Transition

Southbank does all that it can to facilitate the arrival and departure of students and their families to London and the Southbank community.

As a community of internationally-mobile people, with a 20% turnover of students and an average stay of around four years, we are very used to people arriving and departing.

A transition is not just moving from one country to another, it can be moving to a new school or campus, or changing classes. Some students and families have been here for many years and have seen beloved friends move. Being the one left behind and adjusting to that is also a type of transition. Most of our staff and all of our parents have been through these experiences – they remember all those questions, concerns, worries and frustrations that they had, so are a good source of information and support. We also fully understand that the process of transition is different for everyone and family members will each respond in their own way.

Our PTAs will help you settle in straight away, providing “inside-info” about the best places to shop, eat and visit; information about doctors, dentists, chemists, places of worship, expat organisations, etc; as well as essential recommendations for goods and services.

Examples of parent support on arrival

• Buddy families from each class
• Orientation day before school starts
• Welcome coffee morning
• PTA Mission Transition handbook
• Transition Evening
• Transition resources in the library
• Regular coffee mornings

Examples of student support on arrival

• Class buddies for each new child
• Meet and greet activities
• Tour of the school
• Introductions at Town Meeting
• Introductions to all teachers
• Books on transition in the library

Examples of student support on departure

• Memory book
• Signed leaving gift
• Goodbye party
• Farewell Town Meeting
• Leaving reflection workbooks for lower primary and upper primary
• Books on transition in the library
• All grades meet with the next one up to ask questions
• Many discussions on leaving and staying

We also have an extensive programme of transition activities for Grade 5 (Kensington and Hampstead) who will be moving to our Westminster campus for Grade 6.

Some useful resources:
The Third Culture Kid Experience: Growing Up Among Worlds by David Pollock and Ruth Van Reken
Raising Global Nomads: Parenting Abroad in an On-Demand World by Robin Pascoe
Ira Says Goodbye by Bernard Waber
Amelia’s Road by Linda Jacobs Altman
Gila Monsters Meet you at the Airport by Majorie Weinman Sharmat
Sarah Plain and Tall by Patricia MacLachlan

www.focus-info.org
www.netmums.com
www.visitlondon.com
www.londonnet.co.uk
www.londontown.com
www.myvillage.com/nottinghill
www.myvillage.com/hampstead
www.myvillage.com/marylebone
www.streetmap.co.uk
www.upmystreet.com

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