Year 7 Winsford Academy students made to feel at home

The 210 newcomers had the school to themselves as staff make every effort to help them feel at home.

They had an assembly, tour, an IT session and two lessons.

Year 7 students in their first lessons 

Primary School pupils usually spend two days meeting form tutors, having taster sessions on new subjects and getting to know their secondary school before they start.

Year 7 students were introduced to staff at Winsford Academy

This was not possible due to the pandemic.

Principal Gary Evans said: "We wanted to make them feel as comfortable as possible. They met me, the head of year and senior leadership team and spent most of the day with form tutors."

A phased start will see years 9 and 11 return tomorrow, Thursday, and years 8 and 10 come back on Friday.

All 1,000 students will have to wear face coverings when they move round the building.

"We feel this is more reassuring for students and staff," said Mr Evans. "We are only asking students to wear face coverings when they are in large communal areas, not while eating or during lessons."

After meticulous planning, he is confident sufficient safety measures and social distancing regulations are in place.

Award winning Year 7 students who won prizes for virtual induction lessons

Students will be taught in bubbles, staggered finishing times have been introduced and parents are not allowed on site.

"We have worked for two months, including the summer holidays to make sure all students and staff are as safe as they possibly can be," said Mr Evans. "I do this job with my headteacher's hat on and my dad hat on.

"I took my daughter to enrol at college last week. I was very concerned looking round to see safety precautions. I want everyone in this school to feel that safety is very important to all of us."

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The newly appointed principal, who took over in June, will be meeting many pupils and staff face to face for the first time.

Small groups of year 10 students returned part-time before the summer.

Principal Gary Evans welcomed year 10 students back to Winsford Academy in small groups before the school broke up for summer

"I am genuinely excited about seeing more than a handful of students," said Mr Evans. "I am really excited about meeting our year 7s.

"My immediate focus is to make sure everyone is safe. I do have a long term plan. Having worked with staff for three months I know that this school can be the school of choice for children in this area and that is what I am working towards.

"I am really excited not just the next couple of weeks but about the much longer term."