Year 7 Induction Week review. Was it successful?

At the start of this academic year, Mrs Franks (Assistant Headteacher) introduced a new idea for the starting year 7s. This concept of this new idea was to prepare new arrivals for the discipline given at Fulston Manor School, such as the rules that new students should abide by. Induction week consists of approximately the first two weeks of school. It was also to help new students learn their way around the school grounds and to get them used to the new environment in which they’ve been brought into.

​After consultation with some of the year group, on the whole, they felt this induction benefited them in many ways, as they had time to get used to the new place surrounding them. 

During the two weeks, students were put into groups with various people from various houses and given a folder to carry the work they had completed during that time. Older peers of the year 7s, were very friendly and helpful during this time. If we were lost, or needed any help, they were always there to help them.

We asked Mrs Franks for more information, her response was this, “In September 2019, we will be trialling induction week on not only Year 7s, but also for the Year 8s. The reason for this, is because we would like to get Year 7 and 8s familiar with mental health and mindfulness. The induction period will last for 10 days.”
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After discussions with many year 7s, we have found a downside to this arrangement. 

​Coming to secondary school is a very hard thing for year 7s to do. Especially because most people have had to leave friendship groups, and make new ones. 
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​As they were put into these ‘induction classes’, naturally friendships were born and many thought these friendships would be carried over into their curriculum sets.

​However, because the induction process ended after 2 weeks, they were then put into other classes with very few or even no other people that had made friends with during induction. This was very upsetting to the pupils, as they had knew nobody in their new class and essentially had to make new friends all over again and most likely were bound to lose the friends they had made already. Is this helpful? Does it encourage friendships outside of regular curriculum subjects or does it isolate those who suffer with anxiety and fear change?
In conclusion it is the writers’ opinion is that , overall, the Induction process is a very good idea, and on reflection, did help the new Year 7s by increasing their knowledge of the school rules and helping to find their way around.

All that remains is to see of the Year 8 continues the good ground work made in the first year of secondary school and does not hinder the progress made in Year 7.

​Report by Mia Forster, Caitli Draper-Dunn, Rebecca Ruffles and Sophie Wetherall