Making the move from Year 6 to Year 7 is a big step and it’s completely normal to feel a bit nervous. A new school, new teachers, and a new routine can feel daunting at first. But don’t worry, those nerves won’t last long.
In fact, they’ll soon be replaced with excitement, curiosity, and a real sense of independence. To help future pupils feel ready for this exciting transition, our current Year 7 pupils have shared their own experiences of settling in, discovering new opportunities, and embracing life at Trent College.
What was the best part of moving to Year 7?
Charlie was more than ready to move up:
“When I came over here, there was so much space, it was quite nice to have that.”
Eden loved the extra independence that came with being in Year 7:
“I love the freedom of everything. Getting to move around to your lessons by yourself and more freedom at lunch.”
For Cameron, it was the challenge of a new academic environment that excited him:
“The best part of being in Year 7 is getting to make a brand-new set of friends and exploring a whole new education level. In Primary, I learnt a lot, but I always like a challenge, so coming up to Trent College gave me a big challenge.”
Avani explains it was the opportunities that made the move exciting, with two highlights of the year so far:
“Number one is probably the Drama Scholar’s film project. It was put on at the Arc Cinema and was a lovely experience. Another was the Charity Champions Day that we ran for a charity, Year 7 got to decide who to support.”
How were you made to feel welcome?
From day one, our Year 7s felt supported and valued by the Trent College community. For those pupils moving up from The Elms, they can expect multiple transition days to become more familiar with new settings, expectations and staff. For children joining Trent College as a brand-new pupil, they will have the chance to enjoy induction days before making the move.
Charlie may have missed Inset Day, but that didn’t stop him from settling in:
“The teachers are so forgiving, they just get that you may be late to a lesson and you’re going to get some things wrong, because that’s what happens when you move.”
Eden remembers a thoughtful gesture that made a big impact:
“The teachers remember your name really quickly. It makes you feel accepted.”
What new opportunities have you had?
Year 7s at Trent College jump straight into a world of opportunity, from music and drama to sport.
For Charlie, performing at the Albert Hall Concert has been a highlight of his first year:
“We performed to parents; we sang ‘Love Story’ by Taylor Swift and ‘I’m Still Standing’ by Elton John. It was magnificent. Hopefully I’ll get to perform there every year.”
Eden, a keen musician, also loved the concert experience:
“I play a lot of instruments, and I loved singing and playing in the show.”
Cameron, a drummer, discovered a passion for performing live at Rock on the Terrace:
“I’ve made a band within the music department and one of the best experiences is being told I can do Rock on the Terrace. That’s been a very big surprise, and it’s excited me and my band. We perform songs by bands like Nirvana and Green Day!”
For an athlete like Kayla, the sporting opportunities have been vast:
“All the sport fixtures are really good because you just get to be with your friends whilst playing the sport you love, like hockey and netball.”
What helped you feel ready and confident to move to Year 7?
Transition days makes a real difference.
Charlie explains:
“In The Elms, we came up to Trent College every so often to get a feel of what the lessons would be like. That was really helpful, I got used to the campus and I got used to what was going to happen.”
Eden adds that the support from older students made things easier:
“We also had Trent pupils coming to talk to us about getting around Trent, using the intranet and using Teams.”
For Cameron, who joined Trent from another school, those first few days were filled with reassurance:
“Coming to Trent, knowing that not many of my friends from Primary school would be coming to this school made me feel nervous. The teachers are so lovely, they support you.”
What would you tell a Year 6 pupil to help them feel excited?
Charlie wants to remind new pupils that feeling anxious is all part of the adventure:
“There are absolutely no worries here. You may be nervous for the first day, but you come up here and the excitement is unreal. There’s nothing to be nervous about, you’ve just got to make the most of your time here at Trent.”
Eden offers some simple, heartfelt advice:
“Don’t worry, everyone is really nice. You will have a great time here. I love it and I know everyone else does.”
Cameron says the freedom to explore is something special:
“You’ve got much more responsibility at Trent College. You can explore the campus and all the lovely things here.”
For Avani, being organised has played a central role to her success:
“A tip would be to be organised with your notes because it makes all the end of year exams a lot easier!”
Kayla is sure everyone who joins Trent College will love it:
“Don’t worry about anything, you’ll smash it!”
Moving to Year 7 is the beginning of an exciting new chapter. With the support of our welcoming community, a campus full of opportunities, and the chance to grow as individuals, our Year 7s truly thrive. We can’t wait to welcome the next group of students ready to make their own memories.
We have limited space for new admissions for the upcoming academic years of 2025-2026 and 2026-2027, please contact our Admissions Team to find out more about how a Trent College education supports our pupils to flourish.