Moving up to senior school is a big step for both pupils and their parents, and it is completely normal for this transition to feel somewhat daunting - especially for boys who are the only one from their primary school to join us or for those who join us from smaller village schools. We recognise this, and each year, we routinely accept boys from a wide range of schools. With decades of experience between our staff, and with Belonging being a core component of The Warwick Way, we are well-versed in the best ways to make this transition as easy as possible for both boys and their parents.

So, what do we do?

Perhaps the best person to offer an insight into the transition to senior school is Head of Lower School, Mr Peter Walker. Mr Walker is a face that will become familiar to all of the boys in Year 7, and is fundamental to ensuring that each boy settles in well and is happy in his new surroundings. We posed the question to him – ‘how do you believe we help our boys and their families to make the step-up to senior school?’

“We want all our pupils to do well at school but, above all, we want them to be happy and make the most of all the opportunities available to them.

Before pupils even start with us, we embark on a varied and structured system of pastoral support. We hold multiple events and activities to bring parents and pupils into the school – both before the start of term and during the first few weeks and months of their time at Warwick – to demystify the process and create a welcoming, genuine ‘door’s-always-open’ environment.

We have dedicated Year 7-only tutors with no more than 12 pupils to any one tutor, ensuring that each child and their family build a trusting relationship with at least one key member of staff at this crucial time. While a great natural relationship between pupil and tutor is built and nurtured, we also make a conscious and welcomed effort to bring mum and dad into the Warwick family too – with regular online parents’ evenings, Meet the Tutor events, progress reports, and our excellently-attended Mothers & Sons event (with a mirrored Fathers & Sons event in Year 8).

We understand the importance of truly feeling at home in the school community and take our responsibility to make every pupil feel welcomed and not overawed in a larger school such as Warwick very seriously.”

Mr Walker’s insight alludes to a few of the events that we hold each year that are designed specifically to help our boys and their families settle in, establish early friendships, and ease the transition to senior school – but what are they exactly, when do they occur, and what do they aim to achieve?

New Parents’ Morning

In June, at a New Parents’ Morning, parents and their sons are invited to hear from Head Master, Mr James Barker, Head of Lower School, Mr Walker, and other senior teachers about various aspects of school life even before boys join in September.

The aim of the morning is for our families and incoming pupils to become more familiar with what to expect in the upcoming academic year, so when the first day of term finally comes, it will feel less daunting.

Often, we find that parents and boys make new friends at New Parents’ Morning and do things together during the summer holiday, meaning that boys have already made friends before they even start!

Moving Up Day

Moving Up Day is held in the summer term for new Year 7s ahead of their official start in September. The day gives boys their first opportunity to meet Mr Walker on a more individual basis, their Form Tutor, and everyone in their tutor group.

The day is staggered depending on where pupils have come from and how many people they will already know. The start of the day, for example, is for students joining us who may not know anyone moving up to Warwick from their primary school, giving them an even greater opportunity to settle in and meet other boys who are in a similar situation. As the day progresses, more students will join, and all the boys will mix and collaborate as one big year group.

Many activities take place throughout the day across music, drama, and sports, as well as an induction into more practical matters such as registration, the school timetable, and how to use the library.

Ultimately, the day is about settling in, getting to know others, becoming familiar with the school grounds, and having fun!

The first day

Your son’s first day in September is designed to allow him to settle in with a more relaxed day, with only those in Year 7 before the other year groups start the day after.

During the day, pupils will once again meet Mr Walker, their Form Tutor, and the rest of their form group, making sure that every boy sees some familiar and friendly faces on their first day and continues to strengthen these relationships.

The day is designed to be more laid back than a typical school day. With no lessons taking place, the day includes having the school photo taken, an assembly, and lunch in the dining hall, giving boys the opportunity to chat and discover common interests with their peers whilst tucking in to some delicious food from our excellent catering team.

Tutors will also help boys to get logged onto the school computers, where they will get logins and a quick tour of emails, using the portal and using Microsoft Teams, as well as accessing their timetable for the upcoming term. By the end of the day, boys will have everything they need to get started on their educational journey with us – hopefully having already made some new friends and feeling comfortable in their new surroundings.

And, with earlier than normal finish - at around 1.00pm – we think it is the perfect way for your son to ease into life at senior school!

Year 7 Bonding Trip

The Year 7 Bonding Trip is a highlight of the school calendar and always promises to be a memorable experience.

The trip – typically to Oaker Wood Leisure in Leominster - runs in the second week of term and takes place over two days with an overnight stay. Over the course of the two days, there are numerous opportunities for boys to take part in activities specifically designed to encourage the development of teamwork skills and bonding, as well as providing the perfect environment to have fun and make new friends. Along with providing the opportunity for boys to get to know each other, the trip allows tutors to become familiar with every boy and their individual interests and needs.

In recent years, activities include Capture the Flag, Borneo Low Ropes, Rafting, Team Building, the Assault Course, and Woodland Krypton - all ran by the amazing staff at Oaker Wood.

We find that the Bonding Trip is incredibly successful in helping boys to settle in and is often one of the highlights of their first year with us. The trip is remembered vividly by many boys even in Sixth Form - some six years later -  and many credit the trip as being the place where they made friends that stuck with them throughout the entirety of their Warwick School journey!

Co-curricular clubs

Outside of these specific days and events, our co-curricular club offering is a fantastic way for our boys to settle in. Certainly, one of the best ways to make friends at a new school is to find like-minded peers who have the same interests as you, and our wide variety of clubs – held before school, at lunchtimes, and after school – provide the perfect opportunity to do this.

We are proud to offer a diverse range of clubs every year, and we are confident that we have something on offer to pique the interest of every boy.  The list is always changing, but some of the clubs on offer include Badminton, Book Club, Rock Band, Choir, Chess, Debating, Ethical Hacking, Fencing, Hockey, Minecraft, Rugby, Scriptwriting, Science Club and Water Polo!

Structures of support

Our dedicated Year 7 team is led by the Head of Lower School, Mr. Walker and the Assistant Head of Lower School, Mr. Etheridge, who is also a tutor. Mr Walker, Mr Etheridge, or any of our staff members will be happy to answer any questions that your son has or provide any support that he may need as he transitions to life at senior school.

Beyond this, each of our tutor groups – consisting of around 22-24 students – are led by two experienced tutors. The role of the tutors is to be a friendly face that your son sees every day and are on hand to ensure that difficulties are discussed and achievements are celebrated.

Belonging is at the heart of The Warwick Way, and our staff are wholly committed to ensuring that our pupils are happy, settled, and feel at home in the Warwick community from the very first day.

We’re confident that with our dedicated events, ample opportunities to make friends, and structures of support, your son will have no problem settling in to life at senior school – no matter how daunting it may feel. And, once your son joins our school, he becomes part of the Warwick School community for life.

For more useful information about life in Year 7 at Warwick School — including what a typical school day looks like, the Year 7 Charity Sleepout, and information around breaktime, lunchtime, and specific subjects, see here.

In the meantime, if you have any questions, our friendly Admissions Team would be happy to help. Contact them via email at WSS-admissions@warwickschools.co.uk.