Year 6 into 7 Transition

Welcome to Plume Academy — Year 6 into Year 7

Welcome to the Year 6 into Year 7 transition page for Plume Academy. As an academy with a thriving secondary school and sixth form, we are committed to making the move from primary to secondary school as smooth, safe and positive as possible for your child. Our transition programme is designed to reflect our values of Respect, Ambition, Resilience and Community and to help every student feel confident, included and ready to learn.

Key dates for your diary

SEND Transition Days: 16–18 June 2026 — tailored support and small-group visits for students with additional needs.

Transition Day (all new Year 7 students): 24 June 2026 — a full day in school to meet tutors, experience lessons and familiarise themselves with campus routines.

Parents’ Information Evening: Thursday 25 June 2026 — two sessions at 5:00pm and 6:00pm to suit families. This evening will outline day-to-day life at Plume, pastoral arrangements and how you can support your child.

Please make a note of these dates and contact us if you need additional arrangements.

Key staff you can contact

Head of Year 7: Miss J. Pitts

Assistant Head of Year: Mrs N. Janes — n.janes@plume.essex.sch.uk

Assistant Headteacher & Mill Road Campus Lead: Mr M. Owen — m.owen@plume.essex.sch.uk

SENDCO: Mrs H Hills (h.hills@plume.essex.sch.uk)

Mill Road SEND Manager: Mrs J. Farmer (j.farmer@plume.essex.sch.uk)

These staff lead the pastoral and transition work for Year 7. If you have questions before the SEND Transition Days or about the main Transition Day, please email the relevant contact above.

Year 7 Handbook

We encourage all parents to read the Year 7 Parent Handbook. It contains essential information including:

Key staff and contact details

Teaching and learning expectations in Year 7

Pastoral systems and how we support students’ wellbeing

Catering, payments and financial arrangements

Year 7 Handbook

The handbook is a practical guide that will help your child settle in quickly and help you understand routines and expectations.

What to expect on Transition Day

On 24 June, students will:

Meet their tutor and Year 7 peers

Sample a range of lessons to start building familiarity with the secondary curriculum

Take part in team-building activities that emphasise respect and community

Learn about daily routines, including catering, timetables and how support is accessed

These experiences help develop resilience as students adapt to a new environment and build ambition by experiencing the wider curriculum Plume offers.

SEND Transition Days (16–18 June)

Our SEND Transition Days provide:

Smaller group visits tailored to individual needs

Meetings with pastoral and inclusion staff to set up personalised support plans

Opportunity for parents and carers to discuss specific needs and specialist arrangements

If your child has an Education, Health and Care Plan (EHCP) or additional needs, please contact Mrs H. Hills to confirm arrangements.

How we support students’ learning and wellbeing

At Plume Academy we combine high expectations with strong pastoral care:

Tutors and form groups provide day-to-day pastoral support and monitoring

Subject teachers use structured lessons to build knowledge and confidence — supporting ambition in learning

Our inclusion team provides targeted interventions to develop resilience and remove barriers to success

A range of extra-curricular clubs and community projects helps students develop social skills and a sense of belonging

We look forward to welcoming your child to Plume Academy. Our transition programme and Year 7 support are designed to make the move from Year 6 welcoming and effective, reflecting our values of Respect, Ambition, Resilience and Community. Together, we will help every student start secondary school with confidence and purpose.

(For any further queries, please use the contact details above or refer to the Year 7 Parent Handbook.)