We would like to take this opportunity to say how delighted we are that your child will be joining Mulberry Academy St Leonards in September 2026, and that we understand the transition from primary to secondary school presents a significant milestone for both students and parents.


Year 7 welcome letter - September 2026

Welcome

Our carefully designed, transition programme ensures that every child and parent is included, supported and excited about joining our school and experiencing all that the Academy has to offer. We do of course recognise that along with the sense of excitement, there will understandably be a few nerves for pupils, parent and carers alike and we endeavour to ensure that our comprehensive transition process will help to overcome these.

We have nurtured close relationships with our local feeder primary schools and have a dedicated transition team made up of:

  • Kirsty Webb – Assistant Principal responsible for overseeing the transition process
  • Pauline Edwards – Year 6-7 Safeguarding Lead and the
  • Clare Howard-Le Virge – Academy SENCO
  • Gail Sidders – Transition Administration

This comprehensive approach has allowed us to provide the necessary support before students even reach the door.

Our transition programme includes the following:

  • Early Engagement – Year 6 students are invited to various events including shows, and sports events.
  • Primary School Visits – Our dedicated transition team will visit feeder primary schools from Term 4 onwards, meeting with Year 6 teachers, the Designated Safeguarding Lead and the SENCO.
  • Parent Information Evenings – We host a transition evening where parents can meet our staff, including form tutors, and receive key information about their upcoming taster days.
  • Taster Days – Students will have the opportunity to experience 2 days at the Academy (1st and 2nd July 2025), with additional support sessions for invited students.
  • Individual Support Meetings – We offer 1:1 meetings for families who require additional guidance throughout the transition period.
  • Summer School – We are fortunate enough to be able to provide a free of charge summer school for ALL students joining us in Year 7. This will be a 3-day experience involving fun, supportive and engaging activities in the Academy building.
  • Additional Transition Resources – In the dedicated transition area of the website you will find some support materials including: an academy map, frequently asked questions, our induction booklet and a Smart Moves transition booklet to support a smooth and seamless transition to secondary school.

For this year’s intake we are planning to offer masterclasses and workshops in a range of creative subjects during term 6 – more news to follow.


Useful Links

  1. Action Your Potential: The Brain Science of Moving Up To Secondary School
  2. Find Your Feet Schools Resource – YouTube
  3. Home to School Transport – Information for Parents, Carers and Students
  4. Introduction Booklet 2024
  5. Starting secondary school – BBC Bitesize
  6. Taster days and Parent Information Evening Letter
  7. Watch our Summer School Video here!

Key Dates

DateEventNotes
28 March 2025 – 9.15-10.45SEN Open MorningPlease book to attend
3 April 2025 – 9.15-10.45SEN Open MorningPlease book to attend
25 June 2025 – 16.00Parent Information Evening
1 July 2025Taster Day
2 July 2025Taster Day
23 – 25 JulySummer School
23 September 2025New Year 7 Parents Evening

Frequently Asked Questions


1 piece per fortnight Maths, English and Science. Other subjects will set homework when appropriate for the learning, but this may be less frequent than core subjects.

Through regular reports and parents’ evenings.

There is zero tolerance for bullying at The St Leonards Academy, all incidences are taken seriously by the year teams and investigated fully.

In the first instance parents should contact their child’s tutor and then the tutor can escalate up to the year team and or subject teachers if additional support is required.

There are a variety of extra-curricular clubs that are available – a timetable is released at the beginning of each term.

Clare Howard-Le Vierge is the SENCO, any queries need to be directed to her and her team.

Mobile phones are not banned. During the school day phones are NOT to be seen, heard or used in any areas of the school during the hours of 8:40-3:30. Phones should be switched off and your bag. Any phones seen, heard or being used in school will be confiscated.

The majority of Year 7 classes will be mixed ability. We use their MidYis test data (completed on taster days) to help to ensure that children are able to access the work in all lessons.

The majority of pupils will have an account from primary, new letters will be sent with access codes at the start of the academic year.

All medication must be in its original packaging, labelled with the child’s name and the dosage that is to be administered. You will also need to complete a medication information form.

There are a variety of local, national and international trips including; The old town, Hastings Museum, The White Rock, Chessington, Harry Potter World, Austria, Berlin, Paris and Belgium to name a few.

Pride pounds are the reward system that is in place for rewarding good behaviour in line with the Academy’s character values – Respect, Kindness, Honesty, Self-Discipline, and Resilience. There are 3 rewards auctions during the year where pride pounds can be used to bid for the prizes on offer.

Pupils will be able to access the library at breaks and afterschool; they can utilise the computers in the library to complete their homework.

Passes are allocated at the discretion of the SENCO and HOY. If sufficient medical evidence is provided, then a toilet pass can be allocated.

Pupils who are ill at school will be sent to the medical room; they will be assessed by the first aiders on student reception and a decision will be made as to whether they need to be sent home. Any parent that just collects their child will be an unauthorised absence.

Holidays are not authorised in term time.

Appropriate evidence is required and should be handed in to student reception. Appointments as far as possible should be made outside of school hours. We understand this is not always possible so please try to make appointments to cause as little disruption to learning e.g. at the very start or end of the school day.

We have updated the pastoral house system this year. We now have 5 houses named after local areas of the town – Bohemia, Castle, Filsham, Marina and St Helens. Your child will be in a tutor group in one of these 5 houses. Tutors have been allocated, and you will have a chance to meet the tutor in September at an informal gathering with the other parents and students in the tutor group.

All children are carefully placed in tutor groups. Discussions with primary teachers are used to make these decisions. We have kept all students with someone from their primary school – unless you are the only student joining us. We are oversubscribed in Year 7 so changes and moves to groups and classes will be very difficult to facilitate.

In the first instance, this will be the form tutor. You will receive information at the meet the Tutor evening in September with their contact details.

The Head of Year for Year 7 is Kelle Vezey – k.vezey@thestleonardsacademy.org.uk

The Student Wellbeing and Welfare Officer for Year 7 is Ria Morris – r.morris@thestleonardsacademy.org.uk

The safeguarding manager for Year 7 is Pauline Edwards – p.edwards@thestleonardsacaemy.org.uk