Swindon school holds Year Seven sleepover event

Year 7 pupils at Lawn Manor Academy have been taking part in a slumber party event in the school's main hall.

The sleepover was organised by staff as way of helping to get students settled in and transition into secondary school. 

Staff said a total of 90 pupils brought their sleeping bags and pillows, ready for a night building newly formed friendships and getting closely acquainted with the school they all moved to only weeks ago.

A busy schedule of activities was on offer during the evening, including dodgeball games, table tennis and table football, as well as a disco. Staff said they also took pupils on a moonlit walk up to the site of the old Lawn Manor.

Hot dogs and hot chocolate were served during the evening, and there was popcorn as the group settled down for a film later in the evening. The morning also brought a flurry of activity as children continued with all the table tennis games they could fit in before packing up their overnight kit and returning home.

Fiona Harper, Head of Year 7 at Lawn Manor Academy, said: “The transition to secondary school can be quite a daunting process for some children and so we spend a lot of time putting on support and activities for them that span their final year at primary school and across the whole of their first year with us.

"We want them to settle in happily and build the confidence and friendships that will serve them well throughout their time at Lawn Manor Academy.

“There was a really lovely atmosphere throughout the sleepover and staff and students really enjoyed themselves, especially their moonlit walk, which was no mean feat with 90 excited Year 7s!  And most impressive of all, I don't think they even missed their mobile phones!”

Lawn Manor Academy is part of the Ascend Learning Trust, formerly the Royal Wootton Bassett Academy Trust.