November 28th, 2007
An air of excitement pervaded the Tollbar hall as tables full of Year 7 students awaiting the arrival of some familiar faces.
And right on cue, Headteachers and class teachers from their primary schools arrived to be entertained with tea and cakes – and piles of books setting out the progress made by their former pupils.
This was the second year that Tollbar had organised a Year 7 Tea Party which was attended by staff from 11 primary schools. It is believed that the college is the only one in the area to hold this type of event.
George Waiton, Harry Patterson and Chloe Probert, all Signhills School ex-pupils, were delighted to see their Headteacher Mr Thompson who kept them amused with jokes as he looked through their work.
“We thought Signhills was big until we came here,” Chloe told him. “We thought it might be hard to find our classes at Tollbar but it’s not and the teachers are nice.”
All three thought the party was a great idea – as did Mr Thompson.
“I’m really pleased to see them all again and they seem to be getting on well,” he said. “I think they were a bit neater at Signhills but I know they have so much extra work to do here. I’m very impressed that they’re studying two modern languages.
“Every single one of them has said to me they’re pleased they came to Tollbar.”
Two members of staff and Headteacher Mr Parrish visited from Welholme School and the head, who was at his first tea party, said he was pleased to see that his pupils were working well.
Marion Chapman and Pat Leeman are Year 6 teachers at Holton le Clay and both complimented Tollbar on such a good idea – and on the “very nice cake”!
And Fairfield Assistant Head Mr Mansfield, who attended last year’s party, felt that it helped primary schools prepare Year 6s for the move to Tollbar.
“We saw a good spread of pupils today and we could ask them what were the hardest things when they came to Tollbar,” he explained. “It helps us get the transition right. Some fit in straightaway and some don’t find it so easy so anything that makes the transition smoother has to be good.
“Everything is strange to them and they don’t have their primary teachers there to hold their hands so it’s good to see them settled in.”
Only one pupil, Geraldine Chingosho, came to Tollbar from Great Coates School – but she had two teachers to talk to.
Headteacher Anne Kay explained: “Tollbar isn’t in our natural catchment area but we had to come along and see how Geraldine was getting on. It’s a lovely idea.”
It was the same story from Woodlands School who sent two teachers to talk to their one Tollbar entrant.
All the students spent more than 30 minutes in animated conversation with their teachers and as one member of staff said rather ruefully as he left:
“None of them want to come back to us.”