How are new pupils and families welcomed into the community?

We are committed to making both pupils and their families feel part of the Oundle community well before they arrive.

For pupils joining in Year 9, a lively Third Form gathering brings new joiners and their families together in the summer term, helping them begin to connect as a House and year group. Incoming 11+ pupils attend a dedicated welcome event and prospective Sixth Form pupils join our own Fifth Form for a post-GCSE Induction Week — giving them an early sense of Sixth Form life at Oundle.

Once at School, pupils benefit from a thoughtful and thorough induction programme. This includes orientation activities, buddy systems, and tailored support from House staff and tutors, all designed to help them feel settled, confident and quickly part of the Oundle family.

We also recognise that the transition matters for parents too. The first exeat weekend brings parents together as a House group, offering a relaxed opportunity to meet staff and other families and to hear how their child is settling in. For those further afield, we offer an online alternative to help every family feel included, wherever they are in the world.

While Oundle is a full-boarding school — where pupils are all in, or all out — we love to welcome parents to School whenever they can visit. Whether it’s watching a sports fixture, attending a concert or theatre production or simply joining their child and friends for a coffee or supper in town, parents remain a valued and visible part of our wider community.

Find out more about our community here.