Student Guide to Joining The Willink

Welcome to New Students

Welcome to the Willink School community. You are joining a supportive and dynamic school community where you will meet new people, develop knowledge and skills to become confident global changemakers who can make positive contributions to society.

At The Willink we all "Engage, Respect and Achieve". If you engage, making the most of the many opportunities available to you, in a way that is respectful to yourself, your environment and others, then you will achieve success and aspirational goals. Your teachers will have the highest expectations of, and for you, will work hard to support your individual needs and we will recognise and reward your success.

Making the transition from primary to secondary school is an exciting opportunity but we know that you may also feel nervous. Use this Welcome Pack to help you to prepare and remember that your peers are all experiencing the transition with you.

We look forward to greeting you in person in July when we embark on the next phase of your educational journey - your Willink ERA - together.

Ms Browning, Headteacher

Student Guide for New Starters

Have a look at our 'Information for New Students 2025/26' Guide. This booklet contains lots of useful information about The Willink, including:

A message from Ms Browning, Headteacher
Information about the Year 7 Key Contacts
Letters from our current Year 7s who share their experiences of joining The Willink
Frequently asked questions, with answers
Information about the use of smart devices at The Willink
A map of The Willink school
An example of a student timetable and guidance on how to understand it
Information about a typical school day at The Willink
Insight into some of the exciting school clubs run for students
An introduction to 'Willink Ways' (This is how we celebrate your individual success as you make the most of your ERA: Engage, Respect and Achieve!)
The Willink House System
Peer Mentors and how they will support you in your transition to The Willink
A roadmap guiding your journey from March to September 2025 as you prepare to join The Willink!

...Plus there are some fun challenges to complete in this booklet too!

Information For New Students 2025-2026

Why not download, save and/or print a copy of this guide so you can refer to it at any time:

Information for New Students 2025-2026

Learning Support Centre

Sometimes, students find school and learning difficult and there can be many different reasons for this. The Learning Support Centre (LSC) is there to provide extra support to those students who need it. The Learning Support Centre is located in the S Block and can be accessed by all students.

Watch this video to learn a little bit more about our Learning Support Centre:

Frequently Asked Questions

What will happen on my first day in September?

On your first day you should go to the school hall where your form tutor will meet you. Only Year 7 students and Peer Mentors will be in school then so you have some time to get to know your way around.

How many different classrooms will I have in a day?

The answer is 7. The first of the day will be your form room and this will be the same every day. You will also see 6 subject teachers, usually in 6 different rooms. Peer Mentors (older students) will be there to guide you on your first day and you will quickly learn your way around so don’t worry.

Where are the toilets?

There are toilets located in most of the blocks and they are easy to find.

What do I do if I feel unwell at school?

If you feel unwell you should let your teacher know. They may advise you to have some water or fresh air. If you are very unwell staff in the main office (above the Library Resource Centre in the Admin Block) will contact home for you.

How much homework will there be?

Year 7 students can expect to have homework from each subject weekly. Some subjects such as Maths, English, Languages and Science may be slightly more frequent. Homework tasks and deadlines will be set on our online portal. Our Library Resource Centre is open to students during morning and afternoon break and after school until 4.15pm, Monday - Thursday.

Are we allowed to have lockers?

Yes. Lockers are located near your tutor room. Parents/Carers can pay for a locker using Scopay.

Where can I eat lunch?

You can eat inside the school hall or at our outdoor picnic benches within the courtyard (labelled Covered Area on your map) and table tennis area (next to L Block). The canteen and ERA eats Pod provide a wide selection of cold and hot meals or you can bring your own packed lunch.

How do I join after school and lunch time clubs?

In September we run a Club Fair for Year 7 students where representatives from lots of different clubs come along and encourage you to sign up. As well as attending the Club Fair your form tutor will tell you where and when the clubs are and your PE teacher will tell you more about the sports clubs. There is a Clubs List in this booklet and a new one will be issued when you join.

Are mobile phones and smart watches allowed?

At The Willink, students do not use mobile devices or smartwatches during the school day. These devices are locked in a Yondr pouch, provided for you, to help everyone stay focused and enjoy social time. You can unlock your device after school at the designated stations. If you need to contact home urgently, just visit reception – they will be happy to help! See Page 11 of this booklet for more details.

What do I do if I am ill in the morning before school?

Your parent or carer will decide whether you are well enough to come to school; if you do not come in they will call the absence line office and explain why you won’t be with us that day.

Who can I talk to if I have a problem?

You can speak to any adult in school. You will see your tutor every morning so this will give you an opportunity to talk to them. You can also talk to your Head of Learning (Ms Lyons), the Year 7 Pastoral Assistant (Ms Sutton), Peer Mentors or Inclusion Staff in the Learning Support Centre. It's important that you talk to someone when you are worried.

Where can I go if I have a problem?

You can go to the Head of Learning Office next to main reception before school, during breaks or after school where Peer Mentors or pastoral staff can help you. Alternatively, you can go to Learning Support Centre in S Block.

What is Learning Support Centre?

The Learning Support Centre is in the S Block and can be accessed by all students. We aim to provide all students with structured and coordinated support to overcome barriers to learning caused by personal, social, emotional or behavioural difficulties.

All students at The Willink School are provided with a rich set of learning experiences and opportunities which begin in the classroom, extend to the wider school, and the local community beyond that. However, we recognise that some students will find accessing these opportunities challenging.

Support is provided to students and families via different approaches and covers a range of issues including Special Educational Needs , Literacy , Emotional Literacy (recognising emotions, social skills, self-esteem, loss and bereavement), Relationships, Complex medical conditions, Attendance and Financial hardship.

How can I learn more about the Learning Support Centre and the staff who work there?

Watch our video to see what the Learning Support Department looks like – and the staff who you will meet there. You can find it on our website: willinkschool.org.uk/Pastoral/LSU

I am a child of service family. Is there anybody who I can talk to about that when I need to?

The Willink School has a number of students who are children of service families. If you ever need support, you can talk to your tutor, Head of Learning (Ms. Lyons), or Pastoral Support (Ms. Sutton) – they’re always happy to help.

Last Updated March 2025