Welcome from Mr Rinaldi, Head of Year 7!
You are about to embark on the next phase in your life – the graduation of primary school and commencement of your secondary journey. You will learn new subjects, make new friends, develop new skills and grow as an individual. I am so excited that you have chosen to embark on this epic voyage with us at Barlby High School.
Barlby High School is a community. A very special, precious and valuable community where every student is known, valued and heard.
My role, alongside our experienced team of form tutors, is to make sure your child is happy, settled and confident. Personally, I aim to ensure that every child enjoys, thrives and flourishes during their first year here at Barlby High School. It is an exciting time, but can also be a little bit daunting, but please don’t worry as you will get to know us well before you start here. It is also an opportunity for a ‘fresh start’; an opportunity to create a positive impression; an opportunity to embark on a new adventure and to be a successful individual within our community.
Our Form Tutors will help your child to feel secure and to make new friends within their form groups and across the year group. They will encourage your child to take advantage of the many clubs, activities and social events over the course of the year. As a pastoral team, we will also be there to guide your child and solve any problems they encounter. This is an important time in your child’s life and we will strive to ensure it is positive and memorable.
Year 6 Open Evening: Thursday 9th October 2025 - 6pm-8pm
Our Transition Plan
Each of the following sections are key elements to the transition process. We have obviously been running and organising such events for many years, we do however, try to refresh and reassess our transition work every year and tailor it to suit the needs of our Year 6. If you have any ideas or anything you feel would benefit your young person, please let me know.
School Visits
We normally visit every student in their primary school so they can meet Mr Rinaldi who is the Transition Lead and Head of Ventus house. He will be able to provide key information and help deal with and answer any questions, queries or worries the young persons may have. It is Mr Rinaldi’s intention to visit each primary school so he can deliver key messages to the young people and try to allay any worries.
Form Groups and Setting
Mr Rinaldi will also speak to a range of staff in the primaries to get as much information as we can. This will include speaking to year 6 staff and Ta’s, SENCO and Head teachers so we have all the key information to help the transition go as smoothly as possible. We will also ensure the young people are placed in forms with friends and peers from their schools. We know this is often a huge worry for a young person, and totally understand how important it is for our young people to be around some familiar faces on their first day. You will be surprised just how quickly our year Year 7 s make new friends. Please give the young person time to settle into the group.
What happens next?
We will be in regular contact over the coming weeks and months about different transition events. This year these will include a Bats Transition Club running over four weeks before you start, a summer school and various taster events throughout the year.
You will find even more detailed information about settling into Year 7 in our transition booklet which you will receive a printed copy of before the summer holidays.
Please do not hesitate to contact us if you have any questions – we can’t wait to meet you!
Transition FAQs
Mr Rinaldi will have met most of the young people before when they attended our variety of taster days and also the hugely successful STEM events we have organised. He has also arranged dates to visit everyone in their classes in primary school.
The first day at secondary school is an exciting day for the whole family, but after such a long summer holiday sometimes it is hard getting back into the routine of school. This guide will explain what to expect from the first day at big school and what you need to know to help you settle in straight away.
During the summer holidays try to make sure you have had a practise run of the journey to school, it will help you to work out exactly what time you need to set off. Practise walking to the bus stop if you catch the school bus, set off in good time.
It will be the first time you have worn your new school uniform, be prepared for lots of photographs from parents and grandparents. You have been warned! Check your pencil case has all the equipment you will need for your lessons. That is such a great way to make a good impression on your teachers. Uniform can be purchased from ‘Classroom Clothing’ in Selby, both online or in store. Their phone number is 01757 700577, if you wish to check opening hours.
When you arrive at school Mr Rinaldi will be waiting for you at the front door. We will go into the hall for a short assembly with the Principal, Mrs Gardner and be introduced to any other important members of staff.
After assembly you’ll be taken to your form room with your form tutor where you can meet your form again. I’m sure you’ll have loads to talk about. You will spend the first period going through your timetable and getting acquainted with your planner. Form tutors will be massively important to you during your time at secondary school. They will get to know you really well, try to get to know them as well. They are great!
At break time there is an opportunity to meet up with other year 7 students in the year 7 student area. You may also have a wander around and meet some of the older students, they are very nice and will make you feel ever so welcome. If you wish to pre-order any food this is the time to do that, have a look at the menu and decide what you’d like.
After break your normal school day will begin. Follow your timetable to see where you are going. Don’t worry about getting lost, there will be loads of people around you to help.
Try to make a good impression with your teachers and classmates by answering loads of questions and using your fantastic manners really maturely. First impressions really count! Be yourself and you’ll have loads of friends by the end of the day.
I will be available at most breaks and lunch times to chat with you and make sure you are happy and feel safe. You can speak to myself, the Year 10 Listeners, Mr Anderson or your form tutor to discuss any concerns you may be having.
The uniform is exactly the same for everyone in school. More information can be found on our Uniform page.
Uniform can be purchased online from ‘Classroom Clothing’ in Selby or from the shop itself, it may be useful to actually visit and try on the uniform, sometimes the blazer can be rather large. Their phone number is 01757 700577, if you wish to check opening.
Buses and walking to school information will be provided in the school’s transition booklet in June. Bicycles are also recommended, but please wear a helmet, and there is ample space to park and secure your bicycle on the bike racks at the front of school. We cannot confirm bus schedules at this time.
Every single year we have students who either arrive on their own, have had a tricky time in primary or are just ready for a fresh start with a new group of friends. And every year it is successful. We ensure this through the following strategies:
- Every single year we have students who either arrive on their own, have had a tricky time in primary school or are just ready for a fresh start with a new group of friends, and every year it is successful. We ensure this through the following strategies:
- There are around 130 students in Year 7 each year; the year group is much bigger than lots of primary schools! This may be daunting to some but think of this as a huge opportunity to meet so many different people.
- Form groupings are created on a student by student basis by Mr Rinaldi. Lots of thought goes into ensuring you have people in your group you and your Year 6 teacher have chosen but also a wide range of students from different schools and different classes. This will mean it is very likely you will get along with lots of students in your form group.
- Many students have mentors in Y9 and Y10 who have been through similar experiences and will explain how it was difficult for them to begin with but will discuss with you what strategies they used and how they were successful.
- In the rare case that you don’t feel as though you have made good friends either through your forms or extra-curricular Mr Rinaldi will have meetings with you and then your parents if necessary and start to look at some targeted groups we have to support friendships.
- Lastly and most importantly – you really aren’t alone in this feeling. There are lots of students feeling just as nervous as you are, all ready and waiting to be your friends.
- Try to make a good impression with your teachers and classmates by answering loads of questions and using your fantastic manners really maturely. First impressions really count! Be yourself and you’ll have loads of friends by the end of the day.
Students should be in full uniform. It’s important you wear your uniform exactly as shown on our uniform section of the website. Everything you bring to school should be named (write your name on the label).You will need a practical school bag (not a handbag, pencil case (pen, pencil, ruler, rubber, pencil sharpener) and packed lunch (if required). Alternatively, you may choose to have school dinners which you can pay for via Parentpay. Details of how to do this have been sent home in June.
On your first day you will receive a planner. The Planner is a students’ most important piece of equipment. It will tell you where you are going, when your work is due, who you teachers are– everything! It is really important you use this to organise yourself and your work.
You will receive your new timetable. You will have 5 lessons per day in 5 different classrooms and a tutor period every morning. Whilst this may seem worrying at first, you are supported with additional times to get from lesson to lesson. You will get to leave before all other students and for the first two weeks.
You will spend most of the first morning with your form group and form tutor, spending time getting to know each other and understanding the school expectations.
Year 7 is all about “Living Life to the Full” and joining in!
Have a look at our Clubs and Activities page to see the range of opportunities available to students. Clubs are an excellent opportunity to make new friends, learn new skills or just have fun. It is hoped that each student attends at least one extra-curricular club per week, as this really helps to meet new people and expand your interests.
Students may attend a different club each week, meaning students could be trampolining one week and film club the next. It is our aim that each student can flourish and live their life to the full. In order to fulfil this, the range of extra-curricular clubs is extensive.
Students will see their form group and tutor every day and will develop a very special bond with them over the five years. This is a great place for you to meet new friends and get to know each other. The form time activities encourage you to voice your opinion and see your peers’ interests and opinions.
Our favourite thing to do is reward our students for doing the right thing. Last year, over 72,000 reward stamps were given to Year 7s. These stamps are recorded on ‘Edulink’ and you can ‘cash’ them in at the end of each term to join in a rewards trip. We went ice-skating and Christmas shopped together, enjoyed cinemas and even visited a trampolining park. We are open to suggestions about which reward would be best for you and your friends.
We usually set off on our year group adventure in early September. This means students have even more opportunities to make friends and get to know even more teachers - except this time, it will be in the middle of a river dunking Mr Rinaldi or maybe 30 feet in the air on a swing instead of in the classroom!
Homework will be set for all the subjects that you study at Barlby High School. It is set on ‘Edulink’ which allows both you (and your parents) to see what is set, when it is due and how long it will take. As a rule homework should take between 20 and 30 minutes per subject in Year 7. If you find it taking much longer or shorter than this, speak to your Form Tutor. Make sure you have a safe place to store your books at home – even if this is just a strong cardboard box under your bed. When doing homework ensure you are away from distractions and always complete homework early to allow for time to ask for help at school if you need it, don’t leave it until the last minute or it soon backlogs and becomes overwhelming. Homework club runs after school every night in the library. If you struggle to complete work at home then you can do it in the homework club after school or during lunchtime.
A detention will be given if you do not complete or hand in homework. If you are struggling with your homework, you can go to the homework club to get extra help. You will need to see your class teacher, who will be more than happy to help them.
We will be in regular contact over the coming weeks and months about different transition events and keep checking the website for regular updates and information about life at Barlby High School
You will find even more detailed information about settling into Year 7 in our transition booklet which you should receive when Mr Rinaldi visits you in primary.
Please do not hesitate to contact the school if you have any questions – we can’t wait to meet you!