Year 7

Year Leader: Mrs C Fyvie-Rae

Hello, my name is Mrs Fyvie-Rae and I am Head of Year 7. I look forward to meeting you in May when I come and visit you in your primary school. During that meeting I will tell you alittle bit about life at The Westgate School, how it is different to your primary school and there will be a chance for you to ask me questions. There is even the opportunity for you to dress up in our school uniform so you can see exactly what you will be wearing in September.

After my visit in May you will come and do a taster day with us in June. This will be an opportunity for you to sample some lessons and begin to find your way around. Later in June you will come for a meeting with your parents. At this meeting you find out what tutor group you have and have a chat with your tutor about the expectations we have of you.

If all these visits are not enough I would love to see you attend the summer camp in the first week of the summer holidays. There are a lot of fun activities to take part in. It's also a great opportunity for you to get to know your tutor group, your way around school and taste some delicious food the canteen has to offer!

If you want to know a bit more about the school explore the website and look at the pictures and comments by students, parents and staff. This will give you a real insight into your new school.

Enjoy the last few months in your primary school and I look forward to meeting you all very soon.

Mrs Fyvie-Rae

 

Welcome Letter

Admissions Increase

We are pleased to be able to say that The Westgate School will be increasing it's Pupil Admission Number to 240 pupils in Year 7 from 2012.

Parents and carers should note that the deadline for admissions for Year 7 2012 is October 31st 2011.

You will receive all necessary information through your son/daughter's primary schools. A copy of the County's brochure A Parent's Guide To Applying To A School Place will be delivered along with a letter around the week beginning Monday 12th September 2011, the online application system then opening on Monday 19th September. 

A value source of information is www.3.hants.gov.uk/learning. This includes a link where you can enter your postcode if you are not sure what catchment area you live.

We look forward to welcoming you to our Open Evening on Thursday 29th September 2011 from 6pm, and our Open Mornings on Wednesday 5th October and Wednesday 12th October between 9am and 12  noon, which will help you in reaching this important decision for your son/daughter. We would also welcome enquiries from  parents, carers and children who would like a tour of our school with our prefects and a chance to speak to a member of our leadership team at any other time - please give the school a ring when we return on Monday 5th September 2011. We wish all in our community a lovely summer.

Miss  Marshall

Deputy Headteacher

What Year 7 pupils like about The Westgate School

'The Westgate school gives us support and education.  They give you help when you need it. The Westgate school is just like a big family!'

'The Westgate school is inspiring and everyone is super friendly!' 

 

Our Year 7's complete their first exciting week at The Westgate School.

Click here to read their comments.

Comments From Parents

Dear Ms Fyvie-Rae,

We are delighted to receive XXX's report. He is the happiest he has ever been at school and as a result is making excellent progress. We are very grateful  for the high energy inspirational teaching he is receiving and for the care that the Year 7 teachers took to settle him into senior school life. Many Thanks. Parent.

 

 

 

Dear MS Fyvie-Rae,

I would like to thank you for all your hard work on XXX's behalf over the last year. He has had a fantastic first year at The Westgate, due in no small way to your diligence, superb planning and quick response to any issue, however minor. From the induction week onwards we have seen his confidence in his own abilities grow and his social group increase. We are so greatful for all your hard work in ensuring the pupils were emotionally secure before they even embarked on their studies at the School. Thank you once again for an excellent, seemless transfer and a great first year. Kind Regards. Parent.

 

 

 

Letter from a parent

 

My Year 7 son told me last week that Westgate was the best school he had been to (out of 4 schools in total, that's not bad).

 

He is so happy and settled, and appears to have made friends, it all seems a far cry from the child who was finding everything just a bit too tough at the end of Year 6.We would like to thank you, and all the staff, for their commitment and hard work.

Congratulations on a successful Transition.

 

Dear Mrs Fyvie-Rae,

I just wanted to write you a short note to say how well XXX has settled in. I know it's only been four days but so far she is really enjoying the school - long may it last!

We were a little concerned as she has come from a small private school but the size of The Westgate has not fazed her, in fact she has embraced it. I am sure that her older brother is already with you has helped.

On her first day, her description of the school was " it's satisfying and fun" I thought I would share that with you as it made me smile.

So thank you very much,

Kind Regards, Parent.

 

'Congratulations to the Headteacher and staff for an incredibly successful transition from junior to senior school. My daughter has just completed her first week at The Westgate School and she is absolutely loving it. She has come from out of catchment, so has come with no friends from her junior school. Normally you would imagine that to be a hugely daunting experience, but due to her attendance at summer camp she felt confident that she roughly knew her way around the school and would recognise plenty of faces, both teachers and students . Even looking forward to catching up with some new 'best friends'

Kind Regards, Parent

 

 

What will they Study?

Year 7 sees all pupils start to learn in a different style and pace from their Primary School. They will study the core subjects of English, Maths and Science as well as a modern foreign language, ICT, History, Geography, Drama, Music, Art, Religious Enquiry, PSHE, and a range of skills learnt through our Design and Technology department. They will be set two pieces of home learning a night and they should spend approximately half an hour on each piece.

This is a vital year in their education as this year now provides the groundwork for preparation in terms of the Key Stage 3 tests they shall take in Year 8.

Challenges for the Year

This Year is incredibly challenging for the pupils. They need to adapt to the new working routines of secondary school, they will be adjusting to the increase in size from their primary school, and they will be encountering at least 12 different teachers in the range of subjects they study. Everything possible is done in Year 7 to help pupils settle in quickly, and details of these are contained in this section of the website under the heading ‘ Transition’.  Providing as much support as possible to help the pupils settle in allows them to get up to speed academically as quickly as possible.

Events

Pupils have the opportunity to participate in a range of curricular and non-curricular events throughout Year 7. These include –

  • Geography fieldwork 
  • Farm visits
  • Calshot activity centre residential
  • French/History trip to Bayeaux
  • History trip to Portchester Castle
  • Drama productions
  • Enterprise Days
  • Gifted and Talented Days  
  • Sporting and other extra-curricular clubs and societies.