Students due to start in Year 7 in September were given a taste of Highfields during socially distanced induction days during lockdown.
Students experienced secondary school life, taking part in typical lessons, learning how to access the school’s IT network, enjoying outdoor orientation activities and touring the building.
Induction days took place over four years to ensure students maintained social distancing rules amid the Covid-19 pandemic.
Miss J Parker, Head of Lower School, said: “At Highfields we believe that starting secondary school should be a time of great excitement and anticipation of all the opportunities that lie ahead. We also realise though that some students can feel nervous about this change it is really important that they spend time getting to know the building, the layout of the school and most importantly meet their peers and some members of staff.
“We were delighted to be able to invite Year 6 students into school for a one-day induction. Due to the size of the year group and to ensure effective social distancing, students were invited in by the primary school they attend, with the induction process split to take place over four days.
“Throughout the day students were separated into smaller groups where they moved between a range of activities. These groups mirrored the ‘Bubbles’ students are in at their primary school although they were expected to maintain two metre social distancing at all times.
“Students experienced a typical lesson where they were set some transition work based on a reading book given to them on the day. They also took part in an IT lesson where they were set up on the school IT network, given their login details to access Office 365 and learned how to use the school email system. Students also took home a pack of enrichment activities to prepare them for a really effective start in September.”
Parents would usually have been invited into school for a presentation with Headteacher, Mr G Tate, Deputy Headteacher, Mr A Cheetham and Miss Parker, but a ‘virtual’ presentation video was created instead, which can be viewed here.
