How to Prepare for your Start

We appreciate that the transition to secondary school can be a difficult and daunting time for Year 6 children and their parents/carers. On this page we have tried to provide key pieces of information to help your daughter for her start at Whalley Range 11-18 High School.

Uniform

Information about uniform can be found on our School Uniform page.


School Bag

It is important that students have a school bag that will enable them to safely and securely transport all the things they need to and from school. Most subjects at Whalley Range will use exercise books that are slightly larger than A4, so you need to ensure your bag is big enough to fit these in.

I would encourage students to get into the habit of packing their school bag for the next day the night before. This means there will be less frantic running around in the morning wondering where your P.E. kit is or where you left your English homework. It may also mean you get a better night sleep not worrying about it.


Organisation


The planner part of the Journey Journal should be used by students daily to record every homework:

  • Which subject
  • Exactly what the homework is
  • Deadline
  • Tick off when completed

We asked our current Year 7 students what the most important things were that they recorded in their Journey Journal; these are their top 10 answers

  1. Homework Dates & Times
  2. Reminders
  3. Trips/Events
  4. Timetable Changes
  5. Preparation for tests
  6. Detentions (I am sure you will not get any)
  7. Memories
  8. Goals
  9. Achievements
  10. Holidays

Getting to School

Please see our webpage for more information on Getting to School.

Getting to School – Planning Route

Why not make part of your daily exercise to practise your daughter’s route to school. It could be walking, cycling or any other method of transport. You could then discuss with your daughter what problems they might encounter and how they could overcome them.

To plan the best route to school, please visit the Cycle Streets website.

This includes a route planner to enable students to choose the safest route. Follow the steps below:

  • Click ‘Plan your Journey’
  • Click ‘Cycle Streets’
  • Enter your home postcode
  • Enter the school post code: M16 8GW
  • Click ‘Plan this Journey’
  • Select the quietest route

Getting to School – Dropping off and Picking Up

We appreciate that Parents/Carers are extremely busy and that some of our students live further away from school than it is practical to walk or cycle to school from.

Parents vehicles are unable to gain access to the school site to drop off or collect students at the beginning or end of the school day.
Wilbraham Road is extremely busy, especially at the end of the school day. We continue to be concerned about traffic safety, and would like to encourage all parents/carers to help us to keep our students safe. You can do this by parking well away from the school and being mindful of our neighbours at the start and end of each day.


How to use the Canteen (where do I get my food from?)

One of the most common concerns year 6 students have where do they get their lunch from, during your first day we will spend time in the dining room and Mrs Priestley (Catering Manager) will run through with you how to get your food.

Breakfast

The school building is open for students from 8:00am every day and a free breakfast is available from the dining room for all students.

Break/Lunch

Food is available at both break and lunchtime and it is up to you to choose when you would like to eat. Both hot food and sandwiches are available, with the same menu served at both break and lunchtime. You can bring your own packed lunch in to eat and we would encourage students to make healthy choices. Students often prefer to eat at break to enable to them to attend lunchtime activities/clubs.

Cashless System

We operate a cashless system at school and payments are only accepted online via the ParentPay website or by cash at a PayPoint at local retailers*. Cash is no longer accepted in school. You will receive a letter from us which provides you with details of how to register, if you require any support doing this please contact school.

Quality Marks, Awards & Affiliations

We strive for excellence and are very proud of our achievements and affiliations.

If you believe something is missing or should be removed from the list below, please let us know.

Greater Manchester Education Trust logo Chartered College of Teaching Institutional Member 2023/24 badge Cyber Essentials Certified logo
FFT National Attendance Award 2023/24 logo One Education Reading Award Gold logo Confederation of School Trusts logo Educate Awards Winner 2019 logo SSAT Educational Outcomes Awards 2018 logo SSAT Effective Learning Behaviour logo SSAT Climate for Learning logo Manchester United Foundation logo The Duke of Edinburgh logo The Cultural Diversity Standards logo The Schools Co-operative Society logo School Achievement Award logo Sport England logo Leading Edge Partnership Programme logo The Quality in Careers Standard logo Healthy Schools Manchester logo Basic Skills Quality Mark logo Whalley Range Sixth Form logo