Navigating friendships can be a tricky part of growing up. Whilst some Year 7 pupils will have joined Bethany already knowing their peers from attending the same prep schools and primary schools, all will have seen their friendship circles develop and grow as they have settled into School life over the first few terms.

A lot is done throughout the year to help pupils with this as part of the ongoing process of induction. Interests can change and as a result it is a natural part of life that our friends may change over time, joining a new school and the first year spent within it is also a significant time in a pupils life where they will likely make new friends. On Friday morning, girls in Year 7 benefited from a focused session with Verena Boot, our Welfare Officer, tackling some of the complexities of friendship.

I had the pleasure of sitting in on the session and it was a great to see the girls discussing this in such a sensible and mature way. It was clear that they were confident to share their ideas and worked well to encourage each other to put their thoughts and ideas across. Some of specific areas covered were complex matters such as setting boundaries and ensuring balance in a friendship.

Whilst of course friendships change and develop over time, I have no doubt that many of the friendships formed in Year 7 and nurtured during the pupils’ subsequent years at Bethany will remain and continue to flourish beyond School when pupils leave in Year 13.

Pupils were reminded that they can speak with Verena or indeed any staff member if they are finding anything that was discussed difficult, and a similar session will be run for the boys later in the term as part of the ongoing induction provided for pupils throughout Year 7.

Mr Clough
Head of Year 7