Children take over their primary school
Pupils (seated) Liam Burton, Rihanna Dennison and Jack Biggadike take telling from 'TA' Ellie Burgess and 'Teacher' Charlie Boylan. (SG161112-114NG) To order please ring 01775 765433 or visit www.photostoday.co.uk
Staff at Holbeach’s William Stukely Primary School were expecting a smooth ride to the end of term after reviving the school’s participation in Children’s Commissioners’ Takeover Day.
You wouldn’t think that handing over running of the school to the 10 and 11-year-olds in year six would have that effect.
But Takeover organiser and senior teaching assistant Michele Holliday reckons that once pupils have tried being in their teachers’ shoes even for just a few hours, they’ll never be quite the same again.
She said: “It’s a while since we had a Takeover Day but we’ll definitely do it again next year as it was such a success - the school’s still buzzing with it a week or two on.
“It’s been really good for all the children to see things from an adult’s perspective.
“Those who were teachers and teaching assistants for example found out just how stressful it can be managing groups of children!
“Every adult’s role in the school was taken over by a ten or 11-year-old from year six.
“Each child could choose their area of responsibility, from being in class to the school office. supervising in the playground to caretakers’ duties making sure the building runs smoothly.
“The year six children prepared for their roles for weeks in advance, observing teachers and teaching assistants as they managed the different classes and working side by side with staff in other roles.
“Of those who wanted to work in class, more confident children were ‘teachers’ and those wanting to help others were ‘TAs’. Sport lovers opted to supervise in the playground - but not a single girl wanted to be headteacher.”
Takeover Day in November encourages adults to hand over roles to children in all kinds of organisations, not just schools.
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Weather for Spalding
Sunday 19 May 2013
Today
Sunny spells
Temperature: 10 C to 17 C
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Wind direction: North east
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