Joining Penrice – Transition Hub 2025

Welcome to the Transition Hub

Welcome to all new Penrice families! Here is our Transition Hub which will be regularly updated anytime a communication is sent out via email, letter, or social media.

8th July 2025 – Website Update (not emailed)

Thank You for Joining Us – Year 6 Welcome Day & Evening

We would like to extend a heartfelt thank you to all the Year 6 students and families who joined us for our Welcome Day and Evening at Penrice Academy yesterday. It was a pleasure to meet so many enthusiastic young learners and their supportive families as we begin this exciting journey together toward September.

During the day, it was wonderful to see the Year 6 students engaging so positively with the wide range of lessons and activities on offer. Their energy, curiosity, and eagerness to get involved gave us a fantastic glimpse of the future year group we are so excited to welcome. We hope the day helped them feel more confident and excited about the transition to secondary school.

Thank you also to the families who attended the evening information session. We appreciated the opportunity to share more about life at Penrice and how we support students as they settle in and thrive here. Your involvement is a vital part of this transition, and we look forward to working closely with you in the months and years ahead.

We are so pleased to have had the chance to begin building these connections and can’t wait to officially welcome our new Year 7 cohort in September.

If you missed the event yesterday, please be sure to pick up a hard-copy of our Year 6 Welcome Guide when you next visit us in September. The Welcome Guide is a fantastic resource for parents/carers to refer to throughout the academic year ahead. In the meantime, a digital copy can be accessed below.

3rd July 2025 – Parent/Carer Letter

Welcome Day is almost here!

Mrs Alex Yeo
Head of Year 7 for 2025/26

Dear Parents and Carers,

Our tutor team is absolutely thrilled to welcome all new students joining us for Welcome Day! There’s a special kind of energy that comes with the start of a new journey, and we can’t wait to be part of yours. We’re looking forward to getting to know your child, hearing their stories, and helping them to feel right at home in our school community.

One of the most exciting parts of starting secondary school is the chance to meet new people, and your child’s tutor group is the perfect place to begin. It’s where your child will find friendly faces, share laughs, and start of some truly special friendships. Everyone is in the same boat, eager to connect and build a sense of belonging. We’ve seen so many lasting bonds form in tutor groups, and we have every confidence that your child will find others to connect with.

Upon arrival, your child will be warmly greeted by a friendly team of staff and Student MPs who will be on hand to guide them every step of the way. Whether they need help finding their tutor group, have a question, or just need a reassuring smile, Penrice student leaders will be there to make sure your child feels welcomed, supported, and ready to settle in comfortably.

If you have any questions, worries, or just need a bit of guidance, please don’t hesitate to reach out to us. We’re here to listen, support you, and make sure your child feels confident and cared for as they settle in. No question is too small – your happiness and peace of mind truly matter to us.

Full Information Letter

19th June 2025 – Parent/Carer Letter

We are delighted to share further details about our upcoming Year 6 Welcome Day & Evening on Monday 7th July. Please find below a letter containing full information about the logistics, including what your child needs to bring on this special day.

There are a few online forms for parents/carers to complete ahead of the event. Families will also need to book which Welcome Evening slot they wish to attend via our TryBooking online platform. Relevant links to all of these online forms are shared in the letter.

16th June 2025 – Social Media Update

Further details about our Year 6 Welcome Day on 7th July will be sent out very soon! In the meantime, here are our students with a sneak peek of what to expect in our #MyPenrice video series, episode 3.

We can’t wait to see everyone!

5th June 2025 – Selective Parent/Carer Email

Congratulations – welcome to the Mandarin Excellence Programme!

Well done to our incoming Year 6 students who successfully secured places on the Mandarin Excellence Programme today following the application process. Email notifications have been sent to all those who applied.
 

21st May 2025 – Parent/Carer Email

Mrs Jess Hole
Transition Lead at Penrice Academy

We hope that your child is enjoying breathing a sigh of relief after their recent SATs exams and that they can now start to feel really excited about the next chapter in their educational journey!

As we count down to our official Welcome Day on Monday 7th July, we have some important updates to share in this transition communication.

Please find below a Year 6 Transition Update regarding:

• An update on visits to local primary schools.
• Transition Booster Event dates.
• Information regarding a change of term dates.
• Information on our upcoming data capture process.
• #MyPenrice transition videos.
• Further information, next steps and a thank you.

29th April 2025 – Parent/Carer Email

Mrs Rebecca Yeo
Head of Languages at Penrice

Dear Parent/Carer,

This is the last chance for your child to join our Mandarin Excellence Programme which starts in September! We’ve extended the application window until the end of the upcoming bank holiday weekend to give families a final opportunity to join us on this exciting language learning journey.

If you’ve been considering applying, now is the time. Don’t miss out on this valuable opportunity for your child to gain skills that will set them up for life by knowing one of the world’s most spoken languages.

Why Mandarin?
As the second-most spoken language in the world and spoken by over a billion people, Mandarin will open up a wealth of opportunities for your child, both personally and academically. This is more than just learning a new language; it’s about equipping your child with the skills and confidence to thrive in an ever-changing world, as well as understanding one of the most influential cultures in the world.

In addition to the academic advantages, learning Mandarin at a young age can also open doors for travel, career opportunities, and cross-cultural understanding. Mandarin will give your child the tools to connect with a world of people and experiences.

How to apply?
If you would like to apply, there are two parts to the application. The first is a form for students to complete with the assistance of their parents/carers. The second is a reference form to be completed by your child’s Year 6 teacher.

Student & Parent Application Form

(Closes on Monday 5th May at 23:59 hours).

Teacher Reference Request Form

(Closes on Sunday 11th May at 23:59 hours).

Learn more about the Mandarin Excellence Programme at Penrice
You can learn more about our Mandarin Excellence Programme by visiting our website page here.

Questions
If you have any questions before applying, please contact me via Ryeo@penrice.org.uk.

2nd April 2025 – Parent/Carer Email

We hope that your child is beginning to feel excited about joining Penrice! Today’s communication is for three reasons:
1. Getting to know your child better.
2. Applications opening for our Mandarin Excellence Programme.
3. A message for families from Biscovey Academy.

Getting to know your child better

For the next step in our transition process, we are asking to get to know your child better via two short survey forms below. One survey is for parents and carers to complete, whilst the other is for your child to complete with your assistance.

The information you share in the forms below will be used by our transition team and September’s Year 7 tutors to make your child’s step up to secondary school as smooth as possible.

Mandarin Excellence Programme (MEP) – Applications now open

An enormous thank you to all those who attended Mandarin Taster Lessons recently. We hope that both students and parents/carers enjoyed the experience and better understand the 5-year course.

As promised, we are delighted to announce that the MEP Application Window is now open! If you would like to apply, there are two parts to the application. The first is a form for students to complete with the assistance of their parents/carers. The second is a reference form to be completed by your child’s Year 6 teacher.

(Closes on Sunday 27th April at 23:59 hours).

(Closes on Sunday 4th May at 23:59 hours).

Please make sure your child takes the time to write a strong application. We can only take a maximum of 30 students on the course, so not all applications will be successful.

Full information about our Mandarin Excellence Programme can be found on our website here.

A Message for Biscovey Families

Thank you to those who have emailed to inform us of a date clash between the scheduled Penrice Welcome Day (7th July) and Biscovey Academy’s school camp. We are now aware of this and are working on a solution to ensure that Biscovey students receive appropriate transition experience opportunities before starting with us. We will be in contact with Biscovey families again after the Easter holidays to inform you of our plans.

We wish all families a happy Easter holiday when it arrives!
 

19th March 2025

Penrice – Mandarin Taster Lessons Next Week

Dear Parent/Carer,
There is still time to register to attend a Mandarin Taster Lesson next week at Penrice (if you have not done so already). These Taster Lessons are a great opportunity to experience the Mandarin curriculum, helping students to make an informed decision about whether they would like to apply for the Mandarin Excellence Programme at Penrice.

Why Mandarin?
As the second-most spoken language in the world and spoken by over a billion people, Mandarin will open up a wealth of opportunities for your child, both personally and academically. This is more than just learning a new language; it’s about equipping your child with the skills and confidence to thrive in an ever-changing world, as well as understanding one of the most influential cultures in the world.

In addition to the academic advantages, learning Mandarin at a young age can also open doors for travel, career opportunities, and cross-cultural understanding. Whether your child dreams of studying abroad, working in international business, or simply exploring new cultures, Mandarin will give them the tools to connect with a world of people and experiences. By starting in Year 7, your child will have the chance to build a strong foundation and grow with the language over time, making it easier to achieve fluency as they progress through their education.

Learn more about the Mandarin Excellence Programme at Penrice
You can learn more about our Mandarin Excellence Programme by reading the attached flyer and by visiting our website page below.

 
Register to Attend a Taster Lesson
If you would like to attend a Mandarin Taster Lesson alongside your child then you can pick from one of three dates (24th, 25th or 26th March).

Please use our online booking platform (TryBooking) to register for a session*:

 
*Note: All sessions are subject to availability and may become fully booked over time.

Questions
If you have any questions before registering for one of our Taster Lessons, please contact Miss Lemony Rose, Mandarin Teacher, via Lrose@penrice.org.uk.
 

11th March 2025 – Parent/Carer Email

Dear Year 6 Parents and Carers,

A lot has happened since our previous transition communication last week!

Ofsted Report

On the 11th and 12th February, Penrice Academy was inspected by Ofsted and the results were published on Friday afternoon. We are delighted to share that we have been awarded an Outstanding rating in all four categories, the highest scoring possible.

The quality of education: Outstanding
Behaviour and attitudes: Outstanding
Personal development: Outstanding
Leadership and management: Outstanding

We are delighted to share this exceptional report with our newest families in the Penrice community. We will, of course, continue to build on this success, ensuring that Penrice remains a place where children feel valued, inspired and empowered to achieve their full potential. We encourage you to read the full Ofsted report and watch the video of our students sharing the findings via the link below.

Save the Date – Penrice Welcome Day

We look forward to meeting all of you at our Penrice Welcome Day which will take place on Monday 7th July 2025. Students will be invited to attend a full school day, meeting new teachers, new classmates and enjoying new experiences!

On the afternoon/evening of 7th July, families will also be invited into Penrice to attend our Welcome Evening where we will share key information and materials to ensure your child can make a flying start at Penrice.

As mentioned in our previous communication, Transition Boosters Days will also be made available for those who would benefit from extra support in the transition to Penrice. Further details to follow in the near future.

Mandarin Excellence Programme (MEP) Taster Lessons

We are also delighted to share more information about Penrice Academy’s Mandarin Excellence Programme (MEP) – an exciting and rare opportunity for your child to really shine by learning the second most spoken language in the world.

Mandarin is the official language of mainland China, Taiwan, and Singapore. Mandarin is also spoken across large areas of Hong Kong, Macau, Malaysia and Tibet, often as a second language.

Launched in 2016, the MEP is a Department for Education initiative in partnership with the British Council. In 2022, Penrice passed the stringent qualifying criteria to join this flagship language programme, making us the only school in Cornwall to offer this as part of the curriculum. We now hope to bring on board our next group of 30 keen linguistic students ready to begin the programme when they start Year 7 in September.

Designed to push the most academically able
The Mandarin Excellence Programme is undoubtedly designed to push the most academically able. The 5-year course is an ambitious, accelerated programme, requiring an average of eight hours of Mandarin study a week and leads to a full GCSE in Mandarin. 4 hours of this will be classroom learning plus another 4 hours of independent study per week. Mandarin does not replace the learning of a traditional modern foreign language on each student’s timetable and MEP students can expect to also study Spanish at Penrice.

Mandarin Taster Lessons
We understand that applying for this 5-year course will be a big commitment for both students and families. With this in mind, we are offering Year 6 students and parent/carers the chance to attend a Mandarin Taster Lesson later this month (advanced registration required).

This is a great opportunity to experience the Mandarin curriculum, helping both parents and students to make an informed decision about whether they would like to commit to the intensive but highly rewarding programme.

 
If you have any questions before registering for one of our Taster Lessons, please contact Miss Lemony Rose, Mandarin Teacher, via enquiries@penrice.org.uk.

SEND Support and Inclusion at Penrice

Mrs Kirsty Taylor
 
Assistant Headteacher for Inclusion and SENDco

We are very mindful that students (and their parents/carers) who have had SEND support at primary school may be thinking about how they will be supported at Penrice.

We have an amazing SEND Team who can’t wait to meet our new cohort of students. Mrs. Taylor (Assistant Headteacher for Inclusion and SENDco), and her team will be:

• Meeting primary colleagues to share key information and plan the transition focus.
• There will be a series of SEND clinics open to Year 6 parents, carers and students later in the year to meet the team and talk through what support at Penrice will look like.
• In the summer term, there will be Transition Booster Experiences for those students who require extra support in the move up to secondary school.
• Mrs Taylor will also be available to meet with parents/carers during the summer term.

Tutor Group Allocations

Tutor groups will be arranged and communicated prior to the Welcome Day. This happens by primary staff liaising with the Head of Year 7. Most students will have a “Buddy” chosen by the Year 6 teacher and then Penrice will try to ensure we facilitate this as best as possible.

Uniform

You can begin your search for Penrice uniform early by visiting our website page below. Full information about uniform requirements will also be covered during our Welcome Day.

5th March 2025 – Parent/Carer Email

Congratulations once again on gaining a place at Penrice Academy! We very much look forward to welcoming your family into our school community and supporting your child through their transition to secondary school and beyond. We understand that this can be both an exciting and nerve-racking time, but please rest assured that we are here to make the transition process as smooth as possible and help all pupils settle happily into student life at Penrice Academy.

Regular updates will be posted on this page between now and September to keep all parents updated regarding the transition process.

Things to look forward to

Primary School Visits – April to June: You will be visited by a Penrice teacher and some current Year 7 students in your own classroom at primary school. This is a great opportunity for you to ask questions and get to know the school better. Exact dates will be shared on the Penrice Transition Hub over the coming weeks and months.

Welcome Day(s) – June and July, exact dates to follow: You will spend time getting to know Penrice and experiencing a range of subject specialist learning. You will also get to make new friends within your Year 7 tutor group. Additional welcome events will be available for those who would benefit from extra support in the transition to Penrice.

Welcome Evening – July, exact date to follow: You will have the opportunity to show your parents to your new tutor room and introduce them to your new teachers. Parents and carers will find out everything they need to know in order to help you excel Penrice Academy.

First Day of Year 7 – Thursday 4th September 2025*: We look forward to greeting you through the school gates on your first official day at Penrice Academy! This will be a quieter day than usual as only Year 7 and Year 11 will attend. The other year groups will start the following day.

*Note added on 26th March 2025: This date has been updated to Thursday 4th September 2025 since sending the original communication which stated Wednesday 3rd September. This decision has been made to ensure that all school calendars across Cornwall Education Learning Trust (CELT) align. A separate email to all Year 6 families will follow in the near future to advise of this change.

Communications During the Transition Process

We are communicating to all families via the email addresses provided to us by Cornwall Council following the application process. On rare occasions where email addresses are missing, a postal communication will be sent to your physical address.

Follow Us

You may also wish to follow Penrice Academy via Facebook, Instagram and X (formerly Twitter).
 

3rd March 2025 – Social Media Post

Congratulations and a warm welcome to all Year 6 students and families who have just received offers to join Penrice Academy in September!

We are absolutely thrilled to welcome all of our new families to the Penrice community! Today marks the beginning of a new chapter for your child, and we couldn’t be more excited to have you join us. With the release of the new secondary school placements, we know that this is a moment filled with anticipation and joy. Our dedicated staff, vibrant students and supportive community are here to ensure your family feels right at home from day one. Together, we will create an inspiring and nurturing environment where your child will grow into a proud, respectful and successful young adult. We can’t wait to embark on this incredible journey with you all!

We will be sending out an email to parents/carers in the next few school days containing further information on the next steps and what to look forward to.