Hi Emma
I agree that the chances of you ending up with someone you don't like is very small and we are encouraging students to let their Head of Year know if there is someone they feel they should not be placed with from their own year or any other one - as long as their reasons are genuine, mature and appropriate. The chances of you being with friends is actually very high - the one person match is a minimum of the five people you will indicate as preferences. Your year group intearction is only 'minimised' by twenty minutes a day and in lessons, breaks and lunches I am sure you will still interact with a large number of your current year group - especialy as Year 11 will still have exclusive access to the Youth Centre. Year sevens will get to know each other in lessons, breaks, lunchtimes and will also get to know a far greater number of students from across the school rather than just their own age.