and selfesteem Staff use counselling skills with pupils and follow guidelines approved by the British Association of Counselling and Psychotherapy

The School Nurse is available to discuss health or other matters

Mr G Ion Assistant Head Pastoral & DSL

July 2030 probably seems a lifetime away and I imagine that you have given this date little, if any, thought at all However, it is at this point that you would have completed your journey at MTGS; I am excited to see all that you can accomplish in the next seven years

Whilst leaving the school is, no doubt, at the back of your minds, I guarantee that the time will pass by and, before you know it, you will be about to start yet another step of your life!

These seven years will bring challenges but will also present to you some fantastic opportunities, all of which I encourage you to embrace with eagerness and an open mind

Friendships will be formed that will last beyond your time at school; you will become adults with the character and strength to go into the world and make a difference

Of course, this requires commitment and dedication but I am confident that each and every one of you possess the characteristics necessary to embrace all that the next seven years will ask of you

All of this may seem a daunting prospect now but trust me, it will be both fulfilling and exciting Rest assured, you will not be doing this alone as I, along with all of the staff, are here to support you on this journey and feel privileged to be a part of it I look forward to welcoming you in September and being part of the next stage of your educational journey

Ms K Howard SENCO

We are proud of and celebrate each of our individual pupils We aim to provide a caring and supportive environment, and believe each pupil has the ability to succeed and achieve in all aspects of life

It is our job to support you in your journey, by recognising your strengths and building independence and confidence, whilst promoting your well-being

During your school day, we are here to develop your learning and understanding of how you learn best, to ensure all teachers understand and provide support for you in the classroom, and to provide Learning Support Lessons to help with any aspect of your learning Most importantly, we are always available if you have any concerns or worries

My name is Krystal, and I am the school counsellor at Merchant Taylors’ I am passionate about supporting the mental health and wellbeing of all students

The counselling service offers students dedicated time and space to confidentially discuss and explore any issues, concerns or worries that they may have Students come to counselling for a number of reasons, these include friendship and relationship concerns, issues surrounding their sense of self, self-confidence and self esteem and feeling anxious or low in mood

Referrals can be made by the student themselves, teachers, and parents/carers In the first instance, consent for counselling must come from the student, i e , students cannot be made to come to counselling Additionally, for those in Year 7, consent from a parent/carer is required

Requests and referrals can be made by emailing Krystal

k scott@merchanttaylors com

Enquiries are usually responded to within 48 hours during term-time

No doubt you are all very excited and nervous about starting Senior School My name is Nurse Bickley and I am here along with Miss Roberts (Nursing Assistant), as well as your teachers, to help you adjust

If you feel unwell it is important to tell a teacher, you may be sent out for some fresh air or a drink of water, if you are still unwell or if you have hurt yourself you will be sent to see me in the Medical Room which is just by reception

If you need to go home, we will contact your parents and look after you until they pick you up If you are off School, your Parents/ Guardians need to ring Reception on the first morning of your absence to let us know Schoolwork can be emailed to you for prolonged absence

You can help look after yourself by making sure that you bring a water bottle and fill it up regularly and eat your snack and lunch Come and see me if you have any other problems or if you want to chat and need advice There is also a Nursing Assistant called Miss Roberts who will be around if I am not

Good luck and enjoy your time at MTGS!

Krystal Scott School Counsellor

Mrs J Bickley School Nurse

Sixth Form Mentors

The sixth form girls act as excellent role models for our younger students They nurture them and listen to them as supporting mentors

This is invaluable as the older pupils have often experienced similar issues and have overcome them successfully Our Sixth Form girls are experienced older girls who are ready to listen to you and give support and help if you need it In addition to our Head Girl’s Team we have also have Subject Captains Teachers and other pupils will help you to find your way and will give you lots of advice too There are many things to remember when you come to a new school but do not worry, as you can see, there are lots of people ready to help you!

Ground Floor

First Floor