Understandably, many parents and boys are apprehensive about moving to Abingdon School, but there really is no reason to be,” Adam Jenkins, Abingdon’s Lower School Housemaster, said.

“New boys soon feel very welcome. They take part in a wide range of ‘ice-breaker’ activities including treasure hunts and initiative exercises, which help the boys make new friends and settle very quickly. My tips are to enjoy it, don’t worry, be yourself, ask if you need help and do not be afraid to get involved!”

The focus, whether in music, sport or any of the 40 activities that First Years enjoy in our Other Half programme, is to find something that interests you.

We encourage boys to try different activities and take on new challenges. There is certainly plenty to choose from, including debating, history, drama, sailing, fencing, war-gaming, ceramics, orchestra and water polo, to name but a few.

One first year pupil said: “My first year has been a great start to secondary school, meeting new friends and discovering old ones, and the facilities here are amazing.

“Coming to Abingdon after a primary school was not at all hard, but you may have to adjust to the timings of lessons and moving around, instead of staying in one classroom.

“Also you have to decide on at least three Other Half activities, and I would recommend classics club, photography club, chess club and, of course, badminton.”

The first year is full of fun. Boys soon come to terms with the size of the school, and within a week they will know their way round.

We have a group of Lower School assistants, who are fifth year boys, and they are there to give tips on everything from catching the school bus to when to go to lunch, as well as providing a friendly face further up the school.

Another first year pupil recalled: “Moving on from Cumnor Primary to Abingdon was a big step for me. Making new friends, working longer hours, a new journey to school and new subjects to learn.

“One of the strangest parts was trying to get used to being at the bottom of the school when I had been at the top of my old school, but I soon made new friends and I enjoy being an Abingdon boy.”

The highlights of Abingdon’s first year include a residential activity week, concerts, choir competitions, the Lower School drama production and plenty of sporting activities.

Besides the core sports of rugby, hockey and cricket, First Years enjoy a swimming gala, road relay and inter tutor-group competitions.

There are socials with the School of St Helen and St Katharine and Our Ladies and parents also get to know each other through quiz nights, dinner parties, parents evenings and school events.

The work is interesting too and we enhance the curriculum with plenty of trips including a modern languages expedition to France or Germany and a biology and geography trip to London museums, plus visiting speakers.

One of our most enjoyable events is an invasion by a Roman Legion, which teaches boys the art of Roman warfare.

Adam Jenkins added: “We make sure that new subjects and homework are introduced at a gentle pace.

“All the boys are in the same boat, it is new to everyone but give it a couple of weeks and the boys soon feel very much like they belong.”