Children who are due to start at Alvaston Moor Academy in September are being invited to attend a summer school so they can get used to their new environment.
Alvaston Moor, which was formally known as Merrill Academy, has invited pupils who will be starting year seven in September to spend a week familiarising themselves with the school.
It will be an opportunity for pupils from the school’s feeder primaries to get used to a secondary school environment and meet their new teachers without other year groups being on site.
Staff have chosen to give up a week’s holiday to run the event after normal transition days were unable to be staged due to the Covid-19 pandemic.
Around 50 students have registered to attend the summer school which begins on August 16 and they will be given lunch every day as well as a pencil case, a bag and a water bottle.
Vice principal Grace Hoskins said: “After guidance from the Department of Education we had to cancel our face-to-face transition days, which we have always staged in the summer term.
Grace Hoskins, Vice Principal of Alvaston Moor Academy
“This was sad, but understandable – the safety and security of bubbles returning to primary schools, having mixed with other children, was just too great a risk to public health.
“Instead, we are holding a week-long summer school for our new students which will give them the opportunity to find their way around the campus, meet their teachers and make new friends.”
Pupils will take part in a wide range of activities, with a focus on numeracy, literacy, science, technology and engineering.
READ MORE: Derby school, Merrill Academy pupils working to help green pledge scheme.
In addition, there will be team building exercises such as the creation of sweetie shops – where children will make their own confectionary and learn how to run a small business.
The week-long activities will end with a visit to Peak Wildlife Park in Leek, where they will be able to go on a walk with penguins, lemurs, red squirrels or wallabies.
READ MORE: Derby parents go back to school at official opening of new £9m Murray Park school building.
Mrs Hoskins added: “We hope that by the end of the week pupils will feel confident about what to expect when they join us in September. This is a very exciting time for the school as we begin a new chapter with a new name, new uniform and a new Trust supporting us.
“This cohort of pupils marks the start of this new era and we can’t wait to finally meet them and show them around our lovely school.”
ENDS
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