Schools

We adapt our services to suit the needs of your school. Take a look below at how we do this.

School benefits

Enables teachers and support staff to gain an insight to students’ academic and pastoral support needs with the help of our ‘passport to success’ and comprehensive end-of-programme evaluation.
Raises student aspirations and prepares them for year 7 teaching and learning.
Allows students to start school in September with an understanding of your achievement and sanction policies.
Provides opportunities for KS4 students to develop their own leadership skills and gain a qualification in the process

WHAT WE OFFER OUR SCHOOLS

Detailed planning

Detailed planning and delivery of transition programme (with school input)

Safeguarding

Management of child protection and safeguarding during programme delivery

Peer mentorship

Year 10 and 11 students are given the opportunity to act as mentors for new year 7 students

Trained teachers

Experienced teachers and SEND support staff throughout programme delivery

It was phenomenally successful. When you have the opportunity to sign up for the programme, I couldn't recommend it more!!! It was brilliant.

Tina Graham - Headteacher Kingbridge Community College

Using 'The Big Step' as part of our Transition programme was a fantastic decision. As a very busy senior leader they made it so easy for me, they organised the marketing, bookings and groupings, they also dealt with all the parent queries and successfully organised the whole week with minimal input from our staff. Immediately, on the first day we decided it would be annual partnership, the staff on the programme were high quality practitioners and the there has been a marked positive impact on our Year 7 entry. Those students who attended 'The Big Step' transition week recorded the highest attendance and engagement in the following Autumn term compared to any other co-hort. As a result of the programme we have also developed other strong links. I absolutely recommend all schools using 'The Big Step'.

David Carpenter - Assistant Principal Paignton Academy

I just wanted to say a big thank you to you and your team for providing our students with an amazing start to West Exe School. It's been a really positive week and the students have thoroughly enjoyed it and benefited from it. Your team have been great and I can't speak more highly of them and their work commitment and leadership.

Nicky Lewis - Deputy Headteacher West Exe School

I'd just like to say thank you so much for the summer school. I knew it was going to be good, but just not this good. The staff were absolutely outstanding, and the children were amazing due to the tight and well-planned programme and excellent leadership of the staff. I can't thank you enough.

Chris Darvill - Assistant Headteacher Queen Elizabeth's School

Passport to Success

Every student taking part in The Big Step summer programme will receive a ‘Passport to Success’. This passport provides activities for students to complete during the programme.

The passport encourages the students to track and manage their progress, complete literacy and numeracy tasks and provide their year 7 tutors with an insight in to their hopes and fears before the autumn term commences.

Each of our passports are bespoke and designed specifically to meet the needs of each school.

What's in the passport?

A tracker to encourage students to track and manage their progress and reflect on their learning

Literacy and numeracy tasks

Examples of student work to provide to year 7 tutors

A space for students and their parents/carers to record any hopes and fears about their new school

Peer mentoring and work experience

Peer mentors are invaluable as they will have experienced the same issues and concerns and can offer support from a young person's perspective. The aims of peer mentoring are as follows: