Year 6 Transition - John Cabot Academy

Welcome to John Cabot Academy

We are delighted to welcome you to John Cabot Academy. At JCA, we understand that leaving primary school and starting at secondary school can be a worrying time for so many young people and their families, as well as a new exciting phase in your educational journey. We are keen for students to feel as confident and as settled as possible when they join us at JCA.

Please take the opportunity to look through the information below along with the rest of the school website, which has a range of important and useful information to help the transition to secondary school be a smooth one.

By working closely together we will be able to ensure that your children, our students, grow and develop into young people who can fulfil their potential.

Success in education comes as a result of consistent, day in, day out discipline, hard work and attention to detail. Achievement for your child will follow if they focus on following these ‘core basics’ for students:

Attend school every day and go to every lesson on time
Wear the correct uniform and bring the correct equipment
Follow the Ready to Learn behavior system (more information below)
Be respectful, supportive and compassionate in your relationships with staff and fellow students
Be inquisitive, critical and curious in your lessons
Contribute to the wider academy life e.g. by being on the student council or joining a sports team or performing in a production.

These statements are not intended to cover all circumstances but I hope they provide you and your child with the ethos with which we will go about our business at John Cabot Academy. Hopefully, through home and school working together and sticking to these common ‘basics’, we will be able to ensure that all students have the very best chance to thrive academically; flourish and grow as young people.

With best wishes

Kate Willis
Principal

Transition Events

We are excited to welcome you and ensure a smooth transition for your child. These events will help your child feel more comfortable and confident as they start year 7. If you have any questions or need further information, please do not hesitate to contact us.

May/June/July: Primary School Visits

Our head of admissions, Julie Jarrett, will visit every primary school and meet the children and their year 6 teachers.

Wednesday 4th June 2025: Welcome evening 4.00 until 5.30 pm

We look forward to meeting you at the Welcome evening for year 6 parents. This event will be held in the main hall and is an opportunity to be welcomed to the Academy by the Principal. You will receive further information on the transition process in the welcome booklet, meet with key members of staff, try on uniform, sample food from school canteen and receive information from curriculum team leaders.

You will also be able to buy pre-loved uniform. You can pay by card or cash.

Wednesday 2nd July 2025: Year 6 Taster Day

This is an opportunity for pupils to visit the school, take part in taster lessons and become familiar with the school site. Pupils do not need to wear their primary school uniform. They should report to the Main Reception by 9.15am. Collection will be at 2.30pm. All pupils are asked to bring a packed lunch and refillable water bottle along with a pen or pencil to write with.

Additional visits are available to children with SEND who may benefit from extra transition support. We will work directly with the primary schools where they recommend this.

Monday 15^th September 2025: Year 7 Day of Fun

A day of fun team building activities for our year 7 students. This day allows them to build lasting friendships with other year 7 students.

Letters to Parents:

Welcome Letter March 2025

Year 6 Transition flyer

MCAS letter

Welcome Booklet

Forms/Documents

Uniform

Free School Meals

The English education system at JCA

Secondary school lasts 5 years from ages 11-16. It is a legal requirement that students attend every day, although they can have a day off for a religious event e.g. Eid. Students start their first year at JCA in year 7 (following on from year 6 in Primary school) and their final year is year 11. The school year is broken up into 6 terms with holidays in between each term. Throughout the year there are ‘inset’ days, where students do not come to school but staff are training.

Students are required to wear the correct school uniform every day as it is a way of showing you belong to our community.

From year 7 onwards, students will be in the same tutor group with a tutor who supports them in all their welfare needs throughout the 5 years. We want our students to feel empowered to ask for help from their tutor or any member of staff.

Years 7, 8 & 9 are known as Key Stage 3. Students study English, Maths, Science, History, Geography, Spanish, Computer Science, Music, Drama, Technology, Art, Religion & Philosophy and Physical Education. It is also a time for students to take part in clubs which include music performances to sports teams. Students get homework in every subject, every week from year 7 onwards. It can all be accessed through Show My Homework, our online Homework diary.

Every year parents will receive feedback on how their child is doing at school. You will receive two written reports (in terms 4 & 6) and will be invited to a Parents’ evening to discuss with each teacher how your child is getting on.

In the middle of year 9, students choose their GCSE ‘options’. Everybody has to study English Language and Literature, Maths, Science and Physical Education, but students can choose the other subjects they wish to study in years 10 & 11.

Years 10 & 11 are known as Key Stage 4. It is during these two years that students study for 9 GCSEs or vocational qualifications. A few subjects have coursework, but for most, the exams at the end of year 11 determine the grade. The grades range from a 9 (the highest) down to a 1 (the lowest). A ‘pass’ to guarantee a place at college is a grade 4. Throughout years 10 & 11, we will do a series of ‘mock’ exams to help prepare our students for the real exams in the summer of year 11.

During year 11 we support students onto the next stage of their education. This could be a school based ‘Sixth form’ (ours is called CLF P16), or College or an apprenticeship (which is a mixture of work and college).