Transition

MEA-Transition-Handbook-2024-25.pdf

This year's Manchester Transition Read is 'Quiet Storm' by Kimberly Whittam. Every student will receive a copy of this on Transition Day.

"No matter how quiet it is, you've got a voice, Storm. You should use it to speak up for yourself."

Storm has never liked to stand out from the crowd, but ever since she started Year 7, her life has been full of people telling her she needs to speak up, make friends and be more like her popular big brother.

Then Storm breaks a school record, and finds herself the new star of the athletics team. But as she's thrust into the spotlight, her home life and friendships start spiralling out of control, and it's time for Quiet Storm to show that she has something to say.

A tender, empowering novel about family, friendship and finding confidence in who you are.

Manchester Read Activity Pack: Year-6-Transition-Quiet-Storm.pdf

What does it mean to be an MEA Central Scholar?

• We recognise that school is an important place where we can feel valued and noticed for doing the right thing.

• We come to school to learn and improve. 

• We respect the people who help us to learn.

We are what we repeatedly do. Excellence, then, is not an act, but a habit.’ Aristotle

Being a scholar goes beyond just being a good student. It's about cultivating virtues, embracing a certain mindset, and striving for flourishing in all aspects of our lives. 

Aristotle believed that virtues are habits of excellence that we develop over time through our actions. He identified two types of virtues: moral virtues and intellectual virtues. Moral virtues are about our character, such as being honest, courageous, and compassionate. Aristotle believed that cultivating these virtues would lead to a state of flourishing, where we achieve our fullest potential and lead a fulfilling life. When we cultivate wisdom, courage, and moderation, we become better scholars, but also better individuals overall. We become more resilient, adaptable, and compassionate. We develop a growth mindset that allows us to embrace challenges and learn from failures. And we become more self-aware, understanding our strengths and weaknesses, and using them to our advantage.

The school has rules to make it an excellent school where you can flourish. As scholars, we not only strive for values and virtues, but also follow certain rules that guide our behaviour and actions.

Take a closer look at our 7 learning habits that can help you to prepare to become a successful scholar. 

MEA-Central-Learning-Habits.png

When we consistently follow the rules, we can earn rewards and recognition for our positive behaviour. This can include praise from our teachers, acknowledgment from our peers, and even tangible rewards such as certificates, badges, or other incentives like school trips.

As scholars, we understand that rules are not only meant to be followed, but they also come with consequences. It's important to remember that while we are rewarded for following the rules, sanctions may also be imposed when we do not. However, it's crucial to understand that sanctions are not meant to punish, but rather to support us in our journey of becoming responsible and successful scholars.

When we receive sanctions, it's important to remember that they are not a reflection of our worth as individuals, but rather a consequence of our actions. They are meant to hold us accountable for our behaviour and to help us develop self-discipline and responsibility.Instead of viewing sanctions as punishments, we can choose to see them as valuable learning opportunities. When we receive a sanction, we should reflect on our actions, take responsibility for our behaviour, and strive to make better choices in the future. We can also seek guidance from our teachers, mentors, or other trusted individuals to understand how we can improve and avoid similar situations in the future. 

How does the admissions process work? 

All school admissions queries should be directed to Manchester City Council's school admissions team. You can contact them directly by phone on 0161 245 7166 or by email: school.admissions@manchester.gov.uk.

How will I know if my child has a place at MEA Central?

National Offer Day is Wednesday 1st March, 2024. If your child has been offered a place, you will be contacted directly by our admin team and then you will receive a welcome email with a link to our new online admission form. Please complete the admissions form as soon as possible so that we have all the information we need to support a smooth transition for your child.  

Where can I collect uniform? 

This year, every student joining Year 7 will be provided with a free MEA Central blazer and tie. You will recieve a voucher for MCS Stores (https://mcsstores.co.uk/) when your online admissions form has been recieved and checked by our admin team - keep this voucher safe! More information about our uniform policy can be found in the Transition Handbook and on our main website. 

When is Transition Day? 

Transition Day will take place on Monday 1st July, 2024 9am - 2.30pm. Students should attend in their primary school uniform or P.E kit and wearing trainers/ sports shoes. 

My child has free school meals at primary, will this continue once they transition to secondary? 

Yes, however it is important that the information you provide in the admission form is up to date and accurate so that we can process this for you. If you are not sure whether your child is eligible for free school meals, you can check using the following link:https://www.manchester.gov.uk/info/500186/education_benefits/7355/free_school_meals

What support do you offer to families? 

As staff and parents, we are united in wanting the very best for the children in our care. Together, we are responsible for creating and nurturing a culture of safety and security for our young people. We have a dedicated transition team that can provide support with uniform, free school meals applications or general queries. If you have any unanswered questions, contact our main reception on 0161 499 2736 or email transition@meacentral.org.uk.

Young Minds have produced a 60 minute parent webinar (linked below) with ways in which you can support your child through the change from primary to secondary school. Find your feet: 

My child has special educational needs. Who will support them? 

Our Skyline and transition teams will work closely with your child's primary staff to ensure that all the relevant information is shared before they join us in September. To find out more about our SEND offer, please read our SEN Infomation report, linked here: SEND Information report or contact our Skyline team directly on skylineadmin@meacentral.org.uk.

How do I find out about extra-curricular clubs?

We offer a wide range of extra-curricular clubs every half term. In September, your child's form tutor will share the timetable of clubs for the half term ahead. The timetable is updated regularly and can be found on our main school website. You can track your child's attendance to clubs using Arbor. 

Useful links:

Supporting-Children-Through-Secondary-Transition-Booklet-1.pdf

Top-10-Tips-for-Parents-1.pdf

When is Transition Day? 

Transition Day will take place on Monday 1st July, 2024 9am - 2.30pm. You will attend MEA Central for a full day and should wear your primary school uniform or P.E kit and sports shoes/ trainers. 

What happens on Transition Day? 

You will meet our Principal, Mrs Reynard and other staff that will support when you join us in September. You will spend the day in your form groups, have a tour of the building and complete a range of exciting activities to help us to get to know one another. You will also meet some of our students, called Transition Ambassadors. They will spend they day with your form groups, talking to you about life at MEA Central and answer any questions that you might have. There will be lots of opportunities to win prizes and there will be a celebration assembly at the end of the day where many of you will be rewarded for working hard, taking part and being kind. 

What happens if I get lost?

We are very lucky to have a beautiful new building that makes it easy to find your way around. Take a look at our school map linked on this page so you can see where different subjects are located. You will complete another full induction day in September where you will be shown around and you will be given extra time to get to lessons in the first few weeks. Our staff and students are always available to help you if you are not sure where to go, so just ask! 

How will I know which lessons/ rooms to go to?

On your first day in September, you will be given a school planner and a personalised timetable. Your form tutor will teach you how to use these so that you know exactly where to go. There is an example timetable on this page that can help you to see what a typical day at MEA Central looks like. 

Is moving to secondary school difficult? 

Moving to a new school can be challenging. We know that you may be feeling anxious and will miss your primary staff and friends but we are here to support and guide you. We want you to see this time as an opportunity for a fresh start, to make lots of new friends and to take part in new and exciting lessons and extra-curricular clubs. Remember that we will be speaking with your primary teachers a lot before you join us in September, so that we know everything we need to help you settle in. Here is a useful video from Young Minds with some advice on how to prepare for the change: 

What time does school start?

Breakfast club opens at 7:50am and is open to all new Year 7 students. Hot breakfast, cereals, fruit, juice and hot drinks are provided free of charge. All students are expected to arrive at school by 8:30am through the Year 7 entrance on Lytham Road. You will then line up with your form group and be escorted to your form room. 

How will I get to school?

This will be something that needs to be discussed and planned at home. You are encouraged to walk/cycle to school, as long as this is safe to do so. If you plan to get a bus to school, please ensure you know the timetable of the bus so that you can arrive on time. 

How many lessons are there? 

You will have a 20 minute form session every morning and five excellent lessons each day. The timings of the day can be found in the Transition Handbook. 

What happens at break and lunch time?

This is your chance to get some fresh air and socialise with your friends. At lunch time, there are also a range of sports activities that you can take part in. You can bring your own lunch to school or you can purchase a school lunch in the canteen. We will show you how this works on Transition Day. We are a cashless school so you do not need to bring money for your lunch. Your parent/ carer will top up your account online. 

What time does school finish? 

Lessons finish at 3pm but we run a wide range of extra-curricular clubs and encourage all students to attend at least two per week. These are an opportunity to meet new friends, learn new skills and be involved in the wider community of school. Clubs include Homework Club, STEM Club, Games Club, Choir and many more! Extra-curricular clubs run 3pm - 4pm each day. 

How are students rewarded? 

One student each lesson is awarded a CAP for working hard, taking part or being kind. We celebrate each others acheivements by clapping when the CAP is given out. Your excellent attendance, participation and behaviour will be rewarded in a number of ways, including annual rewards trips to places like Blackpool and Alton Towers.

Useful link:

Find-Your-Feet-Coping-Strategies-1.pdf

Each week we will share a new transition challenge for you to take part in. Share your work with us to be in with a chance of winning a range of prizes in the Autumn term. CAPs will be rewarded to all that participate! 

We can't wait to hear from you. 

Transition Challenge 1: Transition-Challenge-1-Quiet-Storm.pdf

Transition Challenge 2: Transition-Challenge-2-MEA-Central-Values.pdf

Transition Challenge 3: Transition-Challenge-3-Travel-Plan.docx