Life at The Manor
65 acres of grounds and woodland
80 pupils from 11-14 years call the Manor ‘home’
42 different activities and events each year
10,625 cups of hot chocolate drunk by pupils – and staff
The Manor was Today, some there are rather original owner, In its role as Dauntsey’s also considerably
The Manor is set in 65 acres our Lower School boarders Form). Many boarders join and so enter Third Form School. They then spend life in their senior school boarding houses. Others after joining in the First Form.
The
Manor was built as a family home back in the 1860s. Today, some 150 years later, it still is; the difference is that there are rather more
(around 80)
11
to
14-year-olds
than
the original owner, Sir Edward Pleydell-Bouverie MP, anticipated. In its role as Dauntsey’s Lower School boarding house, it is also considerably noisier.
The Manor is set in 65 acres of land and is home to all our Lower School boarders (First Form through to Third Form). Many boarders join Dauntsey’s from their prep school and so enter Third Form (Year 9) at the top of our Lower School. They then spend a year at The Manor, settling into life in their senior school before moving to the Upper School boarding houses. Others spend three years at The Manor after joining in the First Form.
The house is run as a family home, with a dedicated team of house staff who live at Manor with their families (and often their pets!). There are always plenty of staff on hand, bringing with them an abundance of energy and enthusiasm, as well as an ever-ready listening ear.
Each week four Sixth Formers act as big sisters and brothers on Manor duty, helping with prep, organising games and instilling bedtime routines. This regular
contact allows Manorites to form strong bonds and friendships with older pupils and ensures they recognise plenty of friendly faces during the school day.
This close-knit community helps to ease the transition from prep or primary school to senior school and gives pupils the space to enjoy their childhood for that bit longer. The fact that The Manor is just a short walk away from the main school site also adds to the home-from-home feeling of the house for pupils and staff alike.
lifetime. The boys’ and girls’ dormitories are on separate floors, allowing for individual space, whilst still maintaining a very united feel in the house.
Our boarders lead a busy life, they can play outside under the floodlights in the winter and in the summer enjoy games on the lawn, making camps in the woods, tending to the veg patch and our ever-popular water slide! There are also frequent Lower School socials, an annual summer activity weekend away, ice-skating, theatre trips and visits to local towns and attractions.
“The Manor is not just a boarding house, it is a home. We are here to support each other every step of the way, and as a result are an incredibly close-knit community.” says Emma Jolly.
As a co-educational house, boys and girls study, socialise, and eat together, forming friendships that often last a
Boarders are also able to make the most of events and activities taking place up at main school, be it attending a Mercers’ Lecture, morning music lessons or swimming sessions.
That said, there are plenty of opportunities to unwind, with cooking, quiz evenings and regular film and popcorn nights – not forgetting the daily hot chocolate and chat on the sofa on arrival home from school.
“Film and popcorn night is my favourite! Along with the water slide. And the games. And the trips.”
“The Manor really is the most remarkable place.”
Dauntsey’s parent
The Manor Promise
We promise we will…
ENCOURAGE YOU TO READ A BOOK FOR AT LEAST TEN MINUTES BEFORE BEDTIME EVERY NIGHT * HELP YOU CHECK THAT YOU HAVE PACKED YOUR BAG FOR SCHOOL THE NIGHT BEFORE AND RE-CHECK BEFORE YOU LEAVE IN THE MORNING IN CASE GREMLINS HAVE REMOVED YOUR BOOKS IN THE NIGHT * MAKE SURE THERE IS CAKE ON YOUR BIRTHDAY, AND THAT THE WHOLE HOUSE (STAFF INCLUDED) SING TO YOU * WELCOME YOUR PET HAMSTER, GERBIL OR FISH TO COME AND LIVE WITH US - BUT NOT YOUR CAT, DOG, SNAKE OR CHINCHILLA * HELP YOU AND ENCOURAGE YOU WITH YOUR PREPBUT WE WILL NOT DO IT FOR YOU * GET UP IN THE NIGHT IF YOU ARE NOT FEELING WELL * PROVIDE AN EMERGENCY SPIDER REMOVAL SERVICE * GET YOU TO BED EARLY IF YOU ARE GRUMPY AND TIRED * ORGANISE FUN THINGS TO DO; FROM ZIP-WIRING IN THE MANOR WOODS TO BALLROOM DANCING; MOVIE NIGHTS TO FOOTBALL TOURNAMENTS; TALENT SHOWS TO WATER SLIDES * REMIND YOU EVERY NIGHT TO HAND YOUR PHONE IN, BRUSH YOUR TEETH AND PUT OUT YOUR CLOTHES FOR WASHING * CALL YOUR PARENTS IF YOU GET INTO TROUBLE, BUT WE WILL ALSO LET THEM KNOW THAT YOU ARE NOT THE FIRST – AND YOU WON’T BE THE LAST * SUPPORT YOU IN YOUR MUSIC, DRAMA AND SPORT * BE HERE FOR YOU TO TRUST AND CONFIDE IN.
And, most important of all…
* MAKE SURE THERE IS ALWAYS HOT CHOCOLATE WHEN YOU COME BACK FROM SCHOOL – EVEN IN JUNE!
Dauntsey’s School
West Lavington, Devizes, Wiltshire, SN10 4HE
T. 01380 814500
admissions@dauntseys.org www.dauntseys.org