Do you remember your first day of Year 7? When I was working in a school full-time as Head of English, the first day of Year 7 was always one of my favourite moments of the school year! There’s something magical about the freshness of it all—a new uniform, crisp stationery, a different building, and, most importantly, a chance to begin anew. Everything about that day brimmed with endless possibility. I was always in awe as I watched children enter the school, full of excitement and a touch of anxiety, knowing they would eventually grow into confident young individuals, each with their own unique thoughts, feelings, and ideas about the world. The newness of the day also takes me back to my own first day of Year 7 (many moons ago). I don’t remember much about my headteacher, but I’ll never forget the words he shared that day. As an 11-year-old embarking on my own fresh start, his words ignited something in me: "You’ve all come here as Year 7s, and when you leave in Year 11, you’ll be completely different people, hopefully a step closer to your dreams. From today, start thinking about what you want those dreams to be." So, friends, colleagues, former students, what advice were you given as a Year 7 student? What stood out about your first day? Or if you could offer guidance to a child starting their new school journey today, what would you say? #year7 #firstdayofschool #newbeginnings
Ella Elliott
6mo
At the time, secondary school felt like it was never going to end. But it did, suddenly, and now and I look back and see how short of a period it was within my timeline. My advice would be to work hard, have fun, and don’t put too much pressure on deciding what you want to be when you grow up, I am 28 myself and still figuring it out, and that’s okay. Good luck to all the new year 7s, with their huge backpacks! 🥹
🤪 Pass the parcel. That's sometimes all you can do. Take it, feel it, and pass it on. Not for me, not for you, but for someone, somewhere. , one day. That's the game I want you to learn. Pass it on. 'The History Boys'
6moWhatever else you do not give them a baseline test ( CATS testing or similar) for the first half term if ever and don't mention GCSE. They are 11!