Parents’ Guide to Boarding at Amesbury
Page 3 Housemasters Welcome
Page 4 School Map
Page 5 What to Expect from Boarding Evening Routine
Page 6 Evening Routine
Page 7 Morning Routine & Evening Activities
Page 8 Music & Prep, Food, Keeping in Touch
Page 9 What to Bring - Kit List
Page 10 Any Worries
Page 11 Signing Up for Boarding
I am delighted that you are considering boarding for your child and I look forward to welcoming you into the boarding community. During their time boarding at Amesbury, we want your child to feel as though the boarding house is a home from home where they can look forward to an enjoyable experience with their boarding friends.
Boarding at Amesbury will become a place where all children can study, play and rest whilst also being encouraged to develop responsibility and express their individuality. They will learn respect and consideration towards the immediate and wider community in which they live during their time with us, and we hope boarding will be a happy place for all boarders to be.
I hope this booklet will give you a good idea of what boarding at Amesbury will look like, including routine, guidelines, timings and more to help your child settle straight into boarding. Please do not hesitate to contact me if you have any further questions about boarding or would like to discuss anything in more detail.
Olly Clarke Boarding Houseparent o.clarke@amesburyschool.co.uk
The boarding house is located in Bickley house, above the Headmasters Study and the Bursars Office and opposite the second-hand uniform shop with clear signing on the way.
If your child wishes to board at Amesbury, they will be able to do so for one night a week, every week. This will allow them to develop a weekly routine and experience being away from home on a regular basis.
With this arrangement, different groups of pupils will board on each individual night. The nights that will be available to pupils for the start of term are as below:
Monday Y7/8 Girls
Tuesday Y7/8 Boys
Wednesday Y5/6 Girls
Thursday Y5/6 Boys
On their first night all new boarders will be given an induction to boarding which includes, among other things, the house rules, what to do in case of a fire and who they can talk to about any worries they might have when boarding. The boarding evening starts immediately after school at 5:45 with a boarders’ tea. From this point the houseparent, assistant housemaster, gap students and residential members of staff look after them for their evening activities.
We do regularly change the days due to the small nature of our boarding house, check our website for the latest schedule.
“ Work and play are words used to describe the same thing under differing conditions.”
MARK TWAIN
Staff organise a variety of optional fun activities for the boarders to get involved in each evening. Alongside this, children can use the sports and music facilities or simply relax and catch up with their friends.
Some examples of activities we offer:
Ultimate Frisbee
Cooker
Film Making and Photography
Board Games Tournaments
Summer Water Fights/BBQ
Capture the Flag
Film Night
We are also open to ideas from the children for what they would like to do with their evenings boarding and endeavour to make them happen where possible.
We take pride in the academic and musical performance of our boarders. If pupils come to boarding with any unfinished prep, they should make a member of staff aware so that time can be found to help them catch up. Extra music practice is encouraged in free time for those who are learning an instrument.
Boarders will have a hot meal in the evening provided by the kitchen as well as the choice of an evening snack before they go to bed. This may be some toast, soup, fruit, and a glass of milk. In the morning there will be the option of a cooked breakfast or cereal.
All boarders have access to a landline telephone at any time before bed should they wish to call home so there is no need for them to bring in any mobile devices. They also have a school email provided by Amesbury which they are welcome to use on their school laptop during free time.
When starting boarding all children will need to bring in the following items, clearly named and in an overnight bag:
Bedding (pillowcase, duvet cover and bed sheet – no need to bring a duvet and pillow, this will be provided)
Towel with loop
1x School shirt
2x Pairs of pants
2x Pairs of socks or tights
Pyjamas/nightwear
Dressing gown
Slippers
Washbag (including toothbrush, toothpaste, shower gel, shampoo)
Hairbrush (optional)
School jumper (optional)
Spare school trousers/skirt (optional)
Home clothes (optional for after school)
Please ensure all items are clearly named
If a child has any worries or concerns, we encourage them to talk to someone. This might be at home with a family member, to a close friend or at school to a member of staff. If however, they wish to talk to someone not formally connected to the school we have an independent listener who they are welcome to call.
Sophie Banks 07966 482 689
They can also call the Children’s commissioner for England on 0800 528 0731
Or email advice@childrenscommisioner.gsi.gov.uk
As well as contacting Childline on 0800 1111
The confidentiality and rights of the boarders are always respected.
If, after reading this booklet, your child wishes to board, here are some simple steps on how to sign them up and ensure they can ‘hit the ground running’.
1. To sign your child up for boarding, please email the boarding houseparent. (Mr Clarke: o.clarke@amesburyschool.co.uk) He will then confirm if there is a space available for your child on the given evening.
2. Once you have a place confirmed, you will need to check the kit list on page 7 to ensure that your child has everything they will need for a successful time in the boarding house.
3. On the morning of the day that your child will be boarding your child will need to take their kit up to the boarding house ready for the coming evening. There will be a member of the boarding team ready to meet them and help them to do this. From there they will go to tutor time and continue the school day as normal.
