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This term, Scarborough College has been delighted to welcome four students from St Peter’s School in Cambridge, New Zealand – Jack (15), Jonny (14), Katie (17) and Kenzie (15) – as part of our developing international exchange programme. The partnership is built on a reciprocal model: our students travel overseas to experience life and sport in New Zealand and South Africa, and in return we host pupils from those schools here in Scarborough. Plans are already underway to extend the programme to Australia and parts of Europe, further broadening its global reach.
While the current focus of the St Peter’s exchange is sport, the experience is deliberately holistic. Students spend a full term immersed in school life, living within our boarding community, attending academic lessons and representing the College in competitive fixtures. The initiative is being led by Mr Sam Thurgood, Deputy Head (Pastoral), with a clear vision: to create meaningful, character-building international opportunities that develop independence, resilience and cultural understanding. In the coming years, the programme will expand beyond sport to include a wider range of academic subjects.
We spoke with our current New Zealand exchangees to get their thoughts on the programme and what they have learned – about their sport and about themselves.
Kenzie: “When I first came in, everyone swarmed me – in a good way! They were all so lovely and polite, asking what classes I had and telling me to sit with them. It was just really nice to have that welcome experience.”
Jack: “Boarding is completely different. Here you’re rooming with one or two other people and it’s such a good way of making friends. From the first day, we got to know everyone.”
Katie: “I’m in the mixed boarding house and that’s really cool. We don’t do that in New Zealand – we’re quite separate – so it’s been a great experience.”
Jonny: “I’ve enjoyed having extra rugby sessions and games every Wednesday and Sunday. You learn heaps here – there’s more training and you can even play club rugby during term.”
Katie: “The hockey girls are really positive. When we do fitness, everyone’s keen and ready to work hard. It’s a different style of training, and I really like that.”
Kenzie: “You get a different playing style anywhere you go. It’s so cool to learn something new that I can take back home and use in my team.”
Jack: “All the teams train together sometimes, so younger players get to work with the more experienced ones. They’re always willing to help you out.“
Kenzie: “I was in class doing my own work and the teacher asked me if I wanted some help with it. He also offered me some resources that they have to help with further learning. I am a person that asks a lot of questions. So it was good that I got those resources to boost my learning as well.”
Katie: “All the teachers are really lovely and genuinely enthusiastic about what they’re doing. I feel like a part of the class even though I am doing my own work from home. So we try to match up the classes to be somewhat similar, so the teachers can still help us. It can be challenging when I’m not in the classroom with my exact teacher. But it’s a good challenge. I like it.”
Jonny: I’m pretty sure it’s going to improve my rugby lots. It’s a different playing style here. It’s going to feed my game for the better. Over here, more training, so you learn more. With a really good coach, like Mr Foden, you just learn heaps.
Jack: First and foremost, we came here for rugby as this was was a sports exchange. I think my main goal was to make as many friends as I can and enjoy it. I’ve been doing that so far because I’ve met heaps of people who have all been super nice. We went to the Burn’s Night celebration – it was different! When we first got told about it, I didn’t know what to expect. But it was a really cool experience. I tried a little bit of haggis, but it’s not my thing!
Jack: Just make the most of it and enjoy your time here – make lots of friends. Make sure you pack a lot of warm clothes because it’s freezing here!
Jonny: You don’t need to pack shorts, you’re not going to wear them. Just pack jeans and track pants, that’s all you’re going to wear. And you’re going to miss the sun, but it’s good.
Katie: Just throw yourself into all the opportunities to create a really good experience. Also show everyone a bit of how you are at home or your culture, because they will find it really interesting. And then just make sure that as well as making lots of new friends here, you’re staying connected to people back home as well, because that’s really important.
Kenzie: Yes, just throw yourself into it. It’s been about a month for us now and the days are just calming down. I think it’s coming too soon that we’re going home. I love it here. Get out there, make friends, have a lot of fun. It’s a short time.
This article was first produced for the College’s Owl Magazine in February 2026.
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