Around 50 students from across Telford have joined the Lord Silkin School in Stirchley for five days of activities this week.

Headteacher Trevor Goddard said: “This is the second time we have put on a Freshers Week for our new pupils. Moving from primary school into secondary school can be a daunting experience for some youngsters. They’ve come from schools where they’ve been for five years, they know each other and their teachers well and feel at ease in their environment.

“Moving into a larger school, with much older pupils, can be difficult especially if they are all coming from different primary schools. We want the children to feel comfortable here, to have a chance to get to know the Lord Silkin School and some of the staff who will be teaching them in the new academic year in September.”

But the Freshers Week isn’t about extra lessons, it includes team-building activities as well as an outing to see the musical Sister Act, in Cardiff.

Mr Goddard added: “We’re doing some drama, creative writing and science workshops, all designed to be fun and allow the children to get to know each other better. They are also taking part in some sports and music activities during the week.

“We know from last year, that the Freshers’ Week meant that when the children arrived in September, they had already got over the first hurdle of making new friends and finding their way around. All of which eases what can sometimes be a difficult transition into secondary school. We’re looking forward to meeting them all.”

The Lord Silkin School recently has won national recognition after qualifying in the top ten per cent of schools in England by improving its GCSE results year on year from 2008 to 2011.

The recognition comes after the school celebrated record-breaking GCSE results in 2011, with 81 per cent of students achieving five or more GCSEs at grades A-C, making the school the fifth best performing in Telford & Wrekin. In 2007, only 38 per cent of students achieved the same grades.