Year 7

YEAR 7

‘Discover your Best’

Starting secondary school can be the most exhilarating and often the most daunting time in a young person’s life. Year 7 is not only the launch of a new and important journey, but also the beginning of a great future for our young people. This is the year where our students will be encouraged and supported to develop all the essential life skills needed to help them build strong foundations for the challenges ahead. An exceptional start in Year 7 will not only support successful learning, it will also aid progression in future years.  Every child’s academic, social and personal development is important at Gaynes School. We aim to provide a stimulating and supportive environment conducive to learning and growth.  All students across the academic spectrum are actively supported and equally challenged in their learning and all students have the opportunity to be recognised and rewarded for their hard work, progress and exceptional achievements.

 “Take the first step in faith. You don’t have to see the whole staircase, just take the first step.”

Martin Luther King

'Tis a lesson you should heed,
If at first you don't succeed,
Try, try again;

Then your courage should appear,
For if you will persevere,
You will conquer, never fear
Try, try again;

Once or twice, though you should fail,
If you would at last prevail,
Try, try again;

If we strive, 'tis no disgrace
Though we do not win the race;
What should you do in the case?
Try, try again

If you find your task is hard,
Time will bring you your reward,
Try, try again

All that other folks can do,
Why, with patience, should not you?
Only keep this rule in view:
Try, try again.

Our message to the students starting year 7 is simple: We expect you to make excellent progress and will work with you to make sure that you discover your best.

Students must actively take ownership of their studies, producing their best work at all times.  We will also ask parents to support the school and their child by:

• Making sure that your child maintains outstanding attendance and punctuality
• Checking your child’s homework diary every day
• Checking your child’s exercise book to make sure that they have completed their classwork and homework
• Discussing their work with them, always encouraging them to produce their best
• Signing the student planner every week to show that you are happy with their work
• Supporting our code of conduct and our positive “can do” ethos
• Staying in contact with us whenever you have any concerns that you would like to discuss.

If we have any concerns about your child’s progress, we will contact you either by phone or letter.  We like to keep parents as involved in their child’s education as possible, so a phone call does not necessarily mean that there is a major issue, just that we would like to discuss something with you.  We will also phone or write to you to congratulate your child when they have done something well. 

In school, we aim to nurture students towards success and support them at every opportunity to enhance their learning. We instil British values during PSCHE and assemblies to prepare them for life in modern Britain and for careers beyond their time as a student.  There will be events throughout the year which aim to develop students’ understanding of the choices that they should make for life after school.  Our extracurricular programme allows students to be involved in activities outside of their academic subjects such as sports, arts, sciences, drama and musical clubs.

All students must follow the school Code of Conduct and be in the right place, at the right time, doing the right thing to ensure that they maximise their opportunities to succeed. Sanctions are used if students do not meet our high standards and parents are asked to support us in the application of these sanctions.

Your child should expect to be set homework on a weekly basis; this should be completed without exception. As parents and carers, it is important to provide children with a quiet and safe environment in which this can be done.

Gaynes School is proud of its substantial improvement over the last four years, since it became part of the Loxford Schools Trust.  We look forward to your year group promoting the values of the school.

Miss Guthrie 

Senior Deputy Head