Transition to Secondary School
At Sandling, we understand that the process of transitioning to secondary school can be daunting for many children. We aim to prepare children for this change as much as possible so all pupils have the best chance of making a smooth transition. Our pupils have the opportunity to take part in a range of activities throughout Year 6.
How we help prepare children:
Maidstone Transition Programme
Each year at Sandling, we participate in the Specialist Teaching and Learning Service’s Transition Programme, which has been devised by Primary and Secondary teachers to make that move from Year 6 to 7 just that little bit easier.
The programme will begin in term 4 and run until the end of the academic year. By the end July, we hope your child will feel more prepared to move on having had the opportunity to learn about and practise some of the many skills/tasks expected at secondary school, such as personal organisation, meeting uniform expectations, changing rooms for lessons, writing at speed, reading a timetable and managing homework etc.
In addition to the activities at school, we will also be sending tips and activities home for you to complete with your children, which will further help them to prepare for Year 7 and support you to feel more confident about sending them on the Secondary School. Tips will be emailed from term 4 onwards.
Roles of Responsibility
In Year 6 the children are encouraged to take on responsibilities within the school including whole school monitor jobs. There are 30 jobs ranging from classroom helpers to lunchtime salad servers. The children work with a partner of their choice to complete their jobs from 12.30-12.45pm every day. The jobs are changed every ‘seasonal’ term and the children choose them on a volunteer basis. The Year 6 children enjoy these responsibilities as they appreciate being treated as mature and responsible young people.
Additionally, our Year 6 pupils have the opportunity to stand for election in our Team Captain votes each year. Elected captains and deputies will take on the responsibility being role models for all other pupils and a variety of jobs throughout the year such as showing around visitors and distributing weekly behaviour certificates.
Year 6 children also form our team of Peer Mediators, who are trained to discuss and solve small lunchtime problems which may occur on the playground. Our peer mediators are trained by an external agency and have regular meetings throughout the year.
Year 6 Residential
Every year, children in Year 6 are offered the opportunity to extend their learning beyond the classroom for a 2 night, 3 day residential visit.
The children get a real taste of being independent and how to work successfully as a team. The focus of the 3 day visit is to develop their interpersonal skills, build their self-confidence and to try activities that cannot be provided by a school alone.
The site is modern, almost all activities are based outdoors and all the staff are fully trained for the activities they lead. The children are provided with 3 healthy two-course meals each day with dietary requirements catered for.
The children who attend the residential trip always enjoy it. Some begin confident and some are a little nervous, but by the time we come back, everyone feels they have achieved something and learned something new (including the staff)! We see the children grow within themselves during the visit and this makes it a privilege to supervise. It is an opportunity for them to really find out who they are becoming as a person.
More information will be given to children and parents in term 6 of Year 5.
Life Skills
Please see the Life Skills page for more details.
Useful Links:
KCC Secondary School Places https://www.kent.gov.uk/education-and-children/schools/school-places/secondary-school-places#tab-2
Links to Secondary School Transition Website Pages:
- Invicta Grammar School https://www.invicta.viat.org.uk/2390/joining-invicta-september-2025
- Maidstone Grammar School for Girls https://www.mggs.org/joining-us/joining-our-year-7/transition-to-year-7/
- Maidstone Grammar School https://mgs.kent.sch.uk/admission/year-7-entry/
- Oakwood Park Grammar School https://www.opgs.org/page/?title=Year+6+Transition&pid=23
- School of Science and Technology https://www.sstmaidstone.viat.org.uk/2638/parent-booklet
- The Lenham School https://www.thelenham.viat.org.uk/4661/transition-from-year-6-year-7
- The Maplesden Noakes School https://www.maplesden.kent.sch.uk/812/admissions
- Valley Park School https://www.kent.gov.uk/education-and-children/schools/school-places/secondary-school-places#tab-2
