On Tuesday, Warwick School welcomed its newest Year 7 pupils and their families into the heart of our community with the inaugural Belonging Ceremony held in our chapel surrounded by powerful reminders of our long and rich history. This new tradition marks the beginning of each pupil’s journey as a Warwickian, not just as a student, but as a vital part of something much greater.

In my address I referred to the Māori concept of Whakapapa (pronounced Far-ka-pa-pa), drawn from Owen Eastwood’s powerful book ‘Belonging’. Whakapapa expresses the idea that each of us is part of an unbreakable chain of people, stretching both backwards and forwards in time – bound together by shared stories, values, and purpose.  It is a concept that resonates deeply with the ethos of Warwick School.

Our own chain stretches back over 1,00 years, from the founding of Warwick itself in 914, through the establishment of the King’s New School in 1545 by King Henry VIII, and into the present day.  Every pupil who joins Warwick becomes part of this living story – a story that continues to evolve with each new generation.

At the heart of the ceremony was the presentation of House ties, a tradition that symbolises each boy’s belonging to one of our six Houses, Brooke, Greville, Guy, Leycester, Oken and Tudor.  These houses are more than just groups – they are communities with rich histories, and names drawn from the legacy of Warwick’s past.   From legendary knights to generous benefactors, each House carries a narrative that pupils will help shape during their time at school.

• Brooke, named after Robert Greville, the civil war general who once owned Warwick Castle.
• Leycester, after Robert Dudley, Queen Elizabeth I’s favourite and founder of the Lord Leycester Hospital.
• Guy, after the legendary knight of Warwick who battled dragons and giants before ending his days in prayer and solitude.
• Oken, after Thomas Oken, the great Warwick merchant and benefactor whose charity still supports the school and the town.
• Greville, after Francis Greville, the 18^th century Earl of Warwick who reshaped both the castle and the town.
• And Tudor, recalling Henry VIII who re-founded our school in 1545 as “The King’s New School of Warwick”.

Belonging is not a passive experience.  It is active, dynamic and essential to thriving. At Warwick, we believe that when pupils feel truly connected – to their peers, their teachers, their House, and their school – they are empowered to grow in courage, creativity, humility, perseverance and responsibility.  This is the essence of The Warwick Way: inspiring and nurturing every pupil to thrive in the world, both now and in the future.

As Owen Eastwood writes in ‘Belonging’:

“Teams perform at their best when everyone feels like they belong.”

The ceremony concluded with the singing of Floreat Domus, our Latin school song, linking the newest Warwickians with generations past.  The ritual, like the ceremony itself, is a reminder of the traditions that unite us and of the shared purpose that binds us.

As we look ahead to the year to come, we celebrate the beginning of a new tradition – that mirrors the Graduation Ceremony when Upper Sixth leavers are welcomed into our alumni association and receive their OW tie – and the sense of belonging it fosters. 

To our new Year 7 pupils: welcome to Warwick School. You are now part of our whakapapa – and we are extremely proud to have you with us.