Preparing your Child for Year 7
Important Dates
Prior to the start of and at the beginning of the new academic year, there will be a series of transition events and information requests. To help you keep track, please use the calendar below.
| EVENT | DETAILS | DATE |
|
Admissions+ Online Form |
In order to ensure a smooth transition, it is vital that we have key information about your child. Information provided will be imported directly into our Student Management Information System (SIMS). Once we have this information in SIMS we can set up Wisepay, which is used for dinner money, school bus and trip payments, and create a school email address for students before the first day of term. (Please note that WisePay will send messages to the first parent/carer on the list, which is alphabetical and it is not possible to change this). Please complete the online form by no later than 6 May 2024. |
22 April 2024 |
| Admissions+ Online Form Deadline | Once we have students’ key information in SIMS we can set up Wisepay, which is used to pay for dinner money, school buses and trips, and create a school email address for students before their first day of term. See (1) above. Parents/Carers will not be able to pay for the Year 7 Bushcraft trip or music lessons if the Admissions+ form has not been completed on time. |
6 May 2024 |
|
Chromebook Scheme |
Every student will need a Chromebook for September 2024. Please ensure you have signed up to the Chromebook Scheme by 28 June 2024. Please click on the letter link from Freedom Technology for information on how to purchase a device (letter). |
9 May 2024 |
|
Music Tuition and Extra-Curricular Activities |
Parmiter’s School has fantastic peripatetic music staff employed by the school, who offer private instrumental lessons on weekly rotation during the school day. The closing date for applications for the Autumn term is Friday 14 June 2024 and further information about individual instrumental tuition, along with the application form, can be found on the Parmiter’s School website under ‘Parents - Extra-Curricular Activities’ or click here. |
22 May 2024 |
|
Year 7 Transition & Team Building Experience (Bushcraft) - Initial Letter |
Adventure awaits! Year 7 students will be taking part in the Bushcraft Team Building residential experience at Boughton Wood from 25 - 27 September 2024. This is an excellent opportunity for your child to secure friendships across the year group, enjoy a wide variety of activities and learn new skills with their peers. Please see our photo gallery from last year’s trip, which can be found on the school website under ‘News & Events - Gallery’ or click here. The cost for this trip is £225 and will be due for payment by 12 July 2024. |
22 May 2024 |
| School Transport (Bus) Application Process Opens | Parmiter’s School bus service is run by Mullany’s Coaches and the bus timetable, terms & conditions and other relevant information can be found on the school website, under the ‘Parent’ tab, or click here. Bus applications for the 2024/25 academic year will need to be submitted by 5 July 2024. Parents/carers will be notified via email if their child has a place on the school bus by 12 July and the initial instalment or full payment will be due by 2 August. Bus passes will be given to students during form time on their first day of school. |
22 May 2024 |
| Chromebook - Deadline to register use of Own Device |
Deadline to register and pay to add your child's personal Chromebook (no other device types are permitted) to the school domain for use in school, at a cost of £30. |
31 May 2024 |
|
Music Tuition Application Deadline |
Deadline for signing up for private instrumental lessons. |
14 June 2024 |
|
Chromebook Application Deadline |
Deadline for signing up to the Chromebook Scheme. |
28 June 2024 |
|
School Locker bookings open |
Year 7 students can rent a locker, for a small annual fee, to store their books and PE kit. Students can access their lockers before school, at break, lunchtime and after school. Lockers are available for rent through ILS Ltd and bookings will be available online from 11.00am on Tuesday 11 June 2024, please see the letter to parents here. For further information and to book a locker, please visit: |
11 June 2024 |
|
Year 6 Tea Party |
If your child comes from a primary school with two students or less joining Parmiter’s, prior to starting in September they will receive an invitation to the Year 6 tea party. This will give these students a chance to get to know other students who will be joining Parmiter’s. |
19 June 2024 |
|
School Transport (Bus) Application Deadline |
Deadline to submit an application for a school bus place. |
5 July 2024 |
|
Headmaster’s Evening |
You will be invited to the Headmaster’s Evening and Transition Fair, where you and your child will meet their form tutor, book an appointment with the uniform and PE kit suppliers. Chromebook, Bushcraft and Parents’ Association information and registration will also be available. This will also be the final opportunity to sign up for the Year 7 Bushcraft trip, as the deadline is 12 July 2024. |
10 July 2024 |
|
Year 6 Induction Day |
Your child will spend the day at Parmiter’s School to help orientate themselves and spend time with their Form Tutor. Students will experience taster lessons and House competitions. |
11 July 2024 |
| Year 7 Transition & Team Building Experience (Bushcraft) Payment Deadline | Deadline to sign up for the Years 7 Bushcraft trip and make your final payment via WisePay. | 12 July 2024 |
| School Transport (Bus) - Confirmation of Place | Parents/Carers will be sent an email to confirm their child’s place on the school bus and payment can be made via the online payment system, WisePay. The deadline for initial instalment or full payment to be made is Friday 2 August 2024. | 12 July 2024 |
|
Parmiter’s Summer School |
Parmiter’s Summer School offers a range of activities, all providing great opportunities for our new Year 7 students to make new friendships, be creative and learn new things in a fun way. A Year 7 Enrichment Day will be held on Monday 22 July. The approximate cost for all activity days is £30 per day and workshop events run from 9.00am - 3.00pm each day. |
22 -26 July 2024 |
|
Year 7 Induction Day |
Induction Day will help your child navigate our school systems and procedures. Students will again spend time with their Form Tutors and class prefects. The school does not open to all students until the following day, giving our new students time and space to gently settle into their new surroundings. |
4 September 2024 |
|
Year 7 Cheese & Wine Reception for Parents/Carers |
The Cheese and Wine Reception is hosted by our Parents’ Association and you will have an opportunity to socialise with other parents/carers of students in your child’s form group and meet their form tutor. |
September 2024 |
|
Year 7 Transition & Team Building Experience (Bushcraft) Trip |
Year 7 students will be on the Bushcraft Team Building residential experience at Boughton Wood. |
25–27 September |
|
Year 7 Theatre Trip |
A theatre trip to see a show in London’s West End will be organised later in the academic year. This is a truly enjoyable evening for students. |
May 2025 |
| Year 7 French Language & Cultural Trip to Normandy |
The French Department offers Year 7 students the opportunity to take part in a residential trip to visit the historic and beautiful region of Normandy in France during July. The aim of the trip is to motivate students in their language learning by giving them the opportunity to use the French they learn this year, as well as to find out more about French culture. |
1- 4 July 2025 |
Summer Tasks
During the Year 6 Induction day on Thursday 11 July, your child be given Transition work booklets to complete over the Summer and instructions will be given during the taster lessons. Transition booklets will help your child to better understand the forthcoming curriculum in the core subject areas and will be collected in during the first week of term and assessed.
Parmiter's Summer School
Each year, we run a Summer School during the first week of the summer holidays, which gives our students an opportunity to take part in a wide variety of fun activities and workshops, e.g. Sports, Science, Art and Design & Technology, Drama, etc. Workshops/activities run from 9.00am - 3.00pm. There will be a fee for all activity days.
Summer School also provides an excellent opportunity for our new students to make new friendships before starting school in September, whilst being creative and learning new skills. This is especially important for those students who may be feeling particularly anxious about starting secondary school.
Please see the programme of events here and booking information will be sent out to parents/carers on Monday 10 June 2024.
A Typical School Day
The school day starts with morning registration at 8.35am and punctuality is key. All students should be on the school site by no later than 8.30am. Students can arrive on-site from 8.00am onwards. The day ends after period 5 at 3.20pm.
A typical school day runs as follows:
| Time | Session |
| 8.30am | Warning bell: students proceed to Form Rooms |
| 8.35am - 8.55am | Registration followed by Assembly |
| 8.55am - 9.55am | Period 1 |
| 9.55am - 10.55am | Period 2 |
| 10.55am - 11.20am | Morning Break |
| 11.20am - 12.20pm | Period 3 |
| 12.20pm - 1.20pm | Period 4 |
| 1.20pm - 2.20pm | Lunch |
| 2.20pm - 3.20pm | Period 5 |
| 3.20pm | End of school day & start of After School Clubs |
Timetable
Students follow a two-week timetable designed to develop a rich knowledge base and a broad range of skills. Below is a sample student timetable, showing the two weekly rotation i.e. 1Mon is Monday Week 1 and 2Mon is Monday Week 2. Each period on the table details the subject, the teacher and the location. Students will be taught how to read their individual timetable when they join us in September.
First Day of School
Year 7 students will have an Induction Day on Wednesday 4 September 2024, which will help them navigate our school systems and procedures. Students will spend time with their Form Tutors and class prefects. The school does not open to all students until the following day, giving our new students time and space to gently settle into their new surroundings.
Uniform
At Parmiter’s, great importance is attached to the wearing of school uniform, which is regarded as the keynote to good order in the school. These factors contribute to students’ wellbeing and remove the pressures of deciding what to wear and the added stress of meeting the fashion expectations of their peers.
All students in Years 7 to 11 are expected to wear full school uniform. The School Uniform Policy details uniform requirements for students and there are three uniform options.
Our uniform is available from Stevensons in St Albans, DJ Uniforms in Bushey and Watford School Uniforms in Watford. Click here for further details and PE kit requirements. PE kit items can be purchased online, directly from our official supplier Henry Tilly Sport.
Please also remember a sensible school bag (for example a plain rucksack) – handbags and fashion bags are not acceptable as school bags.
Lost Property
All items should be clearly marked with the student’s name and form. Students can check in the PSB (Pastoral Support Base) to see if any lost items have been handed in. Items that are clearly named will be returned to your child. Lost property not collected by the end of term is repurposed to charity.
Chromebook Scheme
In September 2021, we introduced our Chromebook scheme for students in Years 7 to 10. This scheme has seen all students in Years 7 to 11 having access to a Chromebook as part of their standard school equipment, which they use for their learning both at school and at home. We are pleased to confirm that we will be continuing this scheme with our new Year 7 students in September 2024. All students will be using Chromebooks in Year 7 and they are expected to adhere to the Chromebook and E-Learning Code of Conduct, which they will be asked to sign.
Please ensure you have signed up for a Chromebook by Friday 28 June 2024. For further information and how to navigate this process, please see our school website and the initial letter to parents.
If you would like your child to use a personal Chromebook they already own (no other device types are permitted and this device must be fully insured by yourself) in school, then the device will need to be added to the school domain for £30. To register your intention, please complete this form (one for each child) by Friday 31 May 2024.
Inform Newsletter
We aim to keep parents/carers up to date with all aspects of Parmiter’s life, so please don’t miss our half-termly INFORM newsletter, which is sent to parents via email. It can also be viewed on the school website under the News & Events section.
Via this link, you will also find the school calendar and upcoming events. Our Gallery showcases recent trips, drama productions, our Celebrating Creativity event and much more.
Parmiter's Parents Association
We are very fortunate at Parmiter’s School to have a Parents’ Association that has been an integral part of the school for more than 25 years. During this time, the PA has raised many tens of thousands of pounds from a variety of fundraising events and these funds have been spent on providing resources and equipment to enhance the education for students across the school.
The objective of the Parents’ Association is to advance the education of students in the school, in particular, by:
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- Developing effective relationships between the staff, parents and others associated with the school.
- Engaging in activities which support the school and advance the education of the students.
- Providing and assisting in the provision of such facilities or items for education at the school (not provided from statutory funds) as the committee shall from time to time determine.
As a parent/carer you automatically become a member of the Parents’ Association when your child joins Parmiter’s School. For further information about the Parents’ Association, please visit the school website, under the “Parent” tab.