Information for Year 6 students joining Middleton Technology School

First of all I would like to extend a warm welcome to all year students who intend to join Middleton Technology School.   Listed below are some details which should make it easier to understand the organisation of the school and hopefully answer some of your questions.

What is the school day like?

Will I be with my friends in my tutor group?

What’s the school uniform like?

What lessons will I have?

What if I’m ill or late?

What are the school dinners like?

Are there any trips?

What clubs are there?

Will I get bullied?

How much homework will I get?

How can I get to school?

Do you have a school council?

What do other year 7's think?
    

What is the school day like?

The School day starts quite early in comparison to your primary school, but this will also mean you will finish earlier allowing you to have a free afternoon in order to complete homework or participate in one of the many extra curricular clubs which take place at MTS.
Getting used to having different teachers for different subjects will take you a while to get used to. It also means there is a lot of moving around between lessons as everyone moves to their next classroom.
All lessons last 50 minutes and there are 6 lessons a day. In the morning you will have 4 lessons, with a 20 minute morning break in the middle. Your lunch break lasts 40 minutes, followed by another two lessons in the afternoon.  
 
 Registration                 8.30   –     8.40am
 Lesson 1                      8.40   –     9.30am
 Lesson 2                      9.30   –     10.20am
 Break                           10.20 –     10.35am
 Lesson 3                      10.35 –     11.25am
 Lesson 4                      11.25 –     12.15pm
 Lunch                           12.15 –     12.55pm
 Lesson 5                      12.55 –     1.50pm
 Lesson 6                      1.50   –     2.40pm

Will I be with my friends in my tutor group?

A question often asked when I visit potential MTS students is ‘Will I be with my friends in my tutor group?’  The answer to this question is ‘Yes’.  When you have been accepted for a place at MTS I will send some forms for you and your parents to fill in.  One of these forms is a friendship form where you write the names of your friends in order of preference of who would like to be with in your tutor group.  I will then do my best to put you with at least one of your friends.

During registration your tutor is responsible for:

• Taking the register
• Making sure you are in registration on time and have the correct equipment ready to start the school day. (Journal, pen, pencil, ruler)
• Passing information to you, including letters that go home.
• Checking you are using your school journal correctly and has been signed by your parents/guardians on a weekly basis.
• Checking your uniform is complete and being worn correctly before you leave the room.
• Discussing any difficulties you are having in school. They will either try and help directly, or get someone else to help you with the problem.

In addition, Year 7 tutor groups have some Year 10 students known as ‘Guardian Angels’ who are there to help and support you not only in your tutor group but also around school.
    

What’s the school uniform like?

MTS believe that a smart uniform worn properly is very important because it demonstrates the pride that students take in the school.  MTS expects all students to wear full uniform at all times.

The uniform is:

• Black school trousers or MTS designated uniform skirt
• White school shirt
• Black blazer with school crest
• School tie
• Black shoes
• Black or white socks (if worn under trousers)
• Plain black tights, or white socks (if worn with a skirt)
• School bag

Items of uniform must be serviceable and hardwearing.  Please stick to our guidelines:

Trousers must not be too tight and the style of the trouser must allow a shirt to be tucked in properly.  Ski pants, combat trousers, leggings or low-rise (hipster) trousers are not allowed, nor are any adornments to the trousers like big buttons, buckles etc.

Skirts must be the new MTS skirt, which is a plain black “A” line skirt with two front pockets which are edged in green trim available from Broadbents.

Shirts must be traditional school shirt design so that they can be tucked into skirts and trousers properly.  They must not be fitted, short or fashion shirts without a proper collar.

Shoes must be completely black and low heeled.  Fashion shoes including completely flat shoes, those without a grip on the sole and any open-toed or heelless shoes are not suitable for health and safety reasons.  Trainers and boots may not be worn. No fashion shoes with broad white stripes of flashes will be allowed.

Socks/Tights must not be coloured or patterned.

Outdoor coats should be serviceable and should fit over the blazer so that they can be worn to and from school in bad weather.

Sweatshirts, hooded tops and denim jackets form no part of the school uniform as indoor or outdoors wear and must not be worn.

Hair – hair must not be shaved, and the minimum length is number 2.  Hair styles must not be extreme.  The school will decide what is extreme and if you are in any doubt about your child’s hair style, please check with a senior member of staff before bringing your child to school.

Jewellery – students may wear an inexpensive watch and one pair of studs in the lower lobes.  Hooped earrings including sleepers are not allowed.  Students who choose to wear studs must remove them for PE.  No body jewellery is allowed (nose, tongue, lip, eyebrow, belly button etc). The school will not be responsible for any injury caused by or to a body piercing and all jewellery brought into school is at students’ own risk.

Baseball caps are not to be worn to, from or in school.

Nail varnish is not allowed.

Make-up is allowed in KS4 only and is to be applied minimally.

Summer uniform – Students may, in the Summer Term (after Easter holidays) wear the school embroidered black polo shirt instead of a white shirt and tie.  This may be worn untucked.

You can get your uniform from:

Broadbent Fashions
656 Long Street
Middleton
Telephone: 0161 649 5193

The shop is located opposite the Assheton Arms.  The uniform shop is on the lower floor. Some items may also be bought from other shops.

PE Uniform

PE also has a uniform.  You will have 2 lessons a week, an indoor and and  an outdoor lesson.  There are different kits for each lesson.

Indoor - Green polo shirt (with school crest) and black skirt/shorts, black football socks and trainers.

Outdoor - Black rugby shirt with green band (with school crest), black shorts/skirt and black football socks. Trainers/boots as required

• A towel is optional for use after each lesson. A black tracksuit may, at the teacher’s discretion, be worn for outdoor PE lessons up to Easter, but must not be worn for indoor lessons.
• Leggings are not allowed.
• Nail varnish is NOT allowed.
• ALL watches etc must be removed before PE lesson. Money and valuables (watches, wallets, keys etc) must be handed in to the teacher at the start of the lesson and not left in students’ pockets or bag.  The teacher will lock them away until the end of the lesson.  The school will not be responsible for the loss of any items as above or money from the changing rooms if they are not handed in to the teacher.

What lessons will I have?

In Year 7 Students will study:

Core Subjects

English
Mathematics
Science
ICT

Foundation Subjects

Art
Citizenship
Drama
Geography
German
History
Information Communication Technology
Music
Life Education
P.E./Games
Cultural Studies
Technology

Lessons at MTS are 50 minutes.  You will be taught in the same groups for all subjects in Year 7 based on your KS2 SATS results.  

What if I’m ill or late?

MTS have high expectations regarding punctuality and attendance.  They are important if you are to make good progress in lessons.  If you are unable to come to school due to an illness you must let school know as soon as possible, or on your return to school you must bring your form tutor an absence note from you parent/guardian.  We also advise you to go on holiday during the holidays and not during school time.  It is important that you catch up on any schoolwork that you may have missed.

What are the school dinners like?

The school operates a cashless system for purchasing food in the cafeteria.  You are able to pay for your dinners at the start of the year or you can add money to a machine on a daily basis.  When you buy something in the cafeteria the canteen staff will use your fingerprint in order to identify you.  This cashless system means you don’t have to worry about losing your money and you will be able to get your dinner a lot quicker!!  Full instructions how to use this system will be given to you on your first day at Middleton Technology School. 

Snacks and drinks are available from the canteen at breakfast and at morning break, and you may have toast, teacakes, soup and hot chocolate, etc.  At lunchtime you must remain in school for lunch unless parents have requested permission in writing, and it has been approved by the Headteacher.  If you are not purchasing a school dinner (£1.60) you may eat your packed lunch in the canteen.

Example:

Are there any trips?

There is an opportunity for you to participate in many extra curricular activities which take place at Middleton Technology School.  Below are just the trips which are available for Year 7 students.  Whilst they are not compulsory, I would advise you to attend them as they will not only help you with your learning but also help you create new friendship groups.

• Two day team building residential  – usually within the first half term (photos)
• Skipton Castle – History (photos)
• Cadbury’s World – part of the Bubbles project in Science, Technology, and Maths (photos)
• End of year trip – Lightwater Valley

What clubs are there?

PE –click to read the extra curricular timetable which PE have.

Will I get bullied?

Year 7 students are often worried about bullying when they move to secondary school.  Middleton Technology School have a strict anti-bullying policy whose aim is to clarify for pupils and staff that bullying is always unacceptable.  Every pupil has the right to be safe and happy in school, and to be protected when he or she is feeling vulnerable.

We feel it is important to create an atmosphere in school where students who are being bullied, or others who know about it, feel that they will be listened to and believed, and that action taken will be swift but sensitive to their concerns. Not telling protects the bully or bullies, and gives the message that they can continue, perhaps bullying others too.

There are many people you can talk to if this unfortunate incident takes place.  Don’t suffer in silence, tell your friends, Guardian Angels, tutor, teacher, Learning Progress Co-ordinator, Learning Progress Mentor or parents. 

How much homework will I get?

In year 7 you will be given 1 hour of homework per night, most teachers will set homework every week.    You will be given a school journal to record homework tasks and deadlines.  The journals will also help with communication between home and school.  There is a space for teachers to comment on students’ attitude and behaviour and for parents/guardians to note comments made. 

Below are some of the tasks you may be asked to complete for your homework:

How can I get to school?

Whilst there are no allocated buses below is a list of transport available:

Number 17 Bus from Rochdale and Castleton to School

Number 59 Bus from Manchester and Blackley to School

Number 80 (GM Bus) and Number 112 runs from Manchester to Middleton via Moston (alight at Grimshaw Lane)

Number 145 (JP Travel) runs from Piccadilly/Arndale to Middleton (alight at the bottom of Sandy Lane)
 

Alternatively, a bike shed is available on the premises which is locked throughout the day.  Students are advised to wear a helmet if they ride to school, and to provide their own lock for added security.