In true Atelier 21 spirit, this year the school has been pioneering a programme for teens in transition to adulthood. The Rite Journey, new to the UK, aims to guide pupils through this stage of their lives, emphasising the importance of community over individualism. The programme fosters connections with positive adult role models, builds self-awareness, and involves parents in guiding students through a contemporary rite of passage.
Rooted in the concept of ‘rites of passage’ first identified by anthropologist Arnold Van Gennep in 1909, The Rite Journey was adapted for contemporary use by Australian educator Andrew Lines, drawing on the Hero’s Journey. It expands the traditional three elements – separation, transformation, and reincorporation – into seven stages that cover gratitude and reflection for and on their childhood, resilience building activities and opportunities to challenge and build self-belief. The programme culminates with a self-reflection and a gratitude ceremony to celebrate their progress with teachers and parents.
Sara Newton, an Atelier 21 parent, is spearheading the future of the Rite Journey in the UK, collaborating with three pilot schools to adapt the programme culturally and educationally. Atelier 21, as a forward-thinking future school, is an ideal setting to introduce this programme for today’s teens and tomorrow’s world.
Having trained two Atelier 21 staff members in the Rite Journey, Sara has worked closely with them throughout the year to deliver, develop and integrate the programme coherently within the school’s innovative educational approach. Regular events and weekly sessions on Friday afternoons have provided students with opportunities to explore, share and deepen connections, fostering noticeable cohesion within the year group.
The RITE journey culminated in a vibrant end-of-year celebration. With weather forecasts preventing the planned outside gathering, the year 9 pupils worked quickly with their mentor teachers to adapt their plans. The pupils were given the brief and responsibility for transforming the piazza into a stylish café-style courtyard, adorned with fairy-lit parasols and tables draped in yellow cloth, laden with treats prepared by the pupils themselves, an air of magic filled the space.
The time had come to welcome the parents in for the end of programme celebration. A mix of excitement and nervousness filled the air among the students. Nerves ran high “I’m scared” one pupil openly shared, “they’re only parents, it will be fine” reassured another. Invited to welcome the parents in, one student expressed “I’m too scared to do that” a reminder that while they may look and speak like young adults, they are at the beginning of their rite of passage to navigate social scenarios in an adult world, remembering too that many adults face their fears too every day. In voicing their nerves without fear of judgment or reprise from their peers or mentors they demonstrate a wonderful level of maturity, self-awareness and connection to themselves and others from which many adults could learn. Drawing upon skills they had learnt and practiced during the RITE journey sessions, the pupils took deep breaths, centred themselves and confidently moved forwards, opening the door and welcoming parents with smiles and naturally flowing conversation.
Parents, gathered around tables with their children and their peers discussed the upcoming holidays, primed by mentors to make ‘small talk’ some of the pupils discussed how to introduce different topics appropriately. Sitting together, they engaged in conversations about upcoming holidays and weekend plans, ranging from trips to Silverstone for Formula 1 to the proper etiquette of how to discuss the weather. Hayley, the founder, and James, the Executive Head, quietly entered the room, standing smiling as they proudly surveyed the beautiful, lively scene. Moving quietly though the tables Hayley spent time talking and laughing with every table, celebrating with the pupils and parents, the progressions they have each made.
The previous day pupils had been at a local campsite and clip and climb centre challenging their limits and reflecting on the progress they had made across the year individually and as a group. One pupil shared her journey, saying, “I was really nervous about working with the boys before the Rite Journey, but now I’ve realised they are actually human and not that scary.” This sentiment echoed the transformative experiences many had during the programme. Parents and teachers expressed how much the group had gelled creating strong bonds and a comfortable, humorous rapport with their fellow Year 9 pupils.
The afternoon tea featured decorated biscuits, cupcakes, muffins and savoury filo pastry delights with gluten free and vegan options carefully and thoughtfully kept to one side for those who wanted them. As tea and cakes came to an end, one of the teachers, gathered everyone together for the homecoming ceremony, an opportunity to reflect collectively on the growth of the past year and looking ahead to the future.
Throughout the year, students faced various challenges, from sharing thoughts in front of others to participating in team-building activities. Moments of courage and confidence were highlighted and celebrated, when students who initially struggled overcame physical challenges or built up the courage to share their voice openly within the group.
One challenge the Year 9 pupils had been given was to introduce the Rite journey to the current Year 8s, preparing them for the journey they will embark on next year. Tasked with leading sessions and activities they had previously found challenging themselves, the Year 9 pupils conducted themselves admirably. Openly sharing their vulnerabilities to reassure the Year 8s, some pupils expressed how they found it challenging to open up initially, while others shared how they enjoyed getting to know their classmates better through unconventional school activities.
At the celebration, several pupils volunteered to share their thoughts and feelings with the entire room, while others were happy for one of the teachers to share their heartfelt words. Every pupil had written down their hopes and dreams for the future, and parents were invited to do the same to share with their children.
As families reconvened, parents reflected on the changes they had witnessed in their children throughout the year. Some expressed surprise at the aspirations and plans their children had shared with them for their future lives, reflection on how, perhaps, this was not just a time for transition for the teens but also for them as parents to let go of expectations and beliefs about who they have known them to be. Whether attributed to the Rite Journey, the school environment, or natural growth, the overall sentiment was positive. Parents felt their children had become more self-aware, independent and proactive at home. The closing celebration was unanimously celebrated as a fitting culmination of the Year 9s’ development.
As a final symbolic activity, families decorated plant pots with illustrations and words representing their journey and hopes for the future. Soil was distributed and pupils invited to come and choose seeds to plant. Each seed representing qualities like modesty, patience, compassion, joyfulness, and responsibility. Pupils were encouraged to choose and plant the qualities they wanted to embody and grow as they move into the next stage of their lives. The act of sewing seeds with the potential for growth in a meaningfully decorated vessel (pot), ready to be nurtured, a metaphor for the programme and a lifelong approach to their futures. The discussions fostered deep, meaningful conversations rarely found in everyday life between teens and their parents.
As the afternoon concluded, each student was congratulated on their year-long journey. Teaching staff recalled the initial session where everyone was filled with uncertainty about the year ahead, contrasting it with the recent campfire where students openly shared their personal journeys and feelings.
The celebration ended with a spirited game of rock-paper-scissors. In a lively and competitive final round, the boys emerged victorious, marking a fun and congratulatory conclusion to the year’s adventures. Year 9 students, now more confident and self-aware, are poised to embark on the next phase of their lives armed with invaluable lessons learned.
