Yesterday was a great day to kick-start the action at Balliol. Students all arrived for the first time, and there was a buzz of enthusiasm as everyone made their way to their rooms. It seemed as though the students even brought the sun with them, as the weekend rain subsided in favour of warm weather.

Once everyone knew where they were going, the course jumped into life with an introductory talk from our APD. A dynamic and exciting start to the course, it had students up on their feet and spinning about. Opening speeches can sometimes feel rather dry, but yesterday’s was quite the opposite. There was also a vital addendum advising the students to respect their fellow pupils, regardless of nationality or creed.

The talk was swiftly followed by an introductory session on the lawn, with Table Tennis proving to be a particularly good ice breaker. It would have been a shame to waste the sunshine, after all! Students seemed to be making promising signs of engaging with one-another, despite it being the first day. In all, it was a pleasant and mild evening that provided the perfect ice-breaker going forward.

There is a huge amount to look ahead to this week, not least of all the start of lessons today. The students will receive comprehensive introductions to their chosen subjects, as well as an overview of what they will be learning and what will be expected of them. Welcome to Balliol!