Skip to content ↓

Transition Questions & Answers

Please find below a selection of answers to the questions you have sent in following Transition Challenge 2 and reading the Moving Up booklet. At the bottom of the drop down boxes you will also find a section for video answers.

This will be regularly updated, so check back here whenever you have a question as your answer may well be here waiting for you.

If you can't find an answer to any questions you have then email any further questions to transition@phs.cheshire.sch.uk

Last updated: Thurs 18th June

*NEW* I have food allergies, how will the kitchen know what allergies I have so that I don’t eat the wrong food?

Chartwells who provide our catering in school take allergies and food intolerances very seriously. If you contact them via Linda Barber they will explain the options. 

email: linda.barber@compass-group.co.uk

Mrs Sykes - Director of Business and Operations

*NEW* If you are doing an after school activity is there a separate bus?

We provide a late bus for students who wish to participate in after school activities. Details of the route, cost and how to buy tickets are available on the following link:

School Transport to Poynton High School

Mrs Sykes - Director of Business and Operations

*NEW* What is a two week timetable?

The timetable that you will be given for your lessons is split into two weeks. When you start in September we will be on Week 1 and then it will move to Week 2 the week after. This then repeats every two weeks.

This can become confusing at the end of a half term. Whatever week you finish on you come back on the next week's timetable. For example, if we finish at Christmas on Week 1 we'll return in January on Week 2.

Below is a picture of a two week timetable example for a Year 7.

Mr Latch

 

Questions about PE

We had a lot of questions regarding PE so Mr Henderson (Head of PE) has answered them in the video section below. Your questions included:

Are boys allowed to do netball?

In the PE kit list it says football socks and boots, do girls need these too?

What happens if I forget my PE kit?

Do you run team trials at the start of Year 7?

Do I have to buy a rugby top?

What teams and extra clubs do you run?

Do you still have Willow the school dog?

Indeed we do! She has been a valued member of the Poynton family since September 2019 and we look forward to her getting even more involved in school life next year.

Click on her picture below to be taken to Willow's own transition page including a couple of videos about her:

 

Can I continue my musical instrument lessons at PHS?

You can continue your instrumental lessons at the High School.  The instrumental tutors would normally be on hand to meet with you at the transition evening so as this is not happening they are currently putting together small brief bios of themselves which will be added to our website over the next few weeks.  The information with regards to how to apply for lessons is already on our website at the following address;

PHS Instrumental Tuition

Mr Rawling: Assistant to Year 7 Team & music teacher

What happens in Form Time?

Form Time is the first 15 minutes of your day, from 8.45am to 9.00am where you gather as one form in your form room, there are about 25 in my form which is 7SVP. You will see your form tutor who reads out the notices for the week and you will have different activities to do each day such as watching the news, activity booklets or sometimes silent reading. At 9am when the bell goes you will be given time to get to your first lesson.

On my first day we gathered in the hall and I was introduced to my form and Form Tutor, who then gave us a small tour around the school. We ended up in our form room, so I was confident I knew where to go the next day.

Mia Allen 7SVP

How do we pay for food at school? 

Also see video section below


You have money stored on your account. To pay or see how much money you have you scan your thumb or finger on the scanner. If you run out, your parents will top up your account.

Christian Ellis 7AGU


You pay for food with your thumbprint on a scanner. Your parents put money on an app called ParentPay. If you run out of money then you can be given a loan for that day so you can still get some food.

Erin Harrison 7CRK


 

You use ParentPay, it's a place online where your parents can put money on your account.

Joshua Rennie 7CJC

What can you do at lunchtimes?

Lunchtime lasts a while, so you get time to eat your lunch, then you can go to the library, go to your locker and take stuff out or sit and chat with your friends.

Christian Ellis 7AGU


There's lots of sports clubs but there's also book club and probably lots more but these are the ones I have tried so far. You don't really need to sign up, you just need to turn up.

Jack Rose 7RL


At lunch you have 40 minutes, that’s enough time. The queueing for food is tough to start with but you get used to it. You always get a meal!

Joshua Rennie 7CJC

When are you allowed to go to your locker? Are the things inside lockers very well protected?

Also see video section below


You are allowed to go to your lockers in the morning before school, at break, at lunch and after the last lesson, not between lessons. The things inside lockers are well protected because the only way to open them is with a key and you will be the only person with the key to open it. No-one will be able to open it, so the things in it are safe.

Iris Dunlop 7CRK


You can go to your locker every break and lunch, as well as before and after school. The things inside your locker are very well protected because you get given a key to lock it.

Erin Harrison 7CRK

Is it hard to find your classroom? What if you get lost?

Also see video section below

You can also check out this link to the maps  of PHS


As you get used to high school, it will get easier to find your classrooms. When you first start high school someone will come round to your forms and take you to your first lesson, so you won’t get lost, and you will find your classroom. You don’t need to be worried about getting lost because when you are walking to your class you will probably be with your friends, so if you do find yourself lost then you will be with your friends, so together you can find your way to your classroom. There will also be teachers and students who can help you find your classroom.

Iris Dunlop 7CRK


If you get lost, just ask someone in the corridors where your room is. In the first couple of weeks, your teacher will understand if you are late. After a couple of weeks you will know your way around school. If you are late after the first couple of weeks you will be asked to stay behind during your free time. 

Jack Rose 7RL


Once you get used to it you will find your classrooms easily but for the first few weeks there are teachers stood in the corridors to help you find your way. After two weeks I was confident in knowing my way around.

Erin Harrison 7CRK


For the first few weeks, being late or getting lost isn't really going to be a problem. You can ask older kids for directions or a teacher. By the time a week or two has passed, you'll know your way around.

Christian Ellis 7AGU


For the first few days it’s tricky to find your way around, but there’s always some people in your class who know the way, so you can follow them.  I never got completely lost or missed a lesson.  In the first week, I asked a teacher once where I should be going.  After the first week, I found it really easy to find my classrooms.

Joe Barker 7AGU


In the first two weeks, it is ok if you get lost and you are late for your lessons but you get used to it very quickly. If you get lost, you can always turn to older students or teachers to help you. You move as a group so it is easier to find your way and you are not alone.

Joshua Rennie 7CJC

What is the student planner used for?

You use it for upcoming events and for your parents to read and sign. You put your timetable in there and it has got lots of useful information about school life.

Joshua Rennie 7CJC


The student planner, for me, is to record hints for my passwords for my various school accounts and websites and to stick my timetable in to tell me what lessons I have.

Jack Rose 7RL

What is the conduct card and how is it used?

Everyone has a conduct card, aka a "uniform card". If you wear you uniform incorrectly, like your tie isn't on or your shirt is untucked, you will get a signature from a teacher. If you have 5 signatures, your card will be replaced by an orange one and you will be told to see Mr Rawling on a lunch time to talk about how you should be wearing your uniform. Everything is reset each half term and you get a new card.

You can get into trouble if you get through your next card but most people in Year 7 don't go past their green card. Your tutor will explain more when you get to high school.

Christian Ellis 7AGU


The Conduct Card is for how you present yourself.  That means how your uniform looks (make sure your shirt is tucked in!) and if you stick to the rules about not chewing gum or eating in corridors.  A teacher will sign the card if you break the rules. If you fill your card with signatures or don’t have your conduct card on you, there are consequences, like detention. 

Joe Barker 7AGU

What are assemblies about?

You have two assemblies each week, one with your house and one with your year. They’re about the upcoming events and relevant topics.

Joshua Rennie 7CJC


Assemblies are like they are at primary school. You sit with your form instead of your class. You have an assembly with your Year Group in week 1 and one with your House in week 2.

Christian Ellis 7AGU


House assemblies are mostly to inform you how well your House is doing, telling you about big events or talking about things like equality, exercise or interesting things about how people think.

Jack Rose 7RL

What is Tutorial?

Tutorial is a fun lesson where you do a range of different things both with and without computers. You take part in tasks that are used to get you further prepared for your high school work. Some of the lessons have included illusions, "mind palaces" and (everyone's favourite) a game of Kahoot.

Christian Ellis 7AGU


Tutorial is all about thinking about thinking. You look at things like optical illusions, techniques on how to remember things and stuff like that.

Jack Rose 7RL


Tutorial is one lesson every other week, which in summary means ‘learning to learn’. This gives us a chance to learn important skills that don’t fall in the other subjects.  It is good fun and you find out a lot about later life.  Examples of some of the skills we have covered so far include: controlling screen time, noticing the smaller detail in everyday life and what goes on inside your brain.

Joe Barker 7RL

Where do I go if I feel ill or I've been sick?

Also see video section below


I had a headache and bad stomach once and went to the Medical Room.  Mrs Whyte was really helpful and ended up calling my mum to collect me.  You would go to the Medical Room for any medical problem. You can find the Medical Room on the "forbidden corridor", you'll be shown this when you have your tour (don’t worry you can go down the forbidden corridor for medical issues). 

Joe Barker 7AGU


If you feel sick during a lesson you can tell a teacher and they will send you with another student to the Medical Room.

Erin Harrison 7CRK

What happens in detentions?

Having heard such amazing things from your primary schools about you, we don't think that this will be something that you will need to concerned about when you get to PHS. However, we understand that you have heard that detentions can be given and it can then be a worry for new students when they get to high school:

If you don't follow the rules you may be told to go to a detention during your free time. They are used to help students follow the guidelines that we put in place to keep everyone safe, to be a good citizen and to ensure that everyone works to the best of their ability.

In a detention you are generally asked to sit in silence and complete a short task. These will be for no longer than 20 minutes during the school day.

Mr Latch


Well... Nothing. You just sit there in silence!

Christian Ellis 7AGU

What do I do if I miss the bus?

Also see video section below


I have once missed it so I can answer this from a pupils point of view.

I was with 5 of my friends and we missed the bus! At first we started to panic slightly but then we used our phones to call our parents. They then phoned the school to explain what had happened and that we were going to be late. After a bit of a wait our parents turned up and took us to school which was lucky. We rushed straight into Form  and carried on the day. We didn’t get into trouble or get told off because the school knew what had happened.

The main thing is don’t PANIC and stay calm. School seems to be very understanding about the buses, especially when you or your parents ring into school to say there has been a problem.

Mia Allen 7SVP

Video Answers

Questions about PE

 

You have not allowed cookies and this content may contain cookies.

If you would like to view this content please

 

Mr Henderson (Head of PE)

How do we pay for food at school?

 

You have not allowed cookies and this content may contain cookies.

If you would like to view this content please

 

When are you allowed to go to your locker? Are the things inside lockers very well protected?

 

You have not allowed cookies and this content may contain cookies.

If you would like to view this content please

 

Joe Barker 7SVP

Is it hard to find your classroom? What if you get lost?

 

You have not allowed cookies and this content may contain cookies.

If you would like to view this content please

 

Where do I go if I feel ill or I've been sick?

 

You have not allowed cookies and this content may contain cookies.

If you would like to view this content please

 

 What do I do if I miss the bus?

 

You have not allowed cookies and this content may contain cookies.

If you would like to view this content please

 

Will Harvey 7SVP


A massive thank you to the Year 7 students that helped to answer your transition questions:

Erin Harrison, Mia Allen, Jack Rose, Joe Barker, Will Harvey, Christian Ellis, Iris Dunlop, Joshua Rennie

Poynton High School & Performing Arts College

Yew Tree Lane, Poynton, Cheshire SK12 1PU

01625 871 811