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The exciting start to a new school year at Harris Academy Peckham.

Harris Academy Peckham have officially welcomed our new cohort of Year 7s. Now that they are all starting to settle in the to the secondary school lifestyle.

Harris Academy Peckham take extra measures to ensure students have a wonderful experience making the move from year 6 to year 7. The transition days during the summer term, gave students the opportunity to visit the school with their parents. This meant they could get a feel for the school and what is to come, before the term had even started!

‘All the teachers and students are really nice.’ - Rio

We then provided an additional transition day at the start of term for our Year 7 students. Often the main worry is that new students will get lost and make no friends. Therefore, we focus on easing these anxieties on the very first day, so that they can have a comfortable and confident start to the year.

On this first day, students were assigned to their tutor group and met their new tutor. Tutor time is the perfect way for them to familiarise themselves with a specific member of staff and begin to meet their peers. The tutors also made it clear who students can speak to if there have any worries or concerns and outlined the Designated Safeguarding Team.

‘The older students are really lovely and will help you find your class.’ - Annabelle

Throughout the day, Year 7s were taken for a tour around the school and shown where their lessons would take place. Alongside this we outlined Harris Academy Peckham’s expectations of them, such as the uniform policy and what to expect in lessons. Approaching the logistical aspects like these are so important in making their transition easier.

At Harris Academy Peckham, we have a set of shared values (Leadership, Enquiry, Aspiration and Perseverance) that shape all aspects of student and community life. These values are what we teach Year 7 from day one and hope they apply to all their academic and personal endeavours.

‘You can learn lots of new things!’ - Frederick

The best part of Year 7 transition day was the teambuilding exercises and icebreakers that the students did during form time. With activities such as the ‘Name Game’, Year 7s were laughing and making friends in no time. Friendships are the key to settling in, so we created relaxed environments for the students to make those bonds.

Moving forward with the rest of the academic year, Harris Academy Peckham offer a wide range of amazing enrichment clubs and school trips. We hope that Year 7s push themselves out of their comfort zones and utilise all that the school has to offer.

For example, we have an incredible Music Scholarship Programme available to our Year 7s! Anyone can participate and we will prove them with a free instrument and music tuition, with the opportunity to perform at one of the music concerts throughout the year.

‘I really want to learn to play the violin this year.’ - Rio

We look forward to seeing everything our new Year 7s have to offer over their exciting career at Harris Academy Peckham!