Year 7 pupils celebrate graduation event at Solent University

This week, pupils from Woodlands Community College joined Solent University for a celebratory graduation event.

Part of Solent’s Step into Success programme, Year 7 pupils from Woodlands Community College, were awarded for their participation in the ‘Passport Programme’ which helps pupils as they transition from primary to secondary school.

Solent University Vice-Chancellor, Professor Graham Baldwin says: “We understand that a smooth, positive and exciting transition from Year 6 to Year 7 is crucial to the start of each child’s secondary education.  

“The aim for our Passport Programme is to help every participating pupil move up to secondary school feeling excited, confident and cared for. Today we are delighted to be celebrating the achievements of those Year 7 pupils from Woodlands Community College on their successful transition from primary to secondary school.”

Solent’s Step into Success programme gives learners in years 5-11 the chance to access a great variety of activities, events and competitions, designed to instil a passion for learning and raise their aspirations for the future.

All activities for the Passport Programme are created by Solent University’s Step into Success team and delivered by the Step into Success staff, WP specialist student ambassadors, and four Year 10 Prefects from Woodlands Community College. 

The Passport Programme covers a range of workshops and focuses on supporting pupils to: 

• Develop new friendships 
• Improve self-esteem and confidence  
• Settle well in school life so as to reduce parental concern 
• Get used to their new routines and school organisation with ease.  

“It has been an excellent experience for the Year 6 students to aid their transition into Secondary school. They all seem much more confident and reassured. It was also a great opportunity for our prefects to work with outside agencies and University students,” added Lizzie Westley, Year 7 teacher from Woodlands Community College. 

Year 7 pupil, Stewart, from Woodlands Community College shares his experience of the visit: "The passport programme really helped me in terms of learning the layout of the school and the whole transition from primary school which really helped my confidence in September."