Our Year 6 pupils enjoyed a brilliant and confidence-building day at Durham School on Wednesday 26 November, giving them a real taste of what life will feel like when they join us in Year 7. From the moment they arrived, they were warmly greeted by Mrs Gordon and Mr Burke, who helped them settle in before heading to Big School for breakfast. With everything on offer, from cereals and fruit to a full hot breakfast, pupils enjoyed choosing their favourites while chatting with friends and taking in the senior school atmosphere.
After breakfast, pupils joined Mrs Gordon for Form Time and a short orientation session, which included a tour of all the Houses. This was a real highlight, helping pupils picture where they may belong next year, meet House staff and gain a sense of the communities that underpin life at Durham School.
The Enterprise session that followed was full of energy. Led by Ben Brownlee, Andrew Graham, and Jenny Bull, pupils worked together on fast-paced creative challenges that encouraged teamwork and problem-solving. There was plenty of laughter as groups pitched ideas, made decisions and supported one another.
A highlight of the morning was the Games session with Scott Powell and Sam Turnill, where pupils threw themselves into a lively round of bench ball. There was much cheering and quick sprints as pupils tested their agility and teamwork in this fast-moving, high-spirited game.
After lunch, a hearty roast lunch in Big School, the afternoon opened with a hands-on Biology lesson. Alice McGinn and Taly Daley introduced pupils to a series of acid experiments, complete with fizzing reactions and colour changes. Pupils loved seeing Science come alive in front of them.
Art and DT brought a burst of creativity, led by Michael Clayton and Nicola Thompson. Pupils crafted festive collage wreaths using layered paper, texture and colour, resulting in a classroom filled with concentration, conversation and some beautiful seasonal creations. The photo from the session captures the atmosphere perfectly.
They also enjoyed meeting our Languages team, Karen Wilkinson (German) and Corinne Eccleston (Spanish), who each gave pupils a flavour of their subject. From games to new words and enthusiastic attempts at accents, it was a great introduction to the languages they can explore in Year 7.
Mrs Gordon accompanied pupils back to Chorister School at 4.20pm. They returned buzzing with stories about their favourite moments, from acid experiments to bench ball triumphs to showing off their festive wreaths.
As part of this transition journey, we are also very much looking forward to welcoming Year 6 parents this evening for the Into Year 7 information event. It’s a fantastic opportunity to meet the team, hear more about the senior school experience and ask any questions as your child prepares to take their next exciting step.