Transition

We are so excited to be able to welcome you to Ark Burlington Danes Academy! There is lots of information below about how and when you'll be able to visit the school, and on this webpage, you will find all the information that you will need to help make your transition as easy as possible.

Firstly, watch the video below that shows our current year 7s talking about their experience so far and what our vision statement of 'we will be the ones to make our world a better place' means for students at BDA.

We are exictied to start the transition process for our incoming Year 7s with our welcome coffee mornings, one-to-one meetings and tailored designed Induction Day. We are looking to welcome you to our community, if you are yet to apply or have not received a welcome letter, please email transition@burlingtondanes.org with your name and number and someone will get back to you as soon as possible.

Here are some of the many ways in which we will support your child with their transition to secondary school:

• Welcome Coffee Mornings are taking place on Thursday 6th and 13th March 2025, from 9.30-10.10am. These are a great opportunity meet the Principal, Mr Carr, key members of staff and have a tour of your new school. Please sign up using the form below.
• 1:1 meetings with a member of the SLT will take place on Monday 23rd June 2025. They were a fantastic opportunity for parents and children to ask questions and get all the information they need for a smooth transition. If you were not able to attend, please email transition@burlingtondanes.org with your name and number and someone will get back to you as soon as possible.
• Taster lessons are available on our website here so that your child can sample life in the Year 7 classroom and take part in some fun and engaging activities across the curriculum.
• Our Induction Day for all new Year 7s will take place on Tuesday 8th July. This is a fantastic opportunity to explore the school, get to meet some key teachers and get a taste of what lessons will be like. It’s also a great chance for students to make some new friends ahead of September. Some more details of the day are below:
  • Arrival from 08:30-08:45 at the Wood Lane entrance.
  • Food will be provided, but a refillable water bottle is advised.
  • Wear full primary school uniform.
  • End of day is 14:50 at the Wood Lane entrance
• We are hosting a pop-up uniform shop at the academy to help with the transition to secondary school on Saturday 19th July 2025 to allow families to purchase essential school uniform that is needed for the start of school. In addition, in recognition of how challenging the last few years have been for many families, we are also providing every child who joins our Year 7 cohort in September with a FREE blazer, school bag and school chromebook to ensure that they are ready for learning. You will receive a letter with additional instructions on how and when to access the shop. 
• Our Parent Working Group meets regularly as an opportunity for parents to speak with the principal, ask questions and to raise any issues. You can find out more about what they discussed, upcoming meetings, and more details on our website here.
• September Induction days (Wednesday 4th September and Thursday 5th September) are also a great chance to get stuck into life at BDA. Y7 pupils will have a bespoke programme of activities to welcome them to BDA, and to build their confidence.

We partner with Khalsa Schoolwear to provide your child with a high quality uniform that will survive the trials and tribulations of secondary school days. You can find their online uniform shop here.

If you have any further questions about anything at all, please do not hesitate to email us at transition@burlingtondanes.org, remembering to include your child’s name and a return telephone number and someone will be in touch with you as soon as possible.

We are really excited to welcome you to Ark Burlington Danes in September 2024 and join us on our journey to make our world a better place.