At the start of every academic year, welcoming our new Year 7 cohort to Southborough is always a moment of great excitement. Thanks to our robust transition process throughout the previous spring and summer term, we already know a great deal about our new students—their individual interests, talents, and feelings about making the move to secondary school.
Even so, nothing compares to spending quality time together beforehand. It gives our incoming students the perfect opportunity to build confidence, meet staff, and form lasting friendships before the official term begins.
During the summer break, we were delighted to host our popular two-week Summer Camp for prospective Year 7s. The boys threw themselves into a fun-packed itinerary featuring cookery, art, sport, and creative projects. Together, they completed a dedicated Transition Booklet—our very own "SHS Road Map"—designed to help them navigate their new surroundings with ease. Beyond the classroom, the camp featured a fantastic line-up of outings, including crazy golf, a nature walk, Hollywood Bowl, and, of course, a hugely popular day out at Chessington World of Adventures!
The feedback from parents was overwhelmingly positive:
"My son was up early every morning, eager to get to camp. He had so much fun!"
"Even though several boys from his primary school attended, my son made wonderful new friends both within his existing circle and from other schools."
"My son insisted on travelling to and from school independently during camp. It completely removed any anxiety about the new morning commute."
We appreciate that not every student can attend Summer Camp. That is why we place such high value on our traditional Day One team-building event at Walton Firs Activity Centre. Spending the whole day off-site gave all our Year 7s the chance to tackle thrilling challenges like climbing, high ropes, and archery. Crucially, it allowed them to bond with their teachers, support one another, and forge strong connections across the year group. Without even realising it, the boys were putting Southborough’s core values—Respect, Relationships, Resilience, and Responsibility—into action from day one.
By Day Two, as our new Year 7s arrived on site looking exceptionally smart in their uniforms and ready for their subject lessons, the atmosphere was one of belonging. Confident, settled, and happy, they are officially part of the Southborough family.
