Warwickshire News Mine

Students spent a typical teaching and learning day at their new schools to help welcome them into the school community. Although students have already spent time at receiving schools, the induction days gave them an opportunity to form relationships with classmates and teaching staff, and find their way around their new surroundings.

The receiving schools are Ashlawn School, Avon Valley, Bilton School, Bishop Ullathorne Catholic School, Brooke School, Cardinal Newman Catholic School, Cardinal Wiseman Catholic School, Harris School, Lawrence Sheriff School, St Thomas More Catholic School and the Trinity Catholic School.

School councils arranged for buddies to help Bishop Wulstan pupils find their way round and devised a number of different ideas to help pupils settle in. Bilton School held a non-uniform day following feedback that they had received from Bishop Wulstan pupils.

Teacher, Anna Wheeler of Bilton School, said: "Each student has a buddy that they have spent the day with. The pupils at Bilton have embraced having new classmates and we have a good record of welcoming new people. Our new students have integrated really well and there are no barriers today with uniform which has helped."

Many pupils enjoyed the lessons and are looking forward to their new subjects in September.

Rebecca Winter, a Year 7 Bishop Wulstan pupil, spent the day at Harris School in Rugby. She said: “The teachers are nice and we had five interesting lessons. My favourite was science where we did some work on carnivores.”

Her classmate Leanne Adams, who will also attend Harris School in September, added: “Staff and students are really kind and helpful”.

Sue Dudley, Project Manager for Warwickshire County Council, said: “We are very grateful to all the schools involved in this transition time for Bishop Wulstan students. Staff and students at all of the receiving schools have been working behind the scenes to tight timescales matching individual needs to teaching groups, sorting option choices, securing vocational places and making arrangements to welcome students to their new schools. Bishop Wulstan students were encouraged to give a written evaluation of their day, which were overwhelmingly positive."

Link to WCC