Primary pupils get a taste of what's to come

Children get to know Smithdon High before their move next year

Hunstanton secondary school welcomed primary pupils to its Year 5 Experience Day. “Transition to high school is a huge event in a child’s life,” says Smithdon Deputy Headteacher Sarah Robinson, who organised the event, “So the more comfortable we can make our students feel, the better.”

Smithdon Art & Design Department's Head of Faculty Sian Wheeler with a pupil from Heacham Junior

130 children came along from 9 primaries in the area including Docking and Dersingham. “We have run a Year 5 transition event for well over ten years,” continued Mrs Robinson, “It is one of the key events in collaboration with our primary partners.”

During the day, the pupils took part in various activities, from creating collaborative artwork to a workout in Smithdon’s Fitness Suite. They were joined by some of the school’s Year 9 students, who offered additional support during the visit.

The children have already been to the school for sports events and have met some of the teachers at outreach activities held in the primaries. Mrs Smithdon hopes it will all make “the transition process at the end of Year 6 as smooth as possible.”

All images Ian Burt