Events

Events for school leavers

Moving on from primary school is an important milestone for children. How can you give them a memorable farewell and a meaningful rite of passage, asks Daniel Etherington

Disco

Most PTAs already have some experience running school discos, so it’s a dependable option. However, you can make it more special for Year 6 leavers in several ways. Setting up a photo station may be a hit, especially if you add costumes, props, wigs and hats. Take it up a notch by hiring a touchscreen magic mirror, allowing students to create memorable full-length selfies. For those who need downtime, set up a separate chillout area with a graffiti table where the children can draw, tag and leave messages. If the finished result looks good, consider producing framed souvenir versions

Prom

The US-style prom – a smart, more ritualistic take on the disco – has gained popularity in recent years. Secondary schools often organise more elaborate versions, to mark the end of GCSEs for example, but for your Year 6 leavers the school hall is the ideal venue. Add food, drink (such as a mocktail bar) and games alongside the dancing. Some leavers’ proms even feature the trappings of graduation, with gowns, mortarboards, speeches and certificates.

Leavers’ festival

As it’s the summer term, turn your disco or prom into an outdoor event that resembles a mini-festival. Book a DJ or include live music, particularly if some pupils have formed bands. Think inflatables. Think piñata. Think food and drink stalls. Ask a local brewery to run a craft beer bar and invite local street-food sellers along. Hire some giant games or set up a ‘beat the goalie’ competition. Offer carnival-style treats, such as doughnuts, churros and candy floss.

Break the rules day

A fun variation on non-uniform day, in which pupils pay for each ‘rule’ they break. Agree on a list of rules and consult with school staff well in advance to anticipate any unacceptable infractions. Rules could include: ‘You must wear your school uniform,’ ‘You must not have a ridiculous hairstyle,’ ‘You must only drink water,’ and ‘You must not have chocolate in your lunchbox.’ Incorporate additional rules for departing pupils, such as: ‘You must not sign each other’s T-shirts.’ Just be sure to inform the parents!

Wacky Wipeout

Who doesn’t love an obstacle course? Create a leavers’ challenge using available equipment such as hula hoops, footballs, cones and hurdles. If you have the budget, make it more elaborate by hiring a selection of inflatables. Lay out your course on the school field and test it beforehand. Invite Year 6 leavers to run the course and station fellow pupils around the area ready to spray them with water pistols, bubbles or coloured powder. Position a photographer at the most exciting part of the route to take a souvenir photo of each child.

Day trips and nights away

Many schools arrange residential stays and days out for their Year 6 leavers. While it’s unlikely the PTA would fund a trip such as this, a joint venture with the school may be an option. Popular choices include theatre, theme park, museum or beach trips. Challenge the children by opting for outdoor adventure activities including kayaking and canoeing, or choose a day of indoor fun with choices such as go-karting or laser tag. If your school doesn’t organise a residential trip, but Year 6 children and parents want a sleep-out, work closely with the school to arrange a camping night on the school grounds. Invite a local food truck to provide the evening meal or hold a traditional PTA barbecue. Treat everyone to bacon sandwiches for breakfast.

Picnic and games

It’s not just the pupils who are leaving – some parents will be saying goodbye to the school too. So why not bring everyone together for a farewell barbecue or picnic? Host it in the school field and ask everyone to bring camping chairs or picnic blankets. Buy food in bulk, making sure the meat is good quality, and provide options for non-meat-eaters. Hire an ice-cream van and encourage attendees to bring their own booze so you won’t need a licence. Throw in a few outdoor games or a quiz, mixing up ages and abilities so everyone can join in.

Treasure hunt

Run a treasure hunt on the school grounds, allowing pupils to explore their school, possibly for the last time. Create a map with clues and tasks to complete along the way. Base them on the school and include references to the teachers, school trips and topics studied during their time there. Award a prize to everyone who completes the hunt. Set up a cake stall and offer celebratory refreshments at the end.

Our leavers’ festival captured their hearts

We held our first leavers’ festival in 2021. The PTA selected the activities, keeping them a surprise for the children. Since then, it has become an annual event with only a few minor changes depending on the interests of the year group. The festival has captured their imagination and holds a special place in their hearts as they near the end of their primary school journey.

Fortunately, our school has a spacious outdoor area where we hold the festival in the early evening. Last year, pupils arrived at 5:30pm and stayed until just after 8pm. On entry we gave them funky sunglasses, a VIP wristband and flower garlands. A local pub served pizza and chicken goujons with chocolate brownies for pudding. Pupils could bounce on space hoppers or relax on beanbags in the chillout area. The most popular activities were glitter tattoos and face art, and the campfire, where our forest school leader made s’mores. We set up a photo booth under a tree and provided inflatable props. I also created a photo frame using the handprints of all the children.

At the end, the parents came back for a presentation: a mixture of songs, photographs and children’s memories. Our school’s motto is ‘Achieve, Believe, Contribute’ and we handed out awards for each category. Every child also received a ‘scroll’ – a pack of Oreos wrapped in a certificate.

Our aim is to give the class some time together. It’s a last hurrah before they go to secondary school. As chair, I’m so appreciative of all the hard work the committee members and school staff put in, so this is for them too.

Leanne Fisher, chair, Friends of Mitcheldean School, Gloucestershire (210 pupils)

 

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