Welcoming you and your son

After being offered a place, new boys are welcomed back to the school for another visit, to deepen friendships and to become more familiar with the school before they start. All new boys and parents are invited into school for an orientation day before the first day of term. By the time you join the school, we hope that you will feel very much at home. We make sure that you and your son have a clear idea of what lies ahead, so that you can feel excited and look forward to joining the school.

Starting a new school

The Pilgrims' School is quite small, and settling in is very easy for the new boys who join us – and for their parents, too! Once you have confirmed that your son is joining us, you will be looked after by the school’s administrators who have lots of experience in welcoming new families to the school. Some of them are former Pilgrims’ parents, so they know pretty much everything about the school.

Your son will be linked to another Pilgrim in the same form. This is his 'substance' who will be waiting to meet his 'shadow' on his first day at school, although he will most likely have made contact with your son before then. Boys may also be given a ‘boarding substance’ so that there is a familiar face in the boarding house. 

The Pilgrims' Parents' Association

The Pilgrims' Parents' Association (PPA) has year reps, and they will ensure that you meet the other parents of boys in your son's class, on numerous social occasions. They are a terrific source of information, as is the school handbook which will be given to you.

Find out where our Pilgrims' boys have gone on to.