Stepping Up Summer Schools A Hit

MFC Foundation’s ‘Stepping Up’ Transition programme hosted a fantastic two-week summer school for primary school children at Acklam Grange school.

Over 20 children transitioning from Year 6 to Year 7 attended the programme, as Foundation staff gave the group from a number of different primary schools the opportunity to make friends and experience their new surroundings at their new school come September.

The children took part in a number of different activities across the fortnight, including sports sessions, fitness classes, arts and crafts with Teesdale Art, and even a drama class, where they re-enacted potential situations they may have to deal with during their first week in senior school.

Arguably the highlight of the programme was a trip to Rockliffe Hall, and an exclusive behind-the-scenes tour of Middlesbrough Football Club’s state-of-the-art training facility.

The group received an insight into the daily routine of the players, the gym facilities they use for building strength, the first team dressing room and the boot and kit rooms.

They also crossed into the Academy Centre, where Richard Hill, Youth Development Lead Coach at Middlesbrough FC, gave the young people an understanding of the different levels and progressions of the academy.

The Stepping Up Transition programme is part funded by Middlesbrough Achievement Partnership and Middlesbrough Council.

Steven Bell, Transition Coordinator said: “We were very pleased with the attendance of our first Transition summer school at Acklam Grange.

“The children were incredibly well behaved and seemed to really enjoy the two weeks.

“Moving to a new school can sometimes be quite scary, so if the children even made one new friend, then we succeeded.”