Pupils normally transfer to Abersychan School at the end of Year 6 in their Primary School. Abersychan School has six feeder primary schools, namely Cwmffrwdoer Primary, Garnteg Primary, Hillside Primary, Pontnewynydd Primary, St Peter’s CW Primary and Victoria Primary. Since the closure of Trevethin Community School, the majority of pupils at Penygarn Community Primary School have also chosen to attend Abersychan School, although it is outside the school’s official catchment area. The allocation of places at Abersychan School is carried out by Torfaen LEA based on set criteria supplied to parents by the LEA.

Abersychan School has an excellent relationship with its primary cluster of schools. The schools in the Abersychan cluster have a joint transition plan which outlines the strategy and planning to ensure curricular and pastoral continuity and progression between the primary and secondary phases.

The transition programme for Year 5 and Year 6 includes visits by pupils to Abersychan School to sample lessons and meet with staff; a visit by the Abersychan Transition Manager and former pupils to the Primary Schools; an Open Evening at Abersychan, curriculum projects in art and technology and bridging unit development in ICT. In the summer term of Year 6 all prospective parents and pupils visit Abersychan to meet the Progress Manager, the form tutors and the Senior Leadership Team.

We recognise that during the transition process the welfare, happiness and educational progress of the child must be paramount. In recognition of its excellent transition programme, the school won the prestigious Welsh Schools Secondary Award for Work in Transition in 2007.

Parents who wish to move their child to Abersychan School during the school year must contact Torfaen LEA to make a transfer application.