TEACHERS, governors and parents are preparing for one of the biggest shake-ups to Poole schools for decades.

From next year, the age of transfer between schools changes so that pupils move up to middle schools and secondary schools a year younger.

Staff and governors at Sylvan First School and Branksome Heath Middle School recently met to discuss ways of smoothing the transition for children.

The introduction of the new system means pupils from year four and year three will move across Livingstone Road to Branksome Heath at the same time next year. Branksome will see its pupils leave for secondary school at the end of year six rather than year seven.

Sylvan headteacher Sarah Lee said the joint meeting with Branksome had included a tour of the middle school, led by its head Stuart Fox.

“We met at Branksome Heath Middle and Mr Fox took us on a tour of where the year three children will be based from September so that the parent governors could look at arrangements that have been put in place for young children starting at Branksome Heath,” she said.

“Mr Fox reassured the governors of the arrangements that have been put in place to ensure children feel secure. They plan to section off part of the middle school playground that will just be for year threes. They can go out and play with brothers and sisters in years four, five and six, but years four to six won’t be able to come to their playground.”

Branksome Heath is also organising its classes so that year three parents can continue collecting their children at the classroom door.

“Parents are just beginning to realise it’s going to happen in September,” said Mrs Lee. “Their worries are over the day to day things and we want to make sure we allay their worries and concerns.”

She said the process had required ‘careful thought and planning for both schools’. Sylvan would be taking care to mark the passage for children from year three and four with school leavers’ concerts. Children will be visiting the middle school and staff will be coming to speak to them.

The Borough of Poole has supported the process by a stakeholders’ group in which headteachers can share good practice.

Although Sylvan will be losing its top year, it will still have 450 pupils on its roll.

“The impact has been lessened by the fact that our pupil admission number has grown to 150 in each year group, which makes us one of the largest first schools in the South West,” Mrs Lee said.