On Thursday 13 July 2023, we welcomed Year 6 pupils (our new Year 7s) to Deer Park for the first of their two Induction Days. They arrived in a rainbow of primary school uniform colours and registered in the Main Hall. Pupils were greeted by their tutors and took their seats amongst others in their tutor group, waiting to find out what the next two days would hold. 

Mr Clutterbuck, Headteacher, and Mr Bellamy, Assistant Head and Pastoral Lead, led a Welcome Assembly which included setting some challenges for the Induction Days, such as making a new friend. After assembly, each of our eight tutor groups went with their tutor to their tutor base and spent the next couple of hours getting to know each other and doing a tour of the school to find their bearings. Each tutor group was accompanied by two (new) Year 8 pupils who were able to answer questions and make sure no-one got lost. After morning break, pupils followed their timetable for their first real lesson. All pupils met again in the Main Hall for their complimentary lunch of spaghetti bolognaise and spent the rest of lunchtime on the front field. There were two more timetabled lessons in the afternoon.

On Thursday evening, parents/carers and pupils were invited to the Main Hall for our Induction Evening, reflecting on their children's first day at Deer Park. Mr Clutterbuck and Mr Bellamy were joined on stage by Zeph and Emme, who spoke very eloquently about their experiences. We also shared a video put together by our pupil Tech Team, created from footage filmed during the day as the new Year 7s met their fellow tutees, their tutor and their teachers, and started to learn their way around the school site and followed a variety of lessons.

Friday was a new challenge for the pupils as they were expected to navigate their way straight to their tutor base and then follow a full timetable for the day. The British summer certainly wasn't on our side during social times but these young pupils demonstrated great resilience, despite not being able to go out during break and lunch, and Mr Clutterbuck took them through a press up challenge!

Mrs Hobson, our Year 7 Year Leader, commented "Our new Year 7s have had great Induction Days! Friendships have been formed and they have enjoyed their lessons; many really liked Geography, Science and Design. They even made it through a very rainy Friday with big smiles. We are looking forward to seeing them all again in September."

All the pupils were a real credit to themselves, rising to the challenge, and we hope they had an exciting first two days at Deer Park. We have published some Year 6 to Year 7 Transition Resources for pupils to complete over the Summer holiday should they wish to. We look forward to seeing them all again on the first day of term, Tuesday 5 September.