Preparing for Year 7 at St Andrews

Similarities to Primary School

There are surprisingly many similarities at our High School to life at Primary School. For example, each school day begins at 7:45 am with the Form Tutor during registration time. Moodle is still the online student management system and parent portal. Akha, Lahu, Karen, and Yao will continue as your School House. The annual residential trip remains one of the highlights of the school year. Also, all students still have access to the Sports, Juilliard, STEAM, MIT programmes and a huge range of Extra-Curricular Activities after school. The list goes on and on...

What’s new? 

So there are plenty of things that your child will be familiar with and have experienced already. But there are new aspects to be prepared for, such as navigating around the High School campus and wearing the new school uniform. All Year 7 students will be given a Student ID badge which allows them access through the turnstiles into and out of school. This ID card also acts as a stored-value card that is used to purchase snacks and lunch. Speaking of lunch, there are many new options for food, including Western, Asia, and vegetarian dishes. There's even a Noodle bar, a salad bar, and a live cooking station to give students even more individualised selections. For sure, many more new daily routines and experiences are just waiting to be discovered, but we will try to preview some of these below.

Before the big first day of School 

We want our students to feel prepared for High School. At the beginning of the academic year, all Year 7 students are in exactly the same position. Anticipation and excitement are the overarching feelings, but we want them to know that they are all in it together as a team supported by Year 7 Tutors and Heads of Year. 

Therefore, before the first day, all Year 7 students will come into school for an orientation session. The Heads of Year will send through more information about the orientation by email closer to the session. This event is an opportunity to explore their new learning environment, ask questions and start growing accustomed to the new faces and their new surroundings.

If your child is joining us later in the year, the orientation experience will be slightly different. Heads of Year and Tutors will work together to ensure your child settles in comfortably.

The Transition Team

The role of this team is to ensure that the move into High School an easy and exciting process. Meet the team below:  

Heads of Year 7 - Mr Paul and Ms Georgia 

As the Heads of Year 7, our role is to work closely with your child and Class Tutors to make sure they are well-supported and prepared to progress through High School. We have a very supportive and welcoming team to help your family and child settle in comfortably to get the most out of being part of the STA community. We look forward to getting to know your child and family. 

Head of Student Welfare And Progress - Mr Andrew

As Head of Student Welfare And Progress at our High School, my role is to ensure that students are happy, included and feel part of the STA community. I lead the pastoral team which includes the Head of Year, Tutors and Counsellors to ensure that every student's wellbeing is the best that it can be. 

Head of Learning Support - Mr Mike 

Everyone needs a little help at some point in their academic journey, especially at such an exciting, and perhaps a little scary, time such as transitioning to High School. High School Learning Support offers a wide variety of support provisions and programs, delivered and provided by specialist LSAs (Learning Support Assistants), Learning Support Teachers and other specialists.

Frequently Asked Questions

We often get asked the following questions about starting at High School. 

What to expect on the first day of Year 7? 

What kind of computing device does my child need at High School?

Your child will need to bring their own devices in for learning. Click the link to find out more about the St Andrews BYOD policies and devices guidance. 

What languages are available for my child to study at St Andrews?

Learn more about the Language Options available by clicking on the link.

What is the school uniform at High School?

Your child will wear a different uniform from Year 7 through to Year 11. Please click the link to find out more. 

Do High School students have their own lockers?

Every Key Stage 3 (Year 7 - 9) and Key Stage 4 (Year 10-11) student will be provided with a lock and locker. In Key Stage 5 (Year 12-13), students have the choice of whether they would like to have a locker.

Ask a Question Function 

If you have any other questions about your child's start in Year 7, please click on the Ask a Question function button below, and we would be happy to assist you.

High School International Day Highlights 2021/2022!