Year 7 students have shared their advice on settling into secondary school as they reflect on their first months at Allestree Woodlands School.
The school in Blenheim Drive has put on summer school activities and meticulously planned transition days to ensure students moving from primary to secondary school quickly feel they belong to Allestree Woodlands.
And, according to students who joined in the summer, the effort was worth it. They have now given their tips to Year 6 students who are applying for secondary places.
Tom, 11, said: “Taking part in the summer school days definitely made me feel more comfortable when I walked into class, because during those days we were put into class groups so I already knew a lot of the people I’d be with before I started school in September.”
Ethan, 11, who had attended Portway Junior School added: “The days were really fun, there were different activities like a climbing wall and building a rocket, so I could make new friends and when I started, it was a lot easier to find my way around the school because I’d already been in it during the summer school.”
Tyger, 11, said: “At the summer schools I got to know other people and make new friends through working together on the activities and helping each other.”
For Mimi, 12, the national transition days, which took place in July, gave her the opportunity to make new friends.
“A lot of my primary class friends went to different schools, so I had to make new friends in my form,” she said. “On the last day of the three transition days, I went up to talk to someone in my class and now they’re a really close friend, we just really go on.”
Staff have played a huge role in making the students feel at home at Allestree too.
From an expanded pastoral team, to welcoming each student through the door of every class as routine, the relational approach continues throughout their secondary school journey.
Assistant head teacher Greg Duffy, who is in charge of the transition process, including the summer schools, said: “We set the children the mission of making a friend during transition days and they really did do that.
“Teachers also welcome students into their class at the door and the pastoral team has expanded to support and welcome students.”
Tyger definitely took on board the advice given by staff to settling in. He said: “During the first day Mr Duffy said if you do have friends with you or if you don’t, always try to be open to making new friends, and that’s what I did.”
That first assembly also helped students by explaining who staff were and how they could support students.
Mimi said: “That assembly was really useful and I have been to the pastoral team and it is good knowing they are there, they really made me feel part of the school.
Aisel, 11, said other, older students had also helped.
“I have a couple of friends from primary school who came here but I’ve made new friends with two girls in Year 11 who I met in the library and I’ve made other friends too.”
Year 8 students have also not forgotten what it was like to be the new faces a year ago and have been quick to help the new Year 7 students settle in.
“I’ve made friends with some Year 8s who did help me find my way round the school,” said Ethan.
Sport clubs and school activities also playing a huge role in helping students to settle.
Tyger said: “I play for the school football team and putting on my football shirt makes me feel a part of the school.”
Tom and Ethan are keen to join the basketball club being set up, while Mimi also enjoys football and Ella plays netball. They said they have been able to make new friends through the clubs.
Mr Duffy said as well as sport, school activities, such as a planned pumpkin picking trip, have proved hugely popular.
“We’re putting on termly activities and this term are doing pumpkin picking which has been hugely popular across all year groups, and it’s a chance for students to get together across different ages as a school and do something together,” he said.
As they near the end their first half term at the school, the Year 7 students say they still remember the worries and concerns they had about joining a secondary school, from getting lost in the buildings to struggling with the work, but said current Year 6 primary school pupils looking at secondary schools now, need not to be scared.
Ethan said: “I would say, don’t be scared, there are lots of staff and other people who will support you and help you. Before joining, I was worried about what it would be like to walk into the classes, but you are really made to feel welcome.”
Tom, who has dyslexia, said he had worried it would be hard to do the work but said: “The teacher lets me have five minutes break so I don’t get overwhelmed and it really helps.”
Mimi’s advice was more practical: “Get to the front of the dinner queue!”
And while many of them said their biggest concern before joining was getting lost, they realise that wasn’t something they needed to have been worried about.
Tyger said: “Mr Duffy said that in two weeks we’d know the school well enough to give a guided tour and he was right.”
Mr Duffy added: “It really is true because this year, during the open days, it was Year 7 students who were leading the tours and they had only been at the school two weeks.
“We pride ourselves on being a relational school and our work to support students was also something noted by inspectors in our recent Good Ofsted report. I’m already looking forward to helping make the process of joining Allestree Woodlands School a smooth one for those applying.”
This story was written and shared on behalf of Allestree Woodlands by Kirsty Green. Can we share your news and get you in the headlines too? Find out how we can help by getting in touch.
