Welcome Year 7 to your new School
We would like to extend a warm welcome to you at the start of what we think will be a happy and successful partnership. We are sure that you will be very happy and successful here. It may seem strange at first being part of a big school but we are a very friendly school and you will soon settle in and make lots of new friends.
We believe that your success in school depends upon our partnership. We rely on our new parents to help us to give that support which is crucial to the development of your son or daughter. We have put together some information for you to help the transition to Year 7. To view our New Parents Presentation 30th April 2013 click here or for information that your child may have on joining us in year 7, we have put together some information for you, click here.
Curriculum
The curriculum in year 7 has been designed in such a way to enable all the young people to become:
Successful learners who enjoy learning, make progress and achieve
Confident individuals who live safe, healthy and fulfilling lives
Responsible citizens who make a positive contribution to society
With this in mind, the curriculum is focused on developing the lifelong learning skills and competencies of each student. These skills are introduced and extended on in four lessons a week of dedicated Learning to Learn time delivered by Form Tutors. The same competencies and skills are then used by students to work across the areas of Technology, Humanities and Arts. These areas will follow broad themes running from "Me" and "Me and my school" in the first term, through to "Me and the Universe" at the end of year 7. These themes are designed to be inspiring, flexible, challenging and open ended, allowing each and every student to achieve their full potential.
Alongside the competency based curriculum runs the SEAL programme (Social Emotional Aspects of Learning). SEAL is a comprehensive approach to promoting the social and emotional skills that underpin effective learning, positive behaviour, regular attendance, staff effectiveness and the emotional health and well-being of all who learn and work in school.
Form Groups
The year is divided into 12 form groups of approximately 28 students, each form group has its own form tutor who will welcome your child first thing every morning during form time.
As a school we passionately believe that every child should know and feel that they matter and strive to personalise the curriculum as far as possible to meet the individual needs of every child. To allow us to achieve this we have 12 form groups, split into 10 mixed ability form groups and 2 Access form groups.
The introduction of two Access groups has allowed us to create two smaller form groups (approximately 20 students) and to be very flexible in their curriculum diet. Places within the Access groups are for students whose individual needs determine a demand for a greater focus on English, Maths and Science.
Generally, a student will remain within the same form group for their first 3 years at Rivington and Blackrod High School. The form groups are changed because of student option preferences at the end of Year 9, and may be changed due to other factors at any time throughout the years 7-9. The form tutor is the first point of contact for parents. He or she will see your child every morning and will have a full overview of your child's progress and will meet with you at the end of the first term for parents evening. Students will be informed which form group they are in on the first day of the new term.
Please email here for a copy of our Year 7 new intake booklet. This includes information which is given out when young people start within school and we hope will be a help to any new parents and students. Further information on uniform requirements, day to day equipment required, library provision, information technology, homework and student planners is available through this website, but should you need any further help, support or guidance or if you just simply need reassurance then please do not hesitate to contact us.
We look forward to meeting you.
Andy Tipney
Director of Lower School
