Henry Papworth joined the first year at Abingdon School at age 11, having been at Watlington Primary School since Reception. Henry was the only boy coming to Abingdon from Watlington Primary and was naturally apprehensive about the change, he says, ‘Abingdon seemed very big in comparison, there’s a lot of buildings and I wondered if I would be able to find my way around. I was also a bit worried about not knowing anybody but I needn’t have been: by the time I started at Abingdon, I’d got to know the School, had made new friends and met some of my teachers.’
Abingdon appreciates that the transition to secondary school is a big step and has developed a programme of activities for boys, and their parents, to ensure that the progression is both enjoyable and managed as smoothly as possible. Henry continues, ‘The induction days were good fun, we did team building activities which made it easy to get to know each other and to find out where everything was. By the time school actually started I already had some good friends and it was only a couple of days before I felt really at home. The teachers are very kind and friendly. You also get given a book with tips about school life so you are well prepared, in the end I wasn’t nervous about moving school.’
One of the main changes boys adapt to when starting at Abingdon is the length of the day. At primary school, Henry would be home by 3.30pm. Now, with Other Half (extra-curricular) activities taking place after school, Henry has a much longer day but he’s happy that it’s worth it, he says. ‘ I do a real mixture of activities after school and at lunch breaks from athletics, cricket and tennis to drama and modern languages club. There’s a lot to do and you are encouraged to try something new. I was very tired the first week but you soon get used to it and it’s great fun. The new sports centre is fantastic.’
An aspect of school life that new parents and children always ask about is the work and particularly the homework. What will it be like and will everyone cope! Henry comments, ‘I thought the work was going to be a bit harder than it is, I was pleasantly surprised! You do have to be organised though and not let it build up. The lessons were a change for me because I didn’t do things like History, DT or Geography at my old school and we didn’t do experiments in science but the teachers make lessons interesting, they are really friendly and they can be quite funny! I still have time to do the things I enjoy out of school, I play football on Saturdays and meet up with my friends, I also learn the piano and double bass. So there is plenty of free time. Although at first I was nervous about moving to a new school, Abingdon really helped make the move easy and I am very glad I did it.’
