Transition

Introduction

A great deal of preparation is made beforehand to ensure a smooth transition from our Primary partner schools. We are very aware that transition from Primary school is a big change for many pupils, therefore, we are very keen to get to know our partner Primary school pupils well before they arrive at Bryn Tawe, so that they settle in as quickly as possible.

As part of our successful transition programme our primary school pupils will visit Bryn Tawe regularly while they are in Year 5 and Year 6. They will take part in varied activities and will begin to develop important relationships with staff and fellow pupils. These involve problem solving, quizzes, science and food technology lessons, an entrepreneurial competition, sport skills sessions and team building activities, “taster” lessons in a range of subjects and the transition residential course to Llangrannog. You will receive a timetable of all the activities and dates as part of our transition programme.

Starting secondary school

FAQ

Your child needs to be outside their registration class, ready to start the registration period with their form teacher by 8.30 on Monday, Tuesday, Thursday and Friday. On Wednesday, there will be a KS3 assembly for Years 7, 8 and 9 so pupils will go straight to the main hall by 8.30 rather than the registration room.
8.35–9.00
Registration / Assembly (Tuesday)
9.00–9.50 Lesson 1
9.50 - Break
10.10-11.00 Lesson 2
11.00–11.50 Lesson 3
11.50–12.40 Lesson 4
12.40–1.30 Lunch
1.30– 2.20 Lesson 5
2.20–3.10 Lesson 6
Please see the Ready to Learn section of the website for a full list of items.
Please see the school’s uniform policy
Bryn Tawe has a clear anti-bullying policy, the school will not tolerate bullying of any kind and each case will be dealt with swiftly, thoroughly and sensitively. Pupils must report any issue to a member of staff so that the problem can be dealt with promptly.
The City and County of Swansea are responsible for school transport. They will contact you in August with travel arrangements for your child. If you have any further queries, please contact them directly.
There are many people available to help, should a pupil have a problem. Your child’s form tutor sees them daily, and is a regular point of contact, so they are in a good position to help. Pupils can ask any member of staff for help at any time, they can ask the Leader of Learning or a Year 10 mentor, should they lack the confidence to approach an adult. Pupils can go to the school office for practical help e.g. if they are lost, need to contact home, are unwell or need first aid.
Pupils may bring a mobile phone to school as some travel long distances to school. However, the phone must be switched off in the bag between 8:30a.m - 3:10 p.m. Pupils who fail to comply with the policy may lose the use of a phone for a period of time and if the problem persists, they may lose the privilege of bringing a phone to school altogether for a period of time, or even permanently.
Please see the Mobile Phone Policy section of the website.
Pupils can choose to have lunch in the school canteen or bring their own packed lunch if preferred. Parents will receive information regarding our IPay system and how to top it up at our open evening.
There are a wide variety of meals on offer in the canteen, pupils choose their meal and pay for each item individually. There is a ‘meal of the Day’ option available daily, this is a more economical option when choosing a meal. Vegetarian and vegan options are available, please contact the school if your child has any specific dietary requirements.
Pupils receive one piece of homework a week in the core subjects (Welsh, English, Mathematics and Science) and one piece a fortnight in the other subjects. Homework will be placed on the ‘Satchel One’ app. Both parents and pupils can log in to the app and receive notifications when homework is set. Homework set will be in both Welsh and English.