Boarding

An experienced team of dedicated boarding staff ensure that the pastoral care is second to none. We pride ourselves on our friendly, sincere and caring relationships with all our boarders and their families and believe that excellent communication contributes to these strong, trusting bonds. As the Junior Boarding House is the term-time home of our boarders we aim to make it as comfortable, relaxed and fun as the child’s real home and very much value the boarders’ contributions to and suggestions on the running of the house. The resident members of the boarding team are always available to the children and, together with our excellent part-time Matrons, Gap students and visiting staff, very quickly get to know each boarder and recognise and respond to their individual wishes and needs.

We anticipate that all parents and children will have differing requirements as far as boarding is concerned and in an effort to meet these needs we offer flexible, weekly and termly boarding, as well as occasional boarding for day pupils.

The Junior Boarding Team

Chris and Vanessa Monks – House Parents who live on the first floor and are easily accessible to the boarders at all times.

Becky Morgan – Resident Matron who also lives in the house and is around before and after school and at weekends. Matron looks after clothing and laundry, attends to medical needs and the overall well being of every boarder.

Sharon Wyatt – Assistant Resident Matron  lives on the second floor and is likewise easily available to the children. Mrs Wyatt helps with morning, evening and weekend duties in the boarding house.

Resident Gap Year Students The Gap students spend a year with us (January – December) and help in the house too.

Marianna Thornhill and Carole Smith – Non-resident Matrons who assist in the house during the day and some evenings.

Junior Boarding House Aims and Values:

In our boarding house we aim to:

✓ Provide a homely, trusting, safe and caring environment where everyone feels relaxed, happy and comfortable to approach any member of the community.

✓ Treat and respect everyone as an individual, valuing differences.

✓ Encourage the personal, social, emotional, moral and academic development of each boarder in a safe and structured environment.

✓ Create an ethos of openness and tolerance where teasing or discrimination would struggle to develop.

✓ Protect and promote the welfare of everyone by creating an environment that is, as far as possible, free from physical hazards and dangers.

✓ Develop each boarder’s independence, confidence and responsibility for their self and for others.

✓ Develop each boarder’s leadership ability and an aptitude to be a valuable member of a team.

The boarding experience develops and encourages confidence, independence, respect for others, kindness, compromise, integrity and self-discipline.

In an effort to maintain the homely atmosphere rules are kept to a minimum. Instead we follow a few common-sense guidelines expressed in our Golden Rules and Code of Conduct which were written in conjunction with the boarders and which focus on them living together happily and safely. Every boarder has access to the Golden Rules and Code of Conduct and time is taken to go through these guidelines with everyone.

House Arrangement

The Junior Boarders occupy a three-storey house, with communal areas on the ground floor, boys’ dorms on the first floor and girls’ on the second.

Ground Floor:
Large lounge with Sky TV, DVD, comfy sofas, toy boxes with games, puzzles, lego, knex etc.

Games Room with pool table, table football, air-hockey, computers, playstation, art and craft equipment.

Kitchen for evening drinks, toast, pizzas and popcorn.

Matron’s Room for clean laundry, a chat and lots of TLC!

First floor:
Three boys’ dorms, bathroom and toilets, House Parents’ flat and Matron’s flat.

Second floor:
Three girls’ dorms, bathroom and toilets, Assistant Matron’s flat.

Activities and Fun!

There's never a dull moment in Junior Boarding, although there are opportunities to chill if you want to.

After school the boarders have a variety of clubs they may go along to, including:

football, board games, hockey, fun swim, netball, arts and crafts, jewellery-making, chess, drama, horse riding and many more.

Once back in the house they may choose to play pool, table football or air hockey, listen to music, practise their instrument, play games on the play station or computers, watch TV, play games, lego, or just chat and chill with friends and boarding staff.

When the weather is good the boarders play outside, having access to a shed full of outdoor toys with the space hoppers and water pistols being extremely popular.

Weekends are a mix of structure and free time. On Saturday mornings there is usually an organised activity which ranges from cooking to mini golf, fimo modelling to farm visits.

In the afternoon the children have access to all the weekly activities as well as the opportunity to go for a swim.

Saturday evenings are taken up with DVDs, popcorn, toast and hot chocolate.

On Sundays there is an outing and popular trips include: Milky Way, Woodlands, Crealy (adventure parks), ice-skating, pottery-painting, geo-caching, wildlife parks, cinema and 10-pin bowling.

Boarders are not obliged to stay in at the weekend and, while many like to go on the Sunday trip, some choose to go home and spend time with their family.

What our Boarders and their families say...

The following comments were made on our recent parents' and boarders' feedback questionnaires:

"I am confident leaving my child in the capable hands of the boarding team"

"I am reassured that my children are looked after well. I know they are happy because they ask to stay in school at the weekends!"

"I love being with my friends - there is always someone to play with or something to do."

"It's great having all the fun equipment and toys."

"My favourite bit is the doughnuts and fun weekends."

"I was a bit scared when I first started boarding but someone is always there for you and you soon feel really settled."

"It's great - there's so much to do."