CHILDREN preparing to start school were invited to an afternoon tea to make them feel at home.

The students due to start Year 7 at New Rickstones Academy this year came with their parents to hear a welcome speech and have a tour of the school.

The welcome speech was from executive principal John Szynal and head of academy Damian Lee.

Zoe Cruci, director of lower school at New Rickstones, said: “This is the first step in the pupils’ transition from primary school to New Rickstones Academy. The afternoon tea is an informal way of bringing families into the academy and gently introducing them to the way of life at secondary school.

“It is also an opportunity for parents and children to meet other families who will be joining the academy at the same time. With more and more families joining New Rickstones from outside of Witham, this is even more important as not everyone will have spent time here before if they are not moving up from our neighbouring primaries.”

Families were given the opportunity to meet the teachers, and current Year 7 students were on hand to serve the tea.