Just over a week ago, we held our first-ever Year Group Assembly in classrooms in the Prep. Year Group Assemblies are a new initiative that we embarked upon this term, designed to be more intentional and even more proactive in supporting the boys’ social and emotional growth. These assemblies will take place periodically, with both Forms in each Year group coming together with their Form Teachers to discuss matters directly relevant to them, including topics that other Year groups don’t necessarily need to hear.
Mrs Howard, Mr Ford and I made our way around the building, popping in and out of the different assemblies, and it was excellent to see the boys engaged in discussions that were particularly valuable for them at their stage in school.
Year 3: In addition to some timely reminders about the behaviour we expect at lunchtime, Mr Johnston (who is Scottish) treated the boys to a recital of the traditional poem used to welcome in the haggis, in honour of Burns Night just a few days earlier. The boys were delighted to hear him deliver it in such a wonderfully authentic way, complete with all the idiosyncratic language they wouldn’t normally be exposed to.
Year 4: Mr Hitchen-Hoy and Mr Addis focused on the specific behaviours for learning that the boys in Year 4 need to be even more mindful of in order to get the most out of every lesson.
Year 5: Ms Busby and Mrs James used the time wisely to prepare the boys for their upcoming trip to London to see the musical Wicked, which was due to take place later that day.
Year 6: This was perhaps the most fascinating assembly for me. Mr Bendelow and Mr Barber spoke with real clarity about the importance of understanding the difference between gentle ribbing, (so-called ‘banter’) and how, even with the best intentions, words can sometimes be received differently than intended. They also explored the impact of deliberately hurtful language. I was reassured to see the Year 6 boys taking this topic very seriously, as they should in my opinion. It’s an important discussion, not just for managing friendships in the remainder of Year 6, but also for preparing them to join much larger cohorts of pupils when they start in Year 7 in September.
The variety and relevance of each Year Group Assembly were impressive, and this initiative is now firmly established as a key part of getting into the hearts and minds of our boys in a way that we hope will stay with them.
