What Year 7 Boys Say...
Everyone was in Year 7 once. So we asked Robert, Muhammad, Othniel, Shaheem and William (pictured) to look back on their first weeks of school.
The five all came from different primary schools - Ivydale, Torridon, Bessemer Grange, John Donne and Harris Primary Academy East Dulwich – but all managed to make new friends.
We asked our five Year 7 students to reflect on what they had learned about the five key attributes that are essential to becoming Active Citizens, one of the important topics for the first weeks.
Curiosity: “I’ve been really curious about everything, especially in History. I ask lots of questions because I want to understand how things happened in the past.” Muhammad, who went to Torridon Primary School.
Confidence: “I used to be shy, but this week I’ve started putting my hand up more in class. I’m more confident now, and it feels good to share my ideas.” Shaheem, who came to us from John Donne Primary School.
Ambition: “I want to do really well in all my subjects, so I’ve been pushing myself to work hard. I know that if I keep aiming high, I can achieve great things.” William, who joined us from Harris Primary Academy East Dulwich.
Respect: “I’ve learned how important it is to show respect, not just to teachers but to my classmates too. We’re all here to learn together, and that means treating everyone with kindness.” Othniel, who went to Bessemer Grange Primary School.
Resilience: “The first week was a bit tough, but I didn’t give up. I kept trying even when things were hard, and now I feel stronger and ready for anything.” Robert, who joined us from Ivydale Primary School.
Exciting challenges
We work hard to help students in Year 6 prepare for their time at our academy, including a special taster day in July, and the preparation makes a big difference.
Our new Year 7s embraced their new environment, formed friendships and adapted incredibly well to the exciting challenges of secondary school. They immersed themselves readily in a wide range of subjects, from English and Maths to Science and History, and the feedback from the students was overwhelmingly positive.
“I really like the science lessons because we get to do experiments and learn about how things work," said Ali. "The teachers make everything interesting!” Another student, Joshua, added: “Maths is my favourite because the teachers explain things so clearly, and I feel like I’m really improving every day.”
Delicious food
Lunch is a highlight too, with many Year 7s praising the variety and quality of the food in our canteen. “The food in the canteen is so good!” said William. “I love the chicken wraps, and there are always lots of different options to choose from.” Isaiah echoed this sentiment: “I wasn’t sure what to expect, but the food here is great! There’s something for everyone, and it’s really tasty.”
Looking ahead
From the very first day, it was clear that our Year 7s were eager to make the most of their time here. “They’ve quickly learned their way around the school and have been enthusiastic participants in both their lessons and extra-curricular activities,” said Ms Okai. “The positive energy they bring to our school community is truly infectious!”
Pictured below are Robert, Muhammad, Othniel, Shaheem and William, with Ms Okai, Assistant Principal KS3.
Students learn about the character traits needed to be an Active Citizen, including resilience. “The first week was a bit tough, but I didn’t give up," says Robert (pictured left), who joined us from Ivydale Primary School. "I kept trying even when things were hard, and now I feel stronger and ready for anything.”
Many Year 7s praise the variety and quality of the food in our canteen. “There are always lots of different options to choose from," says William.
