Hello and a very warm welcome to Dorchester Middle School!

This section of our website is dedicated to children transitioning from Year 4.

You will find a range of materials for parents and pupils which will help you find out a little more about the pupils' journey to Dorchester Middle School.

If you are reading this you are either a Year Four child who is transferring to our fabulous school in September or a parent of one. 

You are probably feeling a whole range of emotions about coming to middle school in September. It could be that one moment you are feeling really excited about your new school and then the next you are really nervous and anxious because you just don’t know what to expect.

We are hoping that this section of the website will give you an idea of what life will be like when you join us in September and to hopefully answer some of the questions you may have.

At the moment we can’t answer all your questions, but we have produced this web page to focus on the things we DO know about our fantastic school.

Mobile Phones

Mobile Phones: In supporting the Smartphone Free Childhood guidance, we strongly recommend that if parents/carers wish for their child to have a mobile phone, that it is not a 'smartphone'. 

We suggest a 'brick phone' that can only make calls and send text messages; no internet access. All three Wessex MAT middle schools believe in the notion that parents/carers and their children should 'Hold on 'til Hardyes' (Year 9) when considering a smartphone. 

There is no need for any student to have a smartphone at Dorchester Middle School. The link below shows a helpful video on this approach. One of the many difficulties that come from children and young people having smartphones is their exposure to social media and the connections between their peers; this is often done without parent/carer knowledge or supervision. We (the school) must be very clear that we will not become involved in issues involving antisocial and/or toxic social media which occurs outside of school. This is for parents/carers to supervise and manage. 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rFsiYAsgx7U

Mrs Ray - Y5 Lead

You can find more about us in our Transition Handbook