We have been delighted to welcome the newest members of the ICHK community to school.

Our new Year 7s have completed a three day induction programme, aimed at helping them to settle into school with confidence.

The focus of the programme was two-fold. First, to introduce the thinking behind our Year 7 motto "Happy, confident, intelligent warriors" and, second, to explore the notion of "multiple intelligences".

It was built around a series of fun but challenging team building activities aligned with our unique Human Technologies, Transitions and Outdoor Education programmes.

The programme was delivered by members of our experienced staff, including teachers, LSAs, members of the Leadership and Outdoors teams. It was carefully planned to minimise any anxiety and stimulate an excitement for learning, and staff were unanimous in their praise of the students' engagement and willingness to give things a go.

During the three days, students enjoyed a scavenger hunt, introduction to the Transitions curriculum, team building activities and a stream hike, which acted as an introduction to the Year 7 outdoor learning programme.

To support their efforts, students spent time learning about ‘state management’, understanding the way self-regulation impacts on their own wellbeing, and how they can respond and react to their different emotional states.

The key message was that ICHK is a 'safe-fail' environment and that they should feel no anxiety at all about their move to a new school.

Learning how to guide their attention, how to manage their emotional states and how to recognise when something is becoming difficult or unsustainable and how to effect change, will be developed further through our tutorial programme, where students will explore resilience, mental health and wellbeing.

Over the next few weeks, the Year 7s will get to know their teachers better, along with their new classmates, and discover a new curriculum, with many exciting subjects that they will have not encountered before.

We were very impressed by the enthusiasm, confidence and energy levels shown by our new students and we look forward to a productive year ahead.