King Edward VI Camp Hill School for Girls designed and ran a very successful, COVID-19 compliant Summer School for 136 new Year 7 pupils during August. Here, Annie Gouldsworthy and Jayne Neal, Assistant Headteachers at the school, describe the event:
We invited interest from the teaching and support staff and were pleased to welcome participation by 25 staff in total, with teaching staff creating a comprehensive programme of activities to enrich and inform; assistance from support staff was invaluable throughout the week. In addition, 22 of our Year 12 students helped us each day, providing knowledge about the school site and routines and moral support and encouragement for our young guests.
The week’s theme was ‘Growth’ as we wished to engender an optimistic start to secondary school following two years of disruption. Activities included: literacy (female authors, poets and playwrights and celebration of contributions to literature made by people of colour); numeracy (fun with tessellations); games, dance and relaxation techniques with the PE staff. We also explored plant cells and flowers up close with science staff; music and singing – we were delighted to be working with our peripatetic music tutors on this; as well as collaborative artwork resulting in a permanent reminder for the year group of how their individual efforts combined during the week (we hope to install this in the library)
We also incorporated some assembly-type events to tell the students more about our school and give them the chance to ask questions, along with a tour of the site, led by our sixth form helpers. A particular highlight for the children and to exemplify the positive theme of growth was when the year group assembled to witness the planting of three Tibetan cherry trees at the front of school; the trees were dedicated to them and the students will watch them grow and thrive throughout their seven years here.
Some challenges included managing the activities and movement of a significant number of students whilst extensive building work and renovations were taking place on site, not to mention the complex feat of feeding them all each recess and lunchtime. The catering staff provided varied options and excellent, Covid-safe service and parents pre-ordered for each day.
At the end of the week, students left tired and happy, more confident in their surroundings and looking forward to joining us again in September, with a gift bag in tow containing revision guides to help address any gaps in knowledge in literacy and numeracy, plus a book for their enjoyment with a personal message inside from the Headteacher and many new friends.
A parental evaluation form provided us with overwhelmingly positive feedback. In the event that a similar event should run for future cohorts, we now have a template for a programme and plenty of ideas about how we can improve on the offer in years to come.
