Pupils dine and discover at school's weekly event

New starters at a Newark school will be getting to know each other and discussing important values at a weekly dining event.

Children in year seven at Magnus Church of England Academy will eat with sixth-form students, teachers and special guests every week.

Newark MP Mr Robert Jenrick was at the first Family Dining Experience at the school, on Friday.

He was joined by headteacher Mrs Anna Martin, head of governors Mr Martin O'Connell, and other members of staff.

Pupils will focus on different school values each week. On Friday, they spoke about determination and appreciation.

Vice principal Mrs Sarah Sismey said: "We really wanted to develop this feeling of family and community with them and focus on our values.

"Our values are linked to community and we're getting our students to benefit from this opportunity to sit round as a group, discuss our values and what it means to be a Magnus student, to get to know some new people and to get to know some members of staff.

"It's also giving them the responsibility because they serve each other and bring out the food so there is a family feel to it.

"You can see the way students are sitting round and engaging with it.

"They are really enthusiastically engaged, it's lovely to see and it makes Magnus really special."

'Appreciate each other's views'

Among those eating at the family dining experience was eleven-year-old Hamish Macnish.

He said: "It's a brilliant occasion to meet all the new year sevens.

"It's going to be amazing getting to know each other."

Another diner, Ben Shaw, 11, said: "It's great because we're getting to know different people, all the different people we haven't met."

Head boy Stefan Astle, 17, said: "It's like a big get-together for the whole of year seven so they can get to know each other.

"They are randomly allocated on each table so they can socialise with each other and get to know each other a bit more.

"It's really good to get the year sevens to get together so they know each other."

Mr Jenrick said getting together for a family dining experience was important for children.

He said: "It's a really good idea, because we all lead busy lives, and fewer and fewer of us are having traditional family dinners, which are so important to teach young people conversation, manners and to encourage people to listen to each other's views and to discuss what's going on in their lives and the world around them.

"I think it's a good idea for the school to be doing some of that and playing its part in helping to bring up young people, to appreciate each other's views and how to have dinner together in a civilised way."