The Future Starts Today
Welcome to the Gumley House FCJ family!
It was St John Paul II that said "The future starts today, not tomorrow' - and this is exactly how we approach our new Gumley Girls once accepted into the school. To kickstart every students’ Gumley journey and ensure that their transition from primary to secondary school is exciting and successful, we have carefully curated our highly regarded transition programme.
Starting a new school is an exciting, life defining period for every child, and it is with great pleasure that we are able to accompany children and families throughout this chapter. We are confident that your daughter will have the best start possible with us, and that whilst they may feel nervous about secondary education, they will feel part of the Gumley community long before they begin in September.
Our transition programme aims to provide Year 6 pupils with the opportunity to meet with their future teachers, begin building friendships and experience life at Gumley before September. In turn, it also enables us to get to know each girl as an individual, understanding their interests, talents and learning styles, in order to create a personalised experience for each of them. Our transition programme has a track record of success in ensuring a positive start to their Gumley education.
Should you wish to discuss transition, specific needs or to request a tour onsite of the school, please do not hesitate to get in touch via the Transition Team.
'Start Your Story...' Information Booklet
Friendship Afternoon
The first event which kicks off our transition programme is our Friendship Afternoon. Taking place shortly after Offer Day, our Friendship Afternoon warmly welcomes all pupils offered a place at Gumley, to meet new peers, enjoy taster lessons, meet staff members and to get an idea of the excitement that awaits.
CONFIRMING YOUR PLACE
This is a very important aspect of the process. Once you have accepted your place at Gumley House (before the deadline) you will received a welcome pack outlining the next stages of our transition programme. Please note that those who have not met the deadline will lose their place at Gumley as it will be automatically offered to our waiting list.
This Welcome Pack will include a link to our Parent Portal. Please complete the registration information on this portal by Friday 31st May 2024. The secure portal collects essential personal contact details, emergency and medical information so we are fully ready to welcome your daughter and support her throughout the transition.
All About You
Our famous All About Me booklets are then distributed home, which allow us to get to know pupils as much as possible before September.
MidYis Testing (& UNIFORM) afternoon
Our MidYis testing of new pupils happens in June. We start at 4pm and parents get a chance to speak with staff while the child takes the assessment. As the assessment finishes, our uniform suppliers are on hand to receive orders or ask questions should parents wish to avail themselves of this service.
What is MidYis testing?
This is not something to worry about at all. It is also not a 'test' which your daughter can revise for. MidYIS stands for Middle Years Information System and is an assessment which takes approximately 50 minutes. The results give us some understanding of your child's strengths and weaknesses in vocabulary, numeracy and other skills. As your daughter takes the test, it adjusts itself based on the answers given (an 'adaptive algorithm'). The test is designed to measure, as far as possible, ability and aptitude for learning rather than achievement. MidYIS is not an IQ Test as it is designed to provide a measure of ‘typical’ performance.
Induction Day
Our Induction Day this year is on Tuesday 2nd July. Bursting at the seams with team building activities, activities, workshops and taster lessons, this is the perfect opportunity for pupils to familiarise themselves with their new surroundings, meet the staff and continue building friendships.
Information about our Induction day has been sent to all parents.
Once Induction Day is over, your daughters will receive our Summer Challenges booklet which is designed to prepare pupils and enlighten them to the secondary curriculum. We are sure this will keep pupils busy until September.
First Day
The long awaited first day is finally here! All new Year 7 students begin the new academic year a day ahead of the rest of the school. This allows them to find their way around and get used to their new surroundings.
Our first day of the new school year, for Year 7, will be Wednesday 4th September 2024 (tbc) starting at 10am and finishing at 1pm. She will have her school photo taken and spend some time in her new tutor group.
For other term dates, please visit our calendar and term dates pages.
If you have any queries at all about your start at Gumley, please just email our Transition Team.
Transition-Programme (ID 1022)