How many pupils are there in Year 7?

In each year group we have the capacity for 250 pupils.  It is likely that you will have a year group that has that number in it but it will certainly be more than 240!

Who is in charge of Year 7? 

Mr Mayne is your Head of Year.  There will also be 10 Form Tutors who will be the first port of call for parents, or pupils, as they will see pupils every day in form time.  When you find out who your form tutor is they will make sure that parents have a contact email address for them so communication is fluent.

How am I put into teaching groups?

When you join us you will be having lots of different lessons with lots of different teachers.  This is often a change from primary school where you have only a few different teachers.  You will be placed in a form group which will be mixed ability and mixed gender.  You will be taught in a mixed ability group for most of your subjects, but will be placed in a set for Maths and Science.  When doing PE you will be taught in a single gender group with boys and girls separate.  We want you to be stretched and challenged in all of your subjects.

What ‘College’ will I be in?

If you have an older brother or sister who went to the school, or who is still at the school, they may have been placed in a ‘college’.  This is because the school did have a house system.  The ‘college’ system is no longer used within school and so you will not be placed in a ‘college’.  You may still see some of the college names around the school on the different corridors.  You may be placed in a coloured group for sporting activities.  This will be done when you are in school, not before you start.

What languages will I study?

In Year 7 you will study Spanish as your foreign language.  When you go into Year 8 the majority of pupils will then study French as well as Spanish.  Some students may do a key skills course instead of a second language.

How big are the classes?

In you form group you will have about 24 or 25 pupils.  This will be the same for your mixed ability classes such as English, Humanities and the Arts subjects.  In Maths and Science when you are in a set it will depend on the set you are in.  Normally the top 2 sets have about 30-32 pupils in them and the other sets have about 24 or 25 in them.  Technology groups are normally a little smaller due to the health an safety of the subjects.

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Homework will be set and recorded on our Classcharts system which can be accessed easily.  For the first half term you can expect to get homework for English, Maths and Literacy.  After this you will start to get homework for all you other subjects.  It will be in manageable chunks but you will need to learn how to manage your time.

What do I do for lunch and how do I pay?

All students have their finger scan taken at the start of the year so parents can pay using the school gateway app online. Parents can top up the card at any time and can see what has been purchased! Once you purchase your food before school, break time or lunch time your finger will be scanned and the money debited from your account.  If you would prefer to bring a packed lunch, this is absolutely fine.  You will still have a finger scan taken just in case you want to buy something at break or lunch.

What do I do if I get lost?

Ormskirk School is very big. However, we have lots of signs around the school to help. Each classroom has a number on the door so you will get used to what areas are where. During the first few weeks we will have lots of staff around the site to help you. Our older students have also been fantastic at helping the younger students find their way.  You will also be given a coloured map to help you as you can follow the coloured walls.  Most importantly if you get lost – ASK!

What are the timings of the school day?

Every day starts at 8.45am.  You will be expected to be in by 8.40am to make sure you can make it to your form room on time.  The end of the school day is 3.15pm, except on a Tuesday when you will finish at 2.30pm.  Morning break is at 11.10am (10.30am on Tuesdays).  Lunch is at 1.30pm (12.50pm on a Tuesday) and lasts for 40 minutes.  Because lunch is quite late in comparison to primary school you will need to make sure you have a snack at break time.

How many lessons do I have in a day?

There are 5 lessons every day.

What extra-curricular activities are available to me?

There will be extra-curricular activities every day. We have lost of sports clubs and many other non-sporting clubs such as music, drama, art, IT, Manga. A full list will be published for students when they start at Ormskirk.  Most activities are after school as lunch time is so short, but there are some clubs at lunchtime to keep you occupied.

Will I be with my friends?

One of the things we always look to do at Ormskirk School is place you in a form group with at least one person that you will know.  This friend might be from your primary school or an outside of school club that you go to.  Mr Mayne gets this information from your primary school to try and make sure you settle in quickly.  You will also meet lots of new people and often make new friends very quickly. Teaching groups and form groups are different so it might be the case you are with a current friend in your form group, and other people you know in your classes. Every year this is one thing students and parents worry about, which is why we look for you to have a friend with you, but within the first week of school you will have all made new friends with similar interests.

Can I wear jewellery?

We allow students to wear a watch only. During PE this must be removed. If you haven’t had your ears pierced and want to we recommend you get it done at the start of the summer holidays so that they can be removed by the time you start school.

What happens if I get bullied?

Bullying is not something that we want anyone to suffer at Ormskirk School. If you felt you were being bullied you must report it straight away so that it can be dealt with. You can speak to any member of staff, your form tutor, Head of Year or Assistant Head of Year or if you felt like you can’t tell anyone, there is a way of reporting it via email, which is then brought to the attention of Mr Mayne.  We also have a great team of Anti Bullying Ambassadors who you can speak to and they will help guide you to the right support.

What uniform do I need?

The uniform list is in the parents information booklet and there is a separate section on this Transition section called Uniform.

What if I have an appointment I have to go to during school time?

You will need a letter from home advising us what time you need to leave school or parents can ring up/email and let our attendance team know. When you are due to leave you take you letter to student services who will sign you out. If you are returning to school you come back via Student Services and sign back in.  If your appointment is first thing you go straight to Student Services on arrival and sign in.  Please do try and make appointments outside school time but I know this cannot always be guaranteed with orthodontists or doctors/hospital appointments.

What do I do on my first day and what will I need?

On your first day you will come in through the main door and be greeted by lots of staff.  I know you will be nervous but we will take care of you.  You will be directed through to the dining room to wait for everyone to arrive.  We will then go into the school hall in your form groups with your tutor for an assembly with our Headteacher. You will need to bring your school bag with pencil case, a drink (not fizzy or energy drinks) a coat (weather dependent) a packed lunch if you do not have school lunches. You will not need your PE kit on the first day.  During the morning we will take your finger scan so you can get a school lunch if you choose to.

Can I bring a mobile phone to school?

You can bring your phone to school however they must be switched off and in your pocket or in your bat. If you are seen with your phone out in lesson or social time it will be confiscated and taken to the main office. If you have it confiscated a second time your parents/carers have to come into school to collect.  This is to safeguard and protect everyone in school.