JOINING OUR SCHOOL
We are thrilled that you are considering applying for a place for your child at King Charles I School. At King Charles I School we are unique in having a split site school, which supports a smooth transition to secondary school and means we have transition points at Years 6, 8 and 12 as well as welcoming students into our community mid-way through the year.
At King Charles I School we believe that a successful transition to our school can have a wholly positive impact on your child’s experience of school and learning for many years to come. This is why we work tirelessly to create a positive, welcoming and informative transition process.
Students sit at the heart of everything we do at King Charles I School; knowing your child, as both a person and a student, is extremely important to us. We are interested in learning about their well-being, their background, their talents, hopes, dreams, worries, and fears. It is for these reasons that our transition process focuses on finding out as much as possible about each individual child and enabling you and your child to find out as much as possible about the King Charles I School community before they join the school on their first day.
At King Charles I School we do not underestimate how difficult transition to secondary school can be for parents/carers and their families. The shift from daily contact with their one class teacher and walking them to school to seeing multiple class teachers at parents’ evening and saying goodbye at the gate or even your front door is significant. During the course of their time at secondary school, they will grow in independence and for any parent this can be a scary prospect but also a proud one. At King Charles I School, we want to reassure you that we are here to help you. Communication is often the biggest concern and we actively encourage you to contact us if you have any concerns or want to discuss something with us. We have developed a useful ‘who to contact’ list but if you are in any doubt our reception staff will be happy to support you to find the most appropriate person to deal with your enquiry.
At King Charles I School we strongly believe that transition is vital in helping children and their parents/carers get to know their new school better and believe that a carefully planned transition process helps to relieve many fears that children understandably have around starting a new school. Transition to secondary school is a significant milestone for children and their parents/carers. We ensure that each child feels supported, welcomed and part of the King Charles I School family from the very beginning. Key conversations with staff from both the primary and secondary schools are a fundamental aspect of this initiative. This ensures that
important information is shared, concerns are addressed, and a clear understanding of each child’s needs is established, creating a foundation for a successful transition.
As part of the King Charles I School transition offer we provide the following for each child and their families:
- A welcome phone call during the summer term welcoming you and your child to the school community and giving you the chance to ask any questions during the transition process.
- Opportunities for parents/carers to meet with key King Charles I School staff.
- Invitations to visit King Charles I School for both you and your child during the school day for individual tours of the school.
- A designated contact email, if you have any questions during the transition period.
- Opportunities for you and your child to meet and talk to current King Charles I School students to get a student perspective and to ask any questions you may have.
- A bespoke package for students with additional needs offering opportunities to meet the SEND team and chances to visit King Charles I School and get to know the school, key members staff and make some new friends. This will also provide our SEND team with the chance to get to know your child and plan how we can best meet their needs.
- Opportunities for you and your child to meet with identified leaders depending on your child’s need.
- Financial support with uniform by providing 3 branded items (school blazer, school tie and school PE T-shirt) free to all students who start in September 2026.
- Organisation support by providing a pencil case with the basics in.
In addition to this, we also offer the following transition opportunities for you and your child:
A New Intake Evening
We offer an annual ‘New Intake Evening’ to meet current King Charles I School students and staff and learn more about our school community. We hope you understand that our invitation extends to two adults only; this is to ensure your evening is comfortable and we can talk with every parent/carer and their child. All children are very welcome to attend.
King Charles I School Three-Day Transition Event
At King Charles I School, we are extremely proud of our three-day transition event that is offered to students joining King Charles I School. Students joining King Charles I School will all have the opportunity to:
- A warm welcome from King Charles I School staff
- Getting to know you activities
- Routines and what a day is like at King Charles I School
- Student support
- Lesson experience
- Site tours
- The character academy – ‘life beyond the classroom’
We are committed to making the transition for all students and their families as smooth as possible.
The school website is a very useful place to find the majority of information, but to make it easier here are some useful links you may want to have a look at.
The following are copies of the communication which has gone out during the transition process
The website is an excellent source of information, but the following are short summaries of important information when joining King Charles I School.
By clicking the following link, you can see the responses to frequency asked questions when joining King Charles I School
Please click here to learn more about how your child will be supported in they have identified SEND needs.
At King Charles I School we are proud of our standards of school uniform that are the result of a high degree of co-operation between parents/carers, students and the school. We are conscious that the cost of uniform can be a burden to families and do not want this to be a worry during a time of expense, when transitioning to secondary school. We are proud that over the last 6 years we have been able to provide every Year 7 student who has started in September with free items of uniform and basic equipment.
This year, we will be providing the school blazer, school tie and school PE T-shirt free of charge to all Year 7 students starting in September. We will also provide every Year 7 student a pencil case with all the basic stationery required.
As an ongoing commitment to ensure our uniform is affordable for all families:
▪ We keep branded items to a minimum. There are three compulsory branded items: The school blazer, tie and PE top. All other items of the uniform are available to purchase at a range of retailers.
▪ We keep a stock of uniforms and shoes which can be loaned to students until the family can replace the item.
▪ Make second-hand uniform available (subject to donations). This can be requested through contacting General Enquiries via the contact form.
▪ Offer discounted prices for the students who qualify for Free School Meals.
▪ Annually review the total cost of the uniform.
▪ Purchase uniform where needed.
We are firm believers in a school uniform that is properly and consistently worn. We believe that this helps young people to develop a real pride in themselves and their school and to look smart helps them to think smart too. Uniform helps students to feel part of our community, creates a sense of unity and removes an area of possible discrimination. It sets a standard which supports our expectations of work and behaviour and maintains the right environment for learning.
All students wear their uniform both in school and when representing the school at events or on visits. When students are travelling to and from school in the community, we expect that the same high uniform expectations are met with the students wearing the uniform with pride and role modelling our beliefs. In this respect, we expect no less from our students than an employer would expect of their employees.
We are very aware that some students with SEND may need reasonable adjustments made with regards to uniform. We ask that you discuss this with us so that we can support your child with any necessary adjustments.
We recommend that name tapes should be put into all garments.
Where to Purchase Uniform: Uniform can be bought at Crested School Wear or Clive Mark Schoolwear
The school will tackle uniform issues as soon as possible in the morning to reduce the time lost to learning. Each morning, members of staff on the standards gate, senior staff, heads of year, achievement leaders and tutors will check the uniform of tutees. Additional checks will also take place throughout the day to ensure uniform standards are adhered to.
If there is an issue your child will be supported to correct the identified issue. Resolutions include but are not limited to:
▪ phoning parents to ask them to bring the correct item of uniform in to school.
▪ providing a uniform loan in exchange for a deposit from the student.
▪ deciding that the student should stay out of circulation for the day (or until the problem is resolved) due to non-correction of the issue and or serious breaches.
Incorrect uniform will never be tolerated and will always be corrected. We have a full stock of uniform on each site where students can borrow items of uniform first thing in the morning.
At King Charles I School we are unique in having a split site school and strongly believe that transition between the Borrington Road Site and Hillgrove Site is vital in preparing students and their parents/carers for the transition to Year 9. We believe that a carefully planned transition process helps to relieve many fears that students understandably have around transferring to the Hillgrove Site.
As we move through the year, we focus on the next stage of school. This brings increased expectations, independence, responsibility and another step closer to the start of GCSE courses, and we want to ensure every student is supported, prepared and ready to succeed.
To help guide this process, we use a framework called ‘Hillgrove Ready’. This outlines the key behaviours and habits students should consistently demonstrate in order to be ready to progress confidently into Year 9. There is a focus on: attendance/punctuality; behaviour; uniform; following the ‘Golden Rule’; respect; equipment/organisation; homework and social time conduct
These expectations are not new, but they become increasingly important as students move towards Key Stage 4. We are building the foundations for some of the challenges that will face young people as they move into the world of work. We help our students develop the habits and attitudes they need for success in Year 9 and beyond.
As part of the Transition to Year 9 we want to ensure that each child feels supported and confident and the reassurance that staff know them well. It is for this reason that we try our very best to keep the same pastoral team with their year group. This includes the head of year and achievement leader. When this is not possible, we ensure our information sharing between the pastoral team is thorough.
As part of the King Charles I School transition to Hillgrove offer we provide the following:
- Written communication to all parents/carers to share the ‘Hillgrove Ready’ criteria
- Wellbeing calls to students and their families, who may find the transition process during the summer term
- Invitations to visit King Charles I School for both you and your child during the school day for individual tours of the school, by request only.
- A bespoke package for students with additional needs offering opportunities to meet the SEND team on the Hillgrove Site and those students identified as benefitting from additional visits during the summer term.
- Extra transition for SEND students
In addition to this, we also offer the following transition opportunities for you and your child:
King Charles I School Three-Day Hillgrove Transition Event
At King Charles I School, we are extremely proud of our three-day transition event that is offered to students moving from Year 8 into Year 9. Students will all have the opportunity to spend 3 days on the Hillgrove Site.
Students will be welcomed to King Charles I School and they will get to know other students, currently in Year 9, who will give their advice and guidance on managing a successful transition. Experience lessons, have guided tours of the site, building familiarity and confidence to navigate their way between buildings and meet pastoral staff who will be integral in supporting students on the Hillgrove Site.
Year 8 Graduation and Awards evening
We offer a Graduation and Awards evening, where students and parents/carers can tour the site, meet current students and hear what life is like on the Hillgrove Site as well as celebrating the achievements of our students.
Moving to King Charles I School mid-year.
We are thrilled that you are considering applying for a place for your child at King Charles I School. At King Charles I School we are unique in having transition points at Years 7, 9 and 12 as well as welcoming students into our community mid-way through the year.
At King Charles I School we believe that a successful transition to our school can have a wholly positive impact on your child’s experience of school and learning for many years to come. This is why we work tirelessly to create a positive, welcoming and informative transition process.
Students sit at the heart of everything we do at King Charles I School; knowing your child, as both a person and a student, is extremely important to us. Before you apply, we strongly advise you contact us to arrange a tour and a meeting. We are interested in learning about their well-being, their background, their talents, hopes, dreams, worries, and fears. It is for these reasons that our mid-year admission process focuses on finding out as much as possible about each individual child and enabling you and your child to find out as much as possible about the King Charles I School community before joining the school. Apply for a school place | Worcestershire County Council
At King Charles I School, we strongly believe that transition is vital in helping children and their parents/carers get to know their new school better and believe that a carefully planned transition process helps to relieve many fears that children understandably have around starting a new school. As part of the King Charles I School mid-year admissions offer we will:
- Call once you have been offered a place welcoming you and your child to the school community and giving you the chance to ask any questions right at the start of the transition process.
Ask your child to complete the ‘About Me’ online form with your help prior to your visit. This form will be shared with your child’s new head of year and form tutor and the information will help us get to know them a bit better as they begin a new chapter in their education. Access to the ‘About Me’ form can be found Joining King Charles I School – All about me! – Fill out form.
- Invite you to visit King Charles I School prior to starting so we can answer any questions you may have and plan your child’s transition to us.
- Find out about you and your child ensuring we make the right grouping decisions and identifying the right support for your child. King Charles I School staff will contact your child’s current school to find out as much information as they can in order to ensure a smooth and successful transition.
- We will provide you with an ‘essential information’ handout that details all of the key information you will need from the very beginning.
- Provide a warm welcome from your child’s Head of Year or Achievement Leader on their first day of school.
- Identify a student buddy to support during the ‘settling in’ period.
- Provide a transition period that is tailored to your child and their needs.
If there is anything else you feel would be beneficial to your child during their transition period, please do not hesitate to contact the school office via General Enquiries via the contact form. and your enquiry will be directed to the most appropriate person to help you.