P7 into S1 Transition Information

A welcome message from Mme Jean Pierre (Depute Head Teacher)

Dear Parent/ Carer,

We are aware that the choice of a secondary school is an important and exciting one. We thank you for your interest in St Thomas of Aquin’s High School and would like to emphasize the fact that we place the highest importance on the partnership we enjoy with our parents and carers as first educators of our pupils.

Staff at St Thomas’ are working closely with Primary School colleagues from our four associated Primary schools (St Mary’s (East London Street), St Peter’s, St Mark’s and Holy cross Primary Schools in order to ensure a smooth transition for all pupils. As always, we are also looking forward to welcoming pupils from a wider range of primary schools across the authority and beyond.

Over the years we have developed a well-established primary liaison programme whereby pupils in our partner primary schools benefit from learning experiences at St Thomas when it is allowed by the context and from teaching visits from specialist St Thomas’ staff in their own schools.

Over the next few weeks our integrated support staff will also be liaising regularly with our Primary School colleagues and other partners to ensure that we have all the relevant information to enable all pupils to have a successful transition and make the best possible start at St Thomas’ next session. Where appropriate our staff will attend individual planning meetings and make arrangements for an enhanced transition for pupils with additional support needs.

Additional information will be available in due time regarding the arrangements for the transition and enhanced transition programmes. The provisional dates agreed by City of Edinburgh Council for the 3 day transition programme are 16^th, 17^th and 18^th June 2022. It will be confirmed at a later stage whether the transition days will take place in person or virtually.

If you would like to gain an insight into St Thomas, its vision and values and the learning opportunities available at our school, we would recommend that you consult the documentation posted on the website.

We would also like to invite all prospective parents to join us for a live session on MS Teams on Tuesday 23^rd November from 6.00 until 7.00pm. On this day, Mr Santini and myself will be available to answer your questions regarding the school, its curriculum, attainment data and more specifically the P7-S1 transition.

As well as its strong ethos of attainment and achievement, our aim is for St Thomas’ to be a welcoming and inclusive school, providing a holistic learning experience for young people to become articulate, compassionate and successful individuals. We look forward to sharing this you this experience and to meeting you in person when circumstances allow.

Isabelle Jean Pierre

Depute Head Teacher S1-3

Live session on MS Teams on 23rd November from 6 until 7 pm.

Please find below a link to the meeting:

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Microsoft Teams meeting

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Please do not hesitate to forward questions via the Forms below ahead of this meeting.

Link to the form ( if parents wish to ask a question)

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S1 Transition

Virtual Tour of the School

Please click on the link below for a video of the school filmed by Mrs Moreno , one of our Support for Learning teachers and some of our very helpful S1 pupils Anisha, Alisha, Ugne, Amy and Millie-Rose .

https://www.thinglink.com/scene/1443935404221792257

You can navigate along the different floors by clicking the arrow on the left handside.

Click on each icon for a short introductory video from all faculties.

I hope you enjoy the tour!

Here are some important resources

Faculty Videos

English Faculty