Moving up to Senior Prep - Dean Close School
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Moving
up to
Senior
Prep Useful information
for moving into Year 7
Starting at a new school or moving up from
Year 6 to Senior Prep is an exciting stage in
a child’s education. To help children make
the transition smoothly we have gathered
DEAN
together a list of questions new pupils and
parents have asked in the past and provided
some useful answers. We hope you and your
DC CLOSE
CHELTENHAM
family find this beneficial.
PREPARATORY SCHOOL
Years 7 and 8 are known as
Senior Prep. As members of 1. How many other children will be starting
from other schools?
Senior Prep pupils receive
certain privileges like being On average, every year, the Preparatory School
welcomes 1/3 of the year group from external
able to sign themselves out, schools, so there are lots of new faces in Year 7.
the opportunity to get
2. What uniform do Year 7s wear?
involved in charity work
DCPS has a winter uniform and a summer uniform.
outside of school and act as Winter uniform is compulsory from September
tour guides on Open Days. exeat through to Easter. Summer uniform is
They are also expected to set compulsory from May exeat to the end of the
a good example to younger Trinity Term. From the start of term in September
through to the 1st exeat, and from the start of
members of the School term in the summer through to exeat, either
Community. In Year 8 pupils uniform may be worn.
will have the opportunity to For winter uniform the girls wear white
become Prefects and School long-sleeved shirts, a DCPS blazer, DCPS tie, DCPS
Ambassadors. skirt, DCPS navy jumper, navy blue tights or socks
and black shoes. For summer uniform the girls
wear a white short-sleeved open-necked blouse,
DCPS blazer, DCPS skirt, DCPS jumper, white ankle
socks and black shoes.
For winter uniform the boys wear white
long-sleeved shirts, a DCPS blazer, DCPS tie, grey
trousers, DCPS jumper, grey socks and black
DEAN shoes. For summer uniform the boys wear white
DC CLOSE
CHELTENHAM
short-sleeved shirts, a DCPS blazer, DCPS tie, grey
trousers or shorts, DCPS jumper, grey socks and
black shoes.
PREPARATORY SCHOOL All pupils should also have a DCPS coat.
The school shop has everything that you need and
the staff there are really helpful in assisting with Thursday 5.15pm. (Year 8, 5.30pm). Wednesday
finding the right kit. You can book an appointment 3.30pm unless they have matches, then parents
at the shop, even in the summer holiday, to get will be given a time to collect children. Parents can
everything sorted and there is also a second hand find out the times of sports matches from the
shop that is worth looking at, especially for spare School Sports site. https://www.deancloseprep-
items of clothing. sport.org.uk/ .To access the team sheets a
password is required, which is available from the
3. Where do new Year 7s go on the first morning?
School Office. If they are at an away match and
Boarding pupils arrive to their new boarding running late, parents will receive a text message or
houses the day before, normally by 4.00pm so they email.
have time for tea with their fellow boarders. Day
6. What does a School day look like?
pupils are invited to their Day Houses the day
before the first day of term. Here they can meet At 8.30am there will be 20 minutes for Assembly or
their new Houseparents and their shadow. A Form/Tutor time. A typical day may run as follows:
shadow is a pupil in your house, who is your age,
who will take care of you when you start school. 8.50am Lesson 1
They will show you where to go as you familiarise 9.50am Lesson 2
yourself with the School. They will also introduce 10.50am Break
you to new people. On the first day of School you 11.15am Lesson 3
will start the day in your Day House. 12.15am Lesson 4
1.00pm Early Lunch/Music Lessons/Ensembles
4. Where are Year 7s dropped off and picked up 1.15pm Junior Activities/Senior Lunch
from after the first morning? 1.45pm Senior Activities/Junior Prep
2.10pm Registration
Day pupils are dropped at their Day Houses on the
2.20pm Lesson 5
first morning. After which they can be dropped at
3.20pm Games/Lesson 6
the front of School, pupils can also be collected 4.20pm Buns
from the front of School. Pupils in Year 7 and above 4.35pm Senior Prep
are allowed to sign themselves out at the end of 5.15pm Sign out
the day from their Day House.
5. What is the length of the School Day? 7. Does Year 7 have to go to school on a
The school day starts at 8.15am, but pupils can be Saturday?
dropped in their Day Houses from 7.45am. Pick up Saturday is a normal school day for all children
times for Years 6-8 are Monday, Tuesday and in Year 6 and above. There is a full academicprogramme, which finishes at 12.10pm and often Scientific calculator
there are matches in the afternoon. Day children French dictionary - To be kept at home for use
not involved in matches or squad practices are free with Prep. Dictionaries are available in the French
to leave from 12.10pm. classrooms. The following dictionaries are
recommended:
8. When is lunch?
Collins Pocket French Dictionary (in colour).
Lunch is between 1.15pm and 1.35pm in the dining Oxford Colour Dictionary.
hall, with different Year groups having lunch at
different times. Year 7 usually has lunch at 1.20pm.
11. Who is the main point of contact for each
9. Can Day pupils have breakfast and supper? child?
Yes, they can – it must be pre-arranged with House- Pupils in Years 6 - 8 have a House Tutor who they
parents and the bursary as there is a small charge. will see at least twice a week to check they are
10. What do Year 7s need to bring to School? keeping on top of their academic studies and to
support their personal development. The House
Pupils should ensure that they have all the correct Tutor should be their first point of contact should a
equipment for School each day. problem arise. If a solution cannot be found with
• School bag the House Tutor, the issue can then be raised with
• Games bag the Houseparent/Housemaster/Pastoral Assistant.
• P.E. bag
12. When do they receive their timetable?
• Watch
On the first day of term. Parents will also receive
• Pencil case containing:
their own copy.
Fountain pen
Spare cartridges (blue ink please) 13. How are pupils in Year 7 set for subjects?
Pencils
In Year 7 pupils have different teachers for different
Pencil sharpener
subjects and are put into sets according to their
Rubber
ability.
Red and blue biro/fine-liner
Colouring pencils (a basic selection) 14. How will they know where the correct
30cm ruler classrooms are?
Please note that Tip-Ex is NOT allowed
Every new pupil to the School will have their own
• Maths equipment:
shadow who will show them around the sports
Compass
buildings and the sports pitches.
Protractor15. Where do parents find out what is going on Key points to note for Music lessons:
each week?
i. Requests for new instrumental lessons are due
Parents can find out about the week ahead from by the end of July to enable timetabling to take
several sources; the School calendar which they place during August.
receive at the beginning of term and is available on
ii. Music lessons take place on a rota through 1/2 of
the school website (any events highlighted in bold
an hour long academic lesson, with fixed lessons
parents are invited to). Or the weekly bulletin which
available to those who learn multiple instruments.
is posted on the news section of the website.
Hermes, the Prep School’s Weekly Newsletter, also iii. The Music Dept. will email further information
has a plan for the week ahead. towards the end of June/early July.
16. How much homework are Year 7 pupils ex- iv. Any questions regarding music tuition, email
pected to do? akgodley@deanclose.org.uk or regarding Music
provision in general, email tjmcvittie@deanclose.
Homework is referred to as Prep. Year 7 will be
org.uk
set Prep from one subject every day and will be
expected to spend 45 minutes each day Key points to note for Speech and Drama lessons:
completing their homework, which is usually
i. Speech & Drama lesson requests should be
done at school.
emailed to Mrs Lawrence by the end of the Trinity
17. Where do they get their extracurricular Term.
timetables from for Music and Drama?
ii. Pupils in Years 5-8 are taught either in pairs or in
Drama timetables are weekly. The timetable is a group of three, on a weekly rota system.
posted on the drama notice boards every Friday
iii. Children who opt to do drama lessons will be
afternoon for the following week. Music timetables
entered for LAMDA examinations annually and are
are available towards the end of the first week of
usually involved in the Cheltenham Festival of
the Michaelmas Term and lessons start in the
performing arts.
second week of this longer term. Music lessons
in subsequent terms start immediately. The iv. Any queries, email llawrence@deanclose.org.uk
timetables are displayed on the music board in
Rickerby and distributed to boarding houses as There is also the possibility of signing up for dance
soon as they are available. lessons (email llawrence@deanclose.org.uk) and
tennis lessons. For tennis lessons, requests should
go to the School Office, by emailing
dcpsoffice@deanclose.org.uk18. Where do they find out about clubs and and hockey sticks. A Dean Close mid-layer is
activities? optional but does add much needed warmth in the
colder months, and a Dean Close white base-layer
At the beginning of each term parents and pupils is optional for the Trinity Term.
are sent a list of possible clubs and activities pupils
can join. Once they have signed up for their choices, For rugby and hockey the boys wear Dean Close
timetables for clubs and activities are posted on rugby shirts, navy shorts, Dean Close maroon
the noticeboard just inside Rickerby. rugby / hockey socks, Dean Close navy base-layer,
Dean Close tracksuit bottoms and a Dean Close
19. How often do Games sessions take place? tracksuit top. They need rugby/football boots for
Year 7 do Games three times a week on Mondays, rugby and for hockey need a gum shield, as well as
Wednesdays and Fridays. Most children are also shin pads and a hockey stick. For cricket they wear
required for matches on Saturdays. In the white polo shirts, white PE shorts and white ankle
Michaelmas Term, the girls play hockey and the socks. Again, the Dean Close mid-layer is optional
boys rugby. In the Lent Term, the boys play hockey but does add much needed warmth in the colder
and the girls netball. In the Trinity Term, girls play months, and a Dean Close white base-layer is
tennis and cricket and the boys play cricket. In optional for the Trinity Term.
addition, the children have one P.E. session a week 21. When will children know which team they are
which might be tennis, gymnastics, swimming or in for sports?
athletics. The P.E. schedule is emailed to parents at
the start of each term. In Year 7, many children join us from other schools
therefore it takes a little while to assess the ability
20. What Games kit do pupils wear? of every individual. Try not to be disappointed if you
For Games, the girls wear Dean Close white polo do not make the A team. Pupils migrate between
shirts, maroon skorts, Dean Close tracksuit teams throughout the seasons. To find out which
bottoms, Dean Close navy base-layer, Dean Close teams your child is playing in throughout the week,
tracksuit top and white socks, except in the hockey visit the School Sports website mentioned earlier in
term when they wear the Dean Close maroon this document.
hockey socks and also need shin pads, gum shieldsHighlights for the Year ahead Is there anything specific I
Trips visits and activities a new Year 7 pupil can
should do to help prepare my
look forward to in their first year at Dean Close child for Year 7?
Preparatory School.
Not really! The Parents’ Handbook has
Year 7 trip to Snowdonia a lot of key information in it so look
through that carefully when you receive
Charities Fair: A great big fair in the it. The House Tutors and the
Michaelmas Term where pupils have the Houseparents will do their best to
opportunity to run their own stalls and ensure a smooth transition for each
raise money for Charity (Pupils also child and will help with all of the
wear their own clothes). logistics, especially in the first few weeks.
As with any change, the transition to
Senior Forms’ play – which takes place at their new School can take time to get
the end of the Michaelmas Term. used to, so just reassuring your child that
we will look after them and going
The Junior Forms’ play - which takes
through what they need each day for
place at the end of the Lent Term.
those first few weeks is always helpful.
Healthy Living Days, which take place Do get in touch if there are any other
twice a year and involve team building, questions or concerns by emailing your
cookery, First Aid, mindfulness and child’s Houseparent.
sometimes camping skills.
The Cheltenham Festival of Performing
Arts, which takes place in May.
Sports Day at the end of June.
The Extravaganza – A medley of music,
drama, dance and gymnastics held at
the Bacon Theatre at the end of the
academic year.
Speech Day – At the end of the academic
year, parents can visit classrooms,
have a coffee and croissant in the French
Café and visit the Amphitheatre for the
School Latin play before the prize-giving
and speeches.
House Music Competitions.
House Sports Matches.Helpful tips from
our current Year 7s
…that children shouldn’t worry – it’s all fine!
…everyone is friendly and if you are new they will look after you
…that finding places can be hard but everyone is helpful so you
soon get to know things – just follow someone!
…the Snowdonia trip, where all the
Year 7s go away for a few days, is a real highlight.
This is something all the pupils look forward to and a
great chance to get to know other people.
…Healthy Living days are also really good.
The opportunity to try some camping skills, cooking
and great team building activities.
…Be yourself
DEAN
DC CLOSE
CHELTENHAM
PREPARATORY SCHOOL
Dean Close Preparatory School,
Lansdown Road, Cheltenham, Gloucestershire, GL51 6QS
Tel: 01242 512217 Email: dcpsoffice@deanclose.org.uk Website: www.deanclose.org.ukYou can also read
