Nailsea School

Academy & Sixth Form

Transition

Join Us Transition

Welcome

We’re excited to welcome your child and your family to the Nailsea School community. Our transition programme is carefully designed to make the move from primary to secondary school as smooth, supportive, and enjoyable as possible.

We know how important it is for parents and the school to work closely together to ensure the transition process is successful. There will be plenty of opportunities to get involved, ask questions, and feel confident about the journey ahead. To start with, the school website contains lots of helpful information to guide and reassure you and will provide the answers to your burning questions.

We’re looking forward to meeting you and working together to help your child thrive at Nailsea School.

From Year 6 to Year 7

Strong partnerships between Nailsea School and our local primary schools play a vital role in supporting a successful transition from primary to secondary education.

Throughout the year, primary school students are invited to engage in a range of activities and events at Nailsea School all designed to build familiarity, confidence, and a sense of belonging. These opportunities also allow staff to collaborate and share information that will enable a safe and effective transition for students.

By the time students join us in Year 7, they are well-acquainted with the school environment and ready to begin their secondary education feeling confident, settled, and excited for the learning journey ahead.

Secondary to Secondary

Our pastoral team work closely with parents of children moving to Nailsea School midway through a year to enable them to settle as quickly as possible. The vertical tutor group system allows students to meet a range of students to help broaden their friendship groups from an early stage.

Parent Handbook
Parent Handbook 2026-27
Home School Agreement

Home School Agreement – DOWNLOAD HERE

Year 7 Starters 2026-27

Joining Nailsea School – What to Expect

North Somerset confirm student places in early March each year.  Soon after this point families will receive a welcome email from Nailsea School containing lots of information, including answers to common questions and a link to online forms that need to be completed to register your child at Nailsea School.

Once places are confirmed, we will be working closely with Year 6 teachers to ensure a smooth transition. If you have any concerns or information to share, please pass these on through your child’s current teacher. Our staff will begin working directly with the new Year 7 cohort in September, except in cases where additional support is being provided through the SEN or Summer School teams.

Information about teaching and tutor groups will be shared in September. It is important to note the groupings of students in the various transition events will not be the final groupings. Student groupings are carefully considered based on a range of factors, including information from primary schools and observations made during induction events. Please note that we are unable to accommodate parental requests for students to be placed in specific groups.

In September, pastoral leaders will review how students are settling by observing them across their full timetable over the first four weeks. Any changes will be based solely on professional judgement and current evidence gathered at Nailsea School, rather than historic concerns. This approach ensures the best outcomes for all students as they begin their secondary journey.

The pastoral team work together to enable every child to be happy and thrive at Nailsea School.  We would appreciate that parents trust in the transition process and support the school in the decisions that will help to settle Year 6 students into Year 7. 

Year 6 letter to families 2025-26Download Here
Year 7 Induction Day & Evening

Induction Day – Thursday 9th July

To encourage an independent transition from Year 6 to Year 7 and for safety reasons, we request that parents or carers do not come onto school site for drop off or collection.
There is no access to the school car park between 8.20 – 8.40am and 2.50 – 3.10pm each day.

8.20 – Arrive – year 6 students walk up the pedestrian entrance towards school

08.30 – Meet – year 6 students are greeted by staff and sign in at the Main Entrance

08.40 – Welcome Assembly

11.00 – 11.20 Break

1.20 – 2.00 Lunch

15.00 – End of school day – year 6 students will walk out alongside older children to the school pedestrian entrances.

Induction Evening – Thursday 9th July

For parents only.
The evening starts promptly at 6pm for parents of Dragon and Griffin House students and at 7pm for parents of Phoenix and Unicorn House students.

Year 7 Induction Evening Presentation

Please find a downloadable version of the presentation given at this years Induction Evening

Induction Evening – Presentation 2025

Frequently Asked Questions

Year 6 FAQ – everything you need to know

Here are our top 10 questions – and answers – please check here before contacting the school.

Q Can I send friendship requests or request my child is placed in a specific class?
A  We cannot accept parental requests for groups. Each year a lot of misinformation circulates around groups, classes and how we place students, please take your information directly from the us rather than social media groups. 
The placement of students into the various classes and groups is complex and based on many factors. Groups change for Maths, Technology, PE, Tutor, etc so putting two children together in one group doesn’t mean they will be together in other groups.  
Every class has a seating plan so even if friends are together in a group it does not mean they will be sat together. 
The Transition Team and Heads of House monitor the groups from the beginning of the induction process through to September and the first terms of Year 7.  Changes will be made if students are not settling or are finding it difficult.
Parents should not read into the groups students are placed in for the various induction visits.  Groups are not finalised until after all the transition and induction events have taken place. 
Please read for further explanation HERE
Q  My child loves Spanish / French, can they be in a Spanish / French class?
A  Preference for a language is not one of the priorities we use when placing students in groups.  Half of each year group will be taught French and half will be taught Spanish and moving students to accommodate a language preference can affect the balance of the groups, not necessarily to the advantage of that child.
Q I haven’t received any information
A  A welcome letter is emailed to all parents in March using the contact information provided on your initial application to North Somerset.  The letter contains information about the transition events and also a link to the online forms that need to be completed.  When completing the forms parents will receive access to the Induction Booklet with essential information.
Q  Where do I buy uniform and how do I collect?
A Full information about uniform is on the school website and in the welcome information sent out in March. Uniform can be ordered from School Togs https://www.schooltogsnailsea.co.uk .   With use of the promo code “Nailsea Sch Delivery” orders will be delivered to the school for collection from Reception
Q How do I get a locker?
A  Payments and orders will be through the Bromcom MCAS app.  Details about                    how to set this up will be sent out once your child has started school in September.
Q I have information about my child that I want you to know, who do I contact?
A As part of the Transition process full information about your child will be passed on from the primary school.  This includes current working levels and attainment, SEN support, pastoral information, medical, attendance, and more.  This information is then followed up by our staff who will make contact with you during the summer terms for more detail if required. If you feel there is further information we should know please email the school info@nailseaschool.com and it will be forwarded to the relevant area.
Q  Do students need a PE kit on the first day?
A  No, just bring your bag with water bottle, pencil case and lunch/snacks
Q  Does my child need to wear uniform to the Induction events?
A  Yes please, Year 6 should wear their normal primary school uniform.
Q  What does my child do about lunch?
A  For the Induction Day and the first 2 days in September, please provide a packed lunch, a water bottle and any snacks for the day.
Q  When do I find out what groups my child is in?
A You will find out your child’s House just before the Big House Party event in Term 6.  Your child will find out their class (teaching group) and tutor group in September once they start at the school.

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