Assembly resources

Start of Year: Setting Expectations

A complete start of year assembly framework for Heads of Year, with slides, script notes, video suggestions and tutor time reflection.

Year group: All years Best delivered: First or second week of September Duration: 10 minutes Tone: Warm, direct, forward-looking Script notes Opening (Slide 1, 2 minutes) Don't say good morning and ask about the summer.

Everyone does that.

It signals that what's coming is ordinary.

This isn't ordinary, it's the beginning of a year that could mean something.

Start in silence with Slide 1 up, then say: "I want to ask you a question.

You don't need to answer out loud.

Just sit with it for a moment.

What kind of year do you want this to be?" Let that sit for five full seconds.

It feels longer than it is.

Then: "Not what kind of year you think you'll have.

Not what last year was like.

What kind of year do you actually want.

Because here's something I know for certain, the answer to that question is more in your control than you think." If you're using the video, play your chosen clip here.

Keep it under 90 seconds.

Then pick up from where the clip left off.

The reputation idea (Slide 2, 2 minutes) Move to the single word: REPUTATION. "Your reputation isn't what people say about you behind your back.

It's not a rumour or a label.

It's the pattern of choices you make, repeated over time, until people know what to expect from you." "Here's what I find interesting about September.