EDUCATION EDITION
Back to School As the new school year begins, Charlotte Phillips speaks to local educators about tackling the challenges ahead and ensuring the transition is as smooth as possible – at any age E arly September and the start of the new academic year around Cambridge are always marked the same way: a sea of children, many
Local schools may have seen it all before, but definitely don’t underestimate how children may be feeling – even if they don’t always show it. “Starting a new school can be a challenging time for pupils, whatever their age,” confirms Gresham’s School. “We don’t underestimate the importance of the induction process and, as a result, all three of our schools go to great lengths to ensure that new pupils are given support to settle quickly into school life.” This is something very familiar to Hannah Helliar, head of St Mary’s School, Cambridge. “At each time of change,
making the move to senior school, and the very oldest will be joining the sixth form in their final two years of education. Whether tiny or teenage, students will still face challenges. Whether it be different teachers, classrooms, subjects or just ways of doing things, life at school or college is new and unfamiliar and can take a bit of getting used to. Transitions can be a tricky time for families. Some children take change in their stride. Others, not so much. But even the most confident pupils are likely to have the odd wobbly moment as the start of the autumn term approaches.
in smart, new (and sometimes oversized) uniforms and accompanied by flustered- looking parents, making their way to school. To anyone past those school days, it’s no more than a comforting, unchanging tradition. It’s easy to forget that, for the children themselves, everything is new and different (though hopefully exciting) and happening for the very first time. Some pupils will be starting at nursery or in a reception class. Others will be
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