Boarding School Life
Boarding houses
Boarding school accommodation varies greatly from school to school, but in general there is a system of shared rooms for younger children, whilst older children are usually accommodated in double or single rooms. Generally, where more than 8 or 10 children are accommodated together, the beds and wardrobe spaces are divided into small rooms or cubicles with curtained doorways, which gives some privacy, but maintains a communal atmosphere - these are known as dormitories. As many as 8 or 10 children may be accommodated in large open rooms without any private enclosed areas. Sometimes double-decker beds called bunk beds are used, or a combination of desk with bed suspended above.
The boarding house is designed to be a home-away-from-home, so children are usually encouraged to personalize their bedroom area with their own bedcovers and posters for the wall. Suitcases and trunks are not kept in the bedrooms but stored away during term time. There are no locks on doors, so it is not advisable for children to keep large amounts of money or other valuables in their houses.
Each boarding house also has separate but accessible living quarters for the house master and/or mistress, plus a communal relaxation/television area and a small kitchen where children can have cold drinks, make cups of tea, coffee, cocoa etc, and make snacks such as toast or sandwiches in the evenings and at weekends.
Washing facilities usually consist of a communal bathroom with washbasins, shower cubicles and separate rooms for baths. Most schools are now installing additional shower facilities - although baths were formerly popular, showers are now much more in demand.
Meals
Three meals are provided each day: breakfast, lunch and supper. Meals are usually taken in a large communal dining room (sometimes called the refectory) by staff and children alike, although at some schools some meals are taken in the dining rooms of the boarding houses. Many schools operate a self-service system except in the case of young children, who are served by older pupils or by catering staff. Where the self-service system operates, a child may usually choose one of each category of food available or will be told what, if any, restrictions there are. Portions are usually served by catering staff and if any child would like more than an allocated portion, he/she may return for a second helping once all the children have been served.
At the end of the meal each child is expected to take his/her tray with dishes and cutlery to a collection point for washing up and, if necessary, unload the various items.
Boarding school characteristics
The term boarding school often refers to classic British boarding school and many boarding schools are modelled on these.
A typical modern fee-charging boarding school has several separate residential houses, situated in various streets in the neighbourhood of the school. Pupils generally need permission to go outside defined school bounds but they may be allowed to venture further at certain times.
A number of senior teaching staff are appointed as housemasters or house mistresses, each of whom takes quasi-parental responsibility for some 50 pupils resident in their house at all times but particularly outside school hours. Each may be assisted in the domestic management of the house by a housekeeper often known as matron, and by a house tutor for academic matters, often providing both male and female staff. Nevertheless, older pupils are often unsupervised by staff and a system of monitors or prefects gives limited authority to senior pupils. Houses readily develop distinctive characters and a healthy rivalry between houses is often encouraged in sporting prowess.
Houses include study-bedrooms or dormitories, a dining-room or refectory where pupils take meals at fixed times, a library, hall or cubicles where pupils can do their homework. Houses may also have common-rooms for television and relaxation, kitchens for snacks, and some facilities may be shared between several houses.
Each pupil has an personal timetable which, in the early years, allows little discretion. Pupils of all houses and non-boarders are taught together in school hours, but boarding pupils' activities extend well outside school hours and a period for homework.
Sports, clubs and societies (e.g. amateur dramatics, or political and literary speakers or debates), or excursions (to performances, shopping or perhaps a school dance) may run until lights-out. As well as the usual academic facilities such as classrooms and laboratories, boarding schools often provide a wide variety of other facilities for extra-curricular activities such as music-rooms, boats, squash courts, swimming pools, cinemas and theatres. Day-pupils often stay on after school hours to use these facilities and join in with the activities.
British boarding schools have three terms a year of approximately thirteen weeks each, with a few days' half-term holiday during which pupils are expected to go home. There may also be several exeats or weekends in each half of the term when pupils may go home or away. Boarding pupils nowadays often go to school within easy traveling distance of their homes, and so may see their families frequently. Pupils whose families are overseas must have a guardian appointed and they will return to the guardian's family home at half-term and exeats.
School shop
All schools have a small shop on the campus which is sometimes known as the tuck shop. This is where children may buy items for everyday use such as stationery, toiletries, snacks, books, newspapers, magazines, phone cards and mobile top ups. There may also be photocopying facilities. Transactions at the school shop are usually done on a cash basis, but in some circumstances (e.g. textbooks or dictionaries) children may request that such items be charged to their account to be paid at the end of term. The on-campus shop may also be the school uniform stockist.
School schedule
Pupils usually have lessons from Monday to Friday, although in some schools some classes may also be held on Saturday mornings. Most schools arrange for one afternoon per week to be free of lessons for sports or field trips, theatre and museum visits, drama rehearsals, project work, etc.
Saturdays and Sundays are less structured, with breakfast starting later, at 08.30 or 09.00. If a pupil has no classes on Saturday morning s/he may participate in some sporting activity - schools hold regular matches (e.g. football, hockey, rugby) with competing teams within the school or from other schools. Alternatively, shopping expeditions may be organized. Lunch is held at the usual time, then a similar pattern is followed in the afternoon, with either sports, other leisure activities or shopping available, followed by supper in the evening.
On Sunday morning there are church services followed by a period when children are encouraged to write letters home, before lunch. In the afternoon there may be outings to local places of interest, returning in time for supper.
Boarding school campus
A typical boarding school is a self-contained community comprising a group of buildings each with its own function. Depending on the size of the school and the land it occupies, the whole campus may resemble a small village with roads and paths connecting the various buildings and garden areas.
The main school building is often an historic one (perhaps the former home of a wealthy aristocratic family). This is generally the administrative heart of the school where the Head's office and other administrative departments are housed. Classrooms will be situated in purpose-built blocks or older buildings converted and equipped with all the facilities expected in a modern school.
Accommodation for the pupils may occupy part of the main school building or classroom buildings or it may be in separate boarding houses. Every school has its own libraries, dining-hall (also known as a refectory), shop (also known as the tuck shop), a chapel where religious services are held, an indoor sports hall, as well as outdoor playing fields, tennis courts and the majority of schools also have their own indoor or outdoor swimming pool.
There is also a sanatorium (known as the san) or infirmary - a kind of mini clinic where children suffering from minor ailments and the more common childhood diseases are treated and accommodated until they are well enough to return to the boarding house.
Parents' visits
Parents are always welcome to visit schools, but should contact their child's house master/mistress in advance to ensure that the child and any member(s) of staff the parents may wish to see will be available. If parents wish to see the Head they should make an appointment with his/her secretary.
Each term schools hold parents meetings which parents or, in the case of overseas pupils, guardians are encouraged to attend. They provide an occasion when each member of staff who teaches the child, along with the house master/mistress, may be consulted on the child's academic progress and general welfare.
Communications
Letters should be addressed to the child with the name of their boarding house as well as the school address. Mail is distributed by the house master/mistress. Most schools now offer the facility of receiving and sending fax messages, for which there is usually a charge, and some schools also offer e-mail facilities. All communications should include the child's full name and the name of his/her boarding house to avoid confusion or delay in messages reaching the child.
If parents wish to contact their child by telephone they should do so after school hours and, if available, use the boarding house direct phone line. Phone calls should only be made during school hours in an emergency - children will not be able to leave lessons, but a message may be left with the house master/mistress or school secretary for the child to call back.
Some schools offer a voicemail facility (at an extra charge) whereby each child has his/her own answering service where brief messages may be left. Parents should dial the main school number and, if placing the call during school hours, ask for the voicemail system. Once connected, parents key in their child's personal number and leave their message. If calling outside school hours a message on the school answerphone will explain what number to dial for access to the voicemail system, and once into the system the child's personal number should be entered and a message left.
In 2011, it has become quite common for schools to offer internet access to students and parents should check with the school if their child wishes to bring a laptop. Most schools also allow pupils to bring their own mobile phones, but will impose limits on the times when they may be used. Parents should also ensure that they have suitable insurance against loss or damage to their children's possessions when used away from home.
Religion
Most schools have an affiliation to the Anglican (Church of England) or Catholic church and in most cases there is a chapel (small private church) on the school grounds where pupils are expected to attend religious services two or three times per week. Children who are practising members of another religion (e.g. Muslims, Jews) may ask to be excused attendance at religious services, but atheists and agnostics are not exempt.
England is a secular society and regular attendance at church services does not play a major part in the lives of the majority of the population. However, schools feel that church services and religious instruction lessons instill in the children broad moral values - the difference between right and wrong and consideration for the welfare of others.
The school chapel often offers the largest space where the whole school can meet and assemblies are often held there. These are not religious occasions, but a chance for the Head to address all pupils and staff on matters of general interest and related to the smooth administration of the school.
School trips
Schools offer a broad range of visits to museums, theatres and places of local interest as well as longer visits abroad such as winter ski-ing trips or cultural visits to European capital cities. These trips will be open to boarding and day pupils alike.
Outdoor activities are always popular with staff and students alike, providing a refreshing break from the rigours of the classroom.
Bedding
Most boarding schools expect parents to supply some bedding (duvet, pillows) linen (sheets, pillow cases, duvet covers) and towels (bath and hand towels plus towels for swimming) for their children. In some cases the school will provide basic items such as sheets and pillow cases for which there is a hire charge, other schools will supply all items (at a charge) whilst some schools supply nothing at all. Where there is a school shop for uniform, this sometimes also stocks items of bedding (which must be paid for at the time of issue), but if there is no school shop any necessary bedding must be purchased in advance. Children's bedding must be clearly marked in the same way as school uniform or with permanent laundry marker.
Weekends
Weekends are a busy time for boarders, who may be involved in sports fixtures, concerts or plays, or who may use their time to pursue a favourite hobby, perhaps through a school club. Schools may also organise day or weekend trips away. However, there should also be time for pupils just to relax.
