For the F Block (Year 9), arriving at Eton in September marks not just the start of a new term but the beginning of an entirely new way of life. To help smooth this transition, the School runs a carefully designed induction programme. I had the chance to speak with the Head of F Block, Mr Nevin-Jones, who coordinated the programme, and with Enitan A, one of this year’s new boys, about how these first days unfolded.
Mr Nevin-Jones explained that his guiding principle was to help the boys feel at home from the very first moment. “It’s all about making our new boys feel that Eton is a place they can call home,” he said. “That meant making the first few days not only clear and structured, but also genuinely fun and welcoming. I didn’t want them worrying about being in the wrong place or fretting over collars and timetables. Instead, I wanted them to know there is time to get things right, and, more importantly, that there are people all around them who will help them to succeed.”
This balance of reassurance and encouragement was built into the programme at every stage. Time was carved out for boys to meet their House Masters, Tutors, and Dames, alongside introductions to their peers. In Mr Nevin-Jones’s view, those relationships form the foundation of an Eton education. “We wanted the boys to know from the beginning that they are part of a community that will guide and support them,” he said. Enitan described his own first impressions in much the same spirit. “I was excited, even though I only knew a few people from prep school,” he reflected. “There were so many new faces, but I’ve already made a lot of friends over the past few weeks.” For him, the sheer scale of Eton was memorable: “I’ve never been in a school this big before, so it was a completely new experience being surrounded by so many people.”
The programme also sought to help boys branch out beyond their Houses. As Mr Nevin-Jones put it, “Eton is a place full of opportunities to meet people, and we wanted to encourage boys to build friendships across different activities, not just with those they live alongside.” Enitan found this particularly true in sport. “The F Block minor sports programme really helped me settle in,” he explained. “It gave me another group outside my House who I could spend time with each week. It meant I could make friends beyond my classroom and House, which made a big difference.”
Both Enitan and Mr Nevin-Jones agreed that these first experiences were about more than introductions; they were about confidence. For the boys, knowing they had the space to try new things without fear of getting it wrong was invaluable. “The point,” Mr Nevin-Jones stressed, “was to let them feel that Eton isn’t just about rules and timetables. It’s about growth, friendship, and finding their place.”
Looking ahead, Enitan is enthusiastic about the opportunities to come. “I’m really looking forward to playing lots of different sports and fixtures against other schools, especially House ties,” he said. “I enjoy the community aspect of them, it makes you feel part of something bigger.” When asked what advice he would give to next year’s new boys, he thought for a moment before answering: “Try to make friends with as many people as possible. It’s natural to feel shy or nervous, but everyone is in the same position, and everyone is friendly. You don’t have to find your closest friends in the first weeks, just branch out and get to know lots of people, and everything else will fall into place.”
The success of this year’s induction was clear in both Mr Nevin-Jones’s intentions and Enitan’s experience. Together they capture what the programme set out to achieve: a welcome that is structured yet warm, reassuring yet exciting, and above all an introduction to a school that, in time, every boy can truly call home.
