Year 7 : Shagor Ahmad

How are the new Year 7 students inducted into their new school?
In July all Year 6 students will attend their new secondary school for an induction day. On this day students will meet their Form Tutor, Pastoral Co-ordinator, Year Team Leader and the other students in their tutor group. The day will involve orientation activities as well as the opportunity to experience a day at secondary school. When Year 7 students start school in September they are the first students to return giving them the opportunity to find their feet in their new school. Each tutor group is also assigned a Year 10 Co-tutor, which helps the new Year 7 students to meet older students in the school. Before the end of the first half term there is also a ‘Year 7 Settling In Evening’ when parents are invited to the school to meet form tutors to discuss the progress their child is making and to find out how they have settled in the school.

How much homework should students expect to be set at secondary school?
At the start of the school year all students will be given a homework timetable which informs students and parents/carers which homework they should expect to be set each day. In Year 7 students should expect to be set homework for two subjects each day and should spend one and a half to two hours on homework each evening and over the weekend. Students are also given a homework diary in which to record their homework and we ask parents to check this daily.

Who do parents /carers contact if they need to speak to someone at the school?
Each student is in a tutor group with an allocated Form Tutor. The first point of contact for parents is the form tutor and initial contact should be made through them.

What are the times of the school day?
From Monday to Thursday school starts at 9:00am and finishes at 3:30pm. Students have a break at 11:10 -11:30 and a 45 minute lunch break starting at 12:30.  On Fridays school starts at 9:00am and finishes at 2:40pm. Break is at 10:50 to 11:10 and lunch starts at 12:50.

What sports opportunities are there at SPWTS?
The new building includes incredible sports facilities. Indoor facilities include a main sports hall, a dance studio and two further fitness suites. Outdoors there is a full-size Astroturf football pitch which can also be divided into three smaller pitches, there are two tennis courts which can also be adapted for basketball. The PE department offers a wide range of sports not only through the PE curriculum but also through the extra -curricular activities offered before and after school and at weekends.

Year 7 : Anisha Ahmed

Do students have the opportunity to learn to play a musical instrument?
If students already play a musical instrument they will continue to have the opportunity to continue with lessons at St Paul’s Way Trust School. The music department will also provide those students interested in learning a musical instrument with the opportunity to start music lessons.

What clubs and after school activities are there?
There is a wide range of extra-curricular activities on offer. There is a wide range of sports activities before and after school including; football, dance, badminton, basketball and cricket. There is also a school choir and other music activities each week. There are curriculum support activities offered in every subject and homework clubs offering resources and a quiet space for students to do extra study.

What is the schools policy on extended holiday?

As a school we would ask that parents do not take their children out of school during term time. However if under certain circumstances extended holiday is needed, a formal request needs to be put in writing to the Headteacher.