Designed for children registered to join Year 7 in September 2027, Candidates’ Day offers an opportunity to experience life in our Senior School, explore new subjects, meet teachers and begin building friendships with their potential future classmates.

The day began with a warm welcome from Principal Mr Ricki Smith, before pupils headed off for their first activity in Performing Arts. Working together, they began developing the theme of a group production which they would return to later in the day, ready to perform for their parents in the afternoon.

Following a well-earned break, complete with homemade cakes and cookies, pupils embarked on a carousel of Senior School lessons, offering a taste of the variety and challenge that awaits them in Year 7.

In Maths, numerical games encouraged pupils to put their problem-solving skills to the test, while History introduced the fascinating mystery of the Tollund Bog Man. There was plenty of food for thought in Religion, Philosophy and Ethics (RPE), too, as Mr Beverley challenged pupils to consider some rather big questions, including 'What are thoughts?' and 'Are we real?'

By lunchtime, there was certainly plenty to talk about! Pupils tucked into an American-themed buffet, complete with fries, salads and key lime pie, before enjoying some fresh air and time to explore the school grounds during their lunch break.

The afternoon saw everyone return to Performing Arts, where Mrs Chaplin, Head of Drama, and Mrs Hastings, Head of Dance, guided pupils through rehearsals for their group production. Bringing together the ideas and skills developed throughout the day, the children worked collaboratively to prepare their performance before welcoming visiting parents for the grand finale.

It was a wonderful way to round off the experience, with pupils taking to the stage to share what they had created together, followed by a relaxed afternoon tea with their families.

Candidates’ Day is always a special occasion in the St Gabriel’s calendar, offering a glimpse of the opportunities, friendships and experiences that lie ahead in Senior School.

We thoroughly enjoyed getting to know our prospective Year 7 pupils and hope they left feeling excited, inspired and a little more confident about the next chapter of their school journey.

We look forward to welcoming them back to St Gabriel’s!