Induction Days

Monday 12 July 2010

This week we extend a very warm welcome to our new Year 7 pupils who join us on Thursday 15 and Friday 16 July as a part of our induction programme. We are looking forward to meeting with them again, after our visits to them in their primary schools and our initial induction meetings in June.

This is the first year that we have been able to host our new tutor groups for two days and follows consultation with local primary Headteachers. We hope the pupils will benefit from this extended experience, enjoy the range of activities they will be able to engage in and make new friends. Many are already familiar with the school as they have participated in activities on site during their time in their primary schools, or over the last year in our programme of activities after-school and on our Primary Challenge Day in June.

Because we have already started our new timetable, pupils joining us in September will have the opportunity to follow their actual timetables over these two days and will meet the teachers who will be teaching them in the autumn term. They will meet others in their new tutor groups and participate in their first lessons at Deer Park. They may even be given their first piece of homework!

Miss Skerten, Head of Key Stage 3, and her team of tutors will be waiting in the main hall on Thursday 15 July to greet the children on their arrival and, after a short assembly, they will join their new tutors and current pupils from Deer Park for a brief orientation, before going to their first lessons. Also present will be Mrs Cowley, our new KS3 Pastoral Manager, who will be working closely with the new year group in September and will therefore be an important point of contact for parents.

On Thursday 15 July, we invite parents of our new Year 7s to join us at our Induction Evening at 7.00pm. This is a further opportunity for parents and pupils to find out more about the transition to secondary school and after a brief presentation in the main hall in which it is hoped two of our new pupils will accept the challenge and be able to reflect on their experiences during the day, parents will have the opportunity to meet their child’s new tutor. During the evening, senior members of staff will be on hand to answer questions about transport, the curriculum and care, guidance and support. Also present will be our SENCO, Mrs Coull and our Gifted and Talented Co-ordinator, Miss Wilkins, governors and The Friends of Cirencester Deer Park School. Furthermore, parents will have the opportunity to buy items of school uniform from D and J Sports, or second hand items from The Friends.

We are committed to working in partnership with parents and to help inform your choice of a secondary school for your child we are currently hosting a further series of Open Mornings for pupils in Year 5. If you are interested in looking around the school, please do not hesitate to contact our Admissions Secretary, Allison Boucher. We will be welcoming prospective parents and pupils to the school on our Open Mornings on Monday 20 and Tuesday 21 September and to our Open Evening on Wednesday 29 September. Furthermore we will be offering more activities after school for pupils in Years 5 and 6 from September 2010. Details of these will be circulated to schools and published on our website.

Chiquita Henson
Headteacher