31 July 2017

Transition + launched at Inverurie Academy

Moving up to the ‘big school’ can be a nerve wracking time for young people and with that in mind Active Schools are launching Transition + at Inverurie Academy.

With the formal transition programme for Primary 7’s moving up to secondary school taking place in June each year, that leaves a long stretch of holiday time before young people start S1. Transition + has been developed in partnership with Inverurie Academy and Community Learning and Development with the aim of giving the new S1 pupils the opportunity to come together in the final week of the summer holidays,

The inaugural Transition + event will welcome over 50 pupils to the three day event which begins on Monday 14th August. Attendees will have the opportunity to enjoy a wide range of sports and activities within the academy’s facilities. On offer will be: basketball, athletics, multisports, skipping, table tennis and football with Aberdeen Football Club Community Trust.

The ‘new S1’s’ will also have the opportunity to try some exciting new activities such as a drumming sessions with the Guarana Street Drummers from Aberdeen as well as arts and crafts sessions with staff from Community Learning and Development. 

The programme will conclude on Wednesday 16th with a morning of Zorbing and climbing sessions on the Aberdeenshire Council Mobile Climbing Wall before the pupils enjoy a cinema experience to end their transition and prepare them to return the following week as the new S1 intake for 2017-2018

Cllr Anne Stirling, Chair of Aberdeenshire Council’s Communities Committee said: “One of the benefits of Transition + is that it allows pupils to create new friendships out with the confines of the school environment which will encourage a sense of security when starting their journey through Secondary School.

“Transition + has something for everyone and I am sure that the benefits of this programme will be felt both at the school and in the wider community”

Cllr Iris Walker, Vice Chair of the Communities Committee said, “the health and wellbeing benefits from participating in extra-curricular activities and sports are well known and I hope that all the young people that take part in Transition + will enjoy trying out such a wide range of activities.”

Transition + is supported by Tesco Inverurie which will be supplying fresh fruit and water to all the participants.

Michelle Ferries, Community Champion for Tesco Inverurie said, “Tesco Inverurie has been expanding its community work within the Inverurie area and when we were told about Transition + we felt that it was a fantastic event for us to support.  With many senior pupils from the school also being our employees we recognise the benefits that a positive school experience can bring not only to the community but also to us an employers and Transition + brings the added benefit of the positive experience of sport which we are delighted to support with water and fresh fruit across the three days of activities”.