INFORMATION ABOUT THE
Year 6 Transition
Thank you for choosing Fowey River Academy. It’s with real pleasure and excitement that we are looking forward to our new cohort of year 7 students joining us here at FRA. With the academy joining Leading Edge Academies Partnership, we have a fantastic future ahead for the whole school community. You will find a great deal of helpful information in the sections below, but should you have any further questions, please contact
Mark Waters (Head of Year 7) mwaters@fracademy.org or the appropriate tutor as identified below.
HOW CAN YOU BE PREPARED
Supporting Emotional Reintegration and Confidence Building
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Recognise the Emotional Transition: Moving from primary to secondary school can stir up a variety of emotions. This year, due to disruptions in schooling, children might feel more anxious or uncertain than usual. Open discussions about these feelings can help ease anxieties.
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Reinforce the Excitement: Emphasise the positive aspects of starting secondary school—new lessons, more responsibilities, new friendships, and exciting opportunities.
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Support through Social Reconnection: Many children have missed social interaction with their peers due to school closures or disruptions. Acknowledge this and encourage your child to look forward to making new friends and reconnecting with familiar faces.
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Talk About the First Day: Rehearse what will happen on the first day of school so your child feels prepared and confident. Discuss potential challenges they might face, and brainstorm solutions together.
Practical Preparations for Year 7
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Create a Study Space at Home: Consider where your child will study, and ensure they have a quiet, organised space to do homework and store school materials. Good organisation at home will support their transition to secondary school.
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Develop Organisational Habits: Teach your child how to manage their time effectively. Discuss the importance of completing homework on time and using a planner or digital tool to stay on top of assignments and deadlines.
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Gather Necessary Equipment: Help your child assemble all the required school supplies ahead of time. Refer to the school’s list of essentials to ensure they are fully prepared for the start of term. The following equipment will be needed for daily lessons:
- Strong waterproof school bag to carry books and supplies.
- Scientific calculator for math and science lessons.
- Pencil case containing the following:
- Pens and pencils
- Coloured pencils
- Pencil sharpener
- Rubber (eraser)
- Ruler
- Compass
- Protractor
- Glue stick
- Paper scissors
Logistical Preparations and Safety
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Recognise the Emotional Transition: Moving from primary to secondary school can stir up a variety of emotions. This year, due to disruptions in schooling, children might feel more anxious or uncertain than usual. Open discussions about these feelings can help ease anxieties.
-
Reinforce the Excitement: Emphasise the positive aspects of starting secondary school—new lessons, more responsibilities, new friendships, and exciting opportunities.
-
Support through Social Reconnection: Many children have missed social interaction with their peers due to school closures or disruptions. Acknowledge this and encourage your child to look forward to making new friends and reconnecting with familiar faces.
-
Talk About the First Day: Rehearse what will happen on the first day of school so your child feels prepared and confident. Discuss potential challenges they might face, and brainstorm solutions together.
More Information
Transport
Roselyn Coaches operates a fleet of nine school buses that serve the school, with bus routes and passes managed by the Passenger Transport Unit at Cornwall Council. During the summer holidays, students will be assigned to specific buses and bus passes will be distributed. It's important to note that students are only allowed to travel on the bus route indicated on their bus pass, and passes are issued only for travel to and from the student's primary home address. Students are not permitted to obtain a second bus pass, and the pass they receive will be linked to their designated route. Additionally, bus passes will include access to the Polruan and Bodinnick ferry crossings if the student is entitled to them. It is essential for students to carry their bus pass at all times and present it when requested by the bus driver or a teacher. For families living outside the designated catchment area, there is no entitlement to a bus pass, and parents are responsible for arranging alternative transportation for their child to and from school. Concessionary bus passes may be available for students outside the catchment area, but these passes are typically not considered until September and are charged at approximately £100 per term. These passes must be arranged through the Passenger Transport Unit at Cornwall Council, which can be contacted by phone at 0300 1234222.
Important Bus Service Information: Punctuality, Rules, and Late Bus Arrangements
Students are expected to be at the bus stop at least five minutes before the scheduled time on their bus pass. The bus cannot wait for latecomers, so punctuality is crucial. Each student can only use the bus for which they have a pass, and if they need to visit friends or relatives, it is the parents’ responsibility to arrange separate travel. To ensure safe and proper conduct on the bus, parents should review the bus rules with their child, as these rules will be sent out by the Passenger Transport Unit alongside the bus pass. In addition to the regular bus service, the academy offers two late buses on Mondays and Wednesdays for students who are participating in afterschool activities. These buses are free of charge and depart from Fowey at 4:10pm. One bus serves Lostwithiel and Tywardreath Highway, while the other serves Tywardreath, St Blazey, and Par. These buses do not stop at every bus stop, but they will make stops near each designated stop, meaning students may have to walk a little further home after disembarking. It is important to note that areas such as Polkerris Hill, Lanlivery, and Lerryn are not served by the late bus.
Parentmail
ParentMail is a system used at Fowey River Academy which helps improve communications between school and parents. Your account can be accessed from your computer or by using the free mobile app. ParentMail is an email and text messaging system which is personalised to you, which makes it quick and easy for the Academy to send communication, messages and letters to parents. ParentMail also handles online payments to the academy. Details and registration will be sent to you when your child starts in September. Please ensure we have your e-mail address and your mobile telephone number to ensure we can communicate with you effectively.
FREE SCHOOL MEALS
Cornwall Council believes that when children eat better, they achieve better. Their Free School Meals Team are aiming to go paperless in the near future. As such they would like all new claimants to apply for Free School Meals online using the Cornwall Council website.
Applying on-line is not only simpler but a quicker route for parents to apply. Paper applications can take up to 10 working days to process, whereas on-line applications will be processed within 3 working days (normally the same day if submitted before 12 noon). Please apply using the link below:
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
