SCHOOLCHILDREN have made an art out of their first taste of secondary school with a drawing project on maggots, maps and mini-beasts.
More than 190 primary pupils spent three days at Northallerton School and Sixth Form College to experience ‘big school’ before starting their secondary education in September.
Year 6 children from feeder primary schools took part in a project to create a portfolio of work around the theme ‘fantastic creatures and where to find them’.
Northallerton School and Sixth Form College Key Stage 3 curriculum lead Anna Cox said: “Spending time in a new school environment really helps year 6 pupils grow in confidence, get to know their peers and put to rest many anxieties about moving to ‘big school’ in the new term.
“They have been finding their way around the school, meeting new teachers and also taking part in a selection of fun lessons designed to get them to interact with each other and meet as many new people as possible.”
Pupils took part in English lessons where they were tasked to write a descriptive narrative on mini-beasts; in Geography they created a map of the school to help them find their way around; in art they drew a selection of insects and grubs; and in science they tested the preferential living condition of maggots.
The three days culminated in a mini-beast art display for parents where pupils performed a flash mob rendition of ‘This is Me’ from The Greatest Showman musical.
New principal Chris Drew, who is also set to start his first official day at the school in September, said: “This is a great start from the year 6 pupils in what I hope will be an extremely positive time at Northallerton School and Sixth Form College.”
Applegarth Primary School pupil Corrine Regan, 11, of Northallerton, added: “I was a bit scared at first of coming to secondary school but I really liked the lessons and have already made lots of new friends.”