Welcome to Blenheim House
Boarder Handbook
Blenheim Resident House Staff
Mr Dennis
Housemaster
of Blenheim, Head of Mathematics, Head of Academic Boarding
“Blenheim House continues the work of Mr Wilder in Hampton House, shaping boys into young men over their three-year journey Through fostering independence and strong character, we prepare pupils for further education and the world of work”
Edward Dennis
Ms McMahon
Assistant
Housemistress 2nd in Art
“As a former pupil and boarder at LVS, I know that the experience shapes you in ways that go far beyond the academic Education is at the heart of what we do, but boarding nurtures something deeper too The resilience, the empathy, the ability to live and grow alongside others It’s that combination that leaves LVS truly well-rounded, and ready for whatever life brings”
Yasmin McMahon
Mr Marsali
The boarding team
Head of Boarding, Hampton Housemaster, DDSL
Assistant Head of Boarding, DDSL
Head of Girls Boarding, Osborne Housemistress, DDSL
Hampton Senior House Assistant
Hampton Graduate Boarding Assistant
Resident Boarding Matron
Kew Housemistress, DDSL
Kew & Osborne Senior House Assistant
Osborne Graduate Boarding Assistant
Non-Resident Tutor
Head of Philosiphy
Non-Resident Tutor
Non-Residetn Tutor
Teacher of Business & Economics
Non-Resident Tutor
Welcome
“Blenheim House continues the legacy of Mr Wilder in Hampton House, shaping boys into young men over their three-year journey. Through fostering independence and strong character, we prepare pupils for further education and the world of work”
Mr
Dennis - Housemaster
As a former pupil and boarder at LVS, I know that the experience shapes you in ways that go far beyond the academic. Education is at the heart of what we do, but boarding nurtures something deeper too. The resilience, the empathy, the ability to live and grow alongside others. It’s that combination that leaves LVS truly well-rounded, and ready for whatever life brings
Ms McMahon - Assistant Housemistress
Message from our House Captain:
Welcome to Blenheim House!
As House Captain and Head Boarder, I’m really looking forward to the year ahead and everything that comes with it. Whether you’re new to Blenheim or returning for another year, I hope you settle in quickly, get involved in house life, and make the most of every opportunity.
Blenheim is built on teamwork, support, and house spirit, and one of the best things about being part of the house is the friendships and memories you make along the way. Don’t be afraid to try new things, support each other, and enjoy the experience.
I hope everyone has a successful, enjoyable, and memorable year in Blenheim.
And a little piece of advice in boarding, getting to dinner before the queue starts might be the greatest achievement of all.
Prefects
Blenheim House has 6 Senior house prefects that aid in the day-to-day running of the House. They also head up committees and organise inter-House events as well as activities afterschool and at the weekend. The Prefects are not allowed to give out sanctions, but they are expected to inform duty staff of who is not meeting the House’s expectations. However, they can give out rewards as long as cleared and logged by a member of staff.
Head Boarder & House Captain
Deputy House Captain
House Prefect
House Prefect
House Prefect
House Prefect
Useful Communication Information
Blenheim House Office number : 01344 898551
Mr Dennis mobile number: 07557 014058
Ms McMahon mobile number: 07825 195456
Mr Dennis email address: DennisE@lvs.ascot.sch.uk
Ms McMahon email address: Yasmin.McMahon@lvs.ascot.sch.uk
Post and packages for you should be sent to the following address: [Your Name]
Blenheim House, LVS ASCOT London Road Ascot Berkshire SL5 8DR
Microsoft Teams
All Pupils will be added to a Boarding Microsoft team. They will have access to two channels 1. Thier alloacted house 2. A full Boarding communicty channel. We use teams to post notices, quizzes and polls
ROLL CALLS
WEEKDAYS
A register is taken by a member of House staff each morning as pupils leave for breakfast.
A formal roll call is then taken at 17:40, during which pupils are given important information about the evening ahead and the following day. The House is locked and alarmed at 21:45. A member of House staff will then walk around the House and take a register to ensure that all pupils are present, as required.
WEEKENDS
A formal roll call is taken by House staff at 10:00 and 17:40 on both Saturday and Sunday.
There is also a check-in roll call at 14:00 on both days, during which every pupil must come to the House Office and check in with a member of House staff.
On Saturdays, the House is locked and alarmed at 21:45. A member of House staff will then walk around the House and take a register to ensure that all pupils staying in for the weekend are present, as required.
On Sundays, a formal House meeting takes place at 21:00, during which pupils are given important information for the week ahead. The 21:45 register is then also completed in the same way as on Saturday.
Weekend Routines
Saturday
Sunday
ACTIVITIES & WEEKEND OUTINGS
WEEKEND OUTINGS/Activities
Throughout the year we participate inva number of activities or outings, many of which are instigated by what the boys want to do or provided by staff. Below are some recent examples:
Go Karting
Gravity Force
Trips to London
Art gallery visits
Paint balling
Archery
Cinema trips
Bar nights
House touramanets such as pool and poker
All House activities are paid for by the House If an activity does involve an additional charge, parents and guardians will be informed in advance, and the activity will be optional.
During weekends, there is generally more free time for pupils in the senior houses. This is an important part of boarding life, as it allows pupils to manage their own time, relax, complete prep, take part in activities, and spend time with friends Pupils are expected to use this time sensibly and continue to follow House routines, expectations, and check-in times.
Town leave is permitted at weekends, provided pupils have the correct permissions in place and sign out and back in with House staff. Pupils must behave responsibly while off site and return to House by the agreed time
Across the year, we also offer trips as a whole boarding community. Some of these trips are optional sign-up activities, while others may be compulsory.
The first weekend of the academic year is a closed weekend, which means we would prefer all boarders to stay in House. This gives everyone the opportunity to settle in, bond as a House, and allows staff and pupils to get to know the new boys joining Blenheim.
Expectations
To be polite and courteous to other members of the house, to other members of the school and to members of staff
To be tolerant of others and to respect the feelings of others.
To be clean and smartly dressed at all times.
To be punctual, both in attending lessons and handing in work.
To take pride in belonging to Blenheim House, accepting responsibility for helping to keep it clean, tidy and welcoming to visitors
To participate in everything to the best of their ability.
School Bounds
LVS Ascot has a 26-acre site, most of which is accessible to all Pupils and it is important that the boarders at LVS are allowed to explore the campus. However, it is also important (particularly during the evening and winter hours) that boarders understand the safe parameters within which they must operate.
On a school day
Meal Times
Breakfast is served from 07:45 - 08:30
Lunch is served from 13:00-14:00. Dinner is served between 17:40-18:30.
We are fortunate to have two well-equipped kitchens in Blenheim; one upstairs and one downstairs. Both kitchens include a kettle, toaster, microwave, sink and dishwasher. Boarders are permitted to cook food using these facilities once they have been given an induction into basic food hygiene by house staff. This includes the proper use of colour-coded kitchen knives and chopping boards for different foodstuffs. Kitchens and equipment must be left clean and tidy after use out of consideration for others Personal cooking equipment such as rice cookers or hotplates are permitted on the understanding that they are stored and used only in the kitchen areas and only at permitted times. They must be kept in a tidy and hygienic condition by their owner. Personal food may be stored in the large fridges in the kitchens. There is also a small freezer in the upstairs common room. It must be stored in an orderly way, clearly labelled with the name of the owner and checked regularly so that out-of-date food can be removed and thrown away Boarders are not permitted to store fresh food in their rooms or to eat in their rooms as this presents a health and safety hazard. If Pupils wish to eat in house, food must be prepared and eaten in the common areas around the kitchens. All boarders should be mindful that there is limited storage space in the kitchens and fridges, so should purchase food and ingredients only in small quantities. If a boarder purchases food without consideration to others and there is insufficient space, the food will need to be disposed of Also, due to their associated health risks, boarders are not be allowed to be in possession of high caffeine drinks (e.g. Red Bull, Monster etc.), which will also be taken and not returned All boarders are expected to eat breakfast and lunch in the Dining Hall every day
Takeaways
You may order a takeaway on a Saturday evening. Takeaways cannot be delivered during Prep so please make sure you order it to arrive outside this time. You may not order takeaways at lunchtime on either day
BOARDING Activities
In addition to the co-curricular activities organised by the school, there are many organised activities provided after school during the week from 16:00-17:40, after prep and at weekends. The House stresses that it is each Pupil’s responsibility to participate in the wider life of the school and not the responsibility of House staff to constantly remind. All activities will be displayed on one of the House noticeboards.
Signing in & out of the house
You must sign in and out on Orah every time you are leaving or returning to Blenheim. Even if you are going to another area of the school site, it is important that you update your location on Orah so we know where you are.
ORAH WEEKEND LEAVE
All Pupils need to use our boarding electronic registration system Orah. Each Pupil has to download the app, register by clicking on the link sent by Orah to their school email and use the same log in details as for accessing school email or the Internet . Pupils must sign in and out via Orah. There are tap devices in house to make the process easier. Parents must use Orah to submit all leave requests. It is also sensible and polite to find a member of staff and seek their approval before leaving – particularly on the weekends and in the evenings.
Boarders will be asked to confirm their plans for the weekend on a Wednesday by bedtime
Parents/Guardians are then required to inform us via a leave request on Orah that their son/ward will be out for the coming weekend. There will be a weekly weekend email sent on either a Thursday or Friday.
This email will also include any notices for the coming week, updates on events that have happened since the last email. If parents wish to allow their child to leave the school site to stay with a friend, or in the care of adults other than themselves, their guardian, or the staff of the school, they are asked to inform House staff via email at least 48 hrs beforehand. The House staff will then also require a confirmation email and contact details of the person they are planning to stay with. It must be understood that, for the period of time between the Pupil leaving the Boarding House and their return, the parent/guardian requesting the leave is fully responsible for the welfare and whereabouts of the child.
Visitors to the House
All visitors to the House must report to the duty member of staff before entering the House. Once permission has been granted for them to come in the visitor must sign in using Orah in the main downstairs common room
At no point do visitors enter Pupil dorms. They are welcome in the common area downstairs
Any Pupil visitor who has not sought permission from the duty member of staff will not be welcomed back in the House
Essential items for living in Blenheim House
Toiletries (Toothbrush/shampoo/etc.) As well as a Towel and face flannel.
Home casual clothes and footwear.
Small electrical items as required, please see below.
Pocket money to be kept in House account if worth over £50GBP, however, in a world of contactless payment we strongly suggest a debit card for our Boys to use instead of cash.
Tuck/snacks (optional, but must fit into the box provided)
Bedding (Blenheim can provide bedding, but you are also welcomed to bring your own)
Please consider the appropriateness of very expensive items of clothing/footwear/Jewellery.
Although Blenheim House is a safe environment, we cannot be sure that items will not go missing or be damaged. Also consider how certain items of property can be an advert for trouble whilst outside the school, or how uncomfortable some of your fellow Pupils could feel that may not be as financially lucky as you.
There will be regular opportunities to shop for essential items, for example, shampoo or a toothbrush Nevertheless, if there are emergencies, please encourage your Son / Ward to speak to a member of the House’s staff directly if he requires something more urgently.
Electrical Items
All Boarding Houses must follow Health and Safety guidelines. As electrical and electronic equipment can present Health and Safety risks, we impose the following restrictions:
All items must be electrically safe and fitted with a standard three pin, fused plug. All items will be Portable Appliance Tested (PAT) The house staff reserves the right to confiscate and return to parents any item which they consider unsuitable, or which is being used improperly. Items that fail the PAT test will be disposed of appropriately.
Allowed –
Clocks
Laptops/tablets
Mobile phones
Cameras
Hairdryers, straighteners etc.
Not Allowed –
Electric heaters or blankets ·
Kettles
Personal fridges
Televisions
Rice Cookers
Electric Fans
Every boarder is issued with a laundry number and named laundry box on arrival. All your clothes must be labelled with your number. Dirty washing should be placed in your laundry boxes provided first thing in the morning, and left by the laundry room. Underwear should be put in the net bags provided. Delicate items (coats, etc.) have separate deposit bins to ensure they are kept separate from the normal wash.
Laundered clothes are placed back in these boxes ready for collection after school. Beds must be stripped (sheet, duvet cover & pillowcase) and handed to the laundry for washing every Wednesday morning.
A dry-cleaning business is located on Fernbank Road if you require dry cleaning for suits or other clothes during the school term
Laundry Room Care
All rooms must always be kept presentable and safe, with consideration for your roommate. In particular, heavy or bulky items must not be stored on the top of wardrobes, and suitcases must be either packed away inside the beds or placed in one of the house storage cupboards. Clothes, shoes and cables must not be left on the floor where they can create a trip hazard. You are free to personalise your room with photographs, posters and other personal items, but please do not fix anything to the walls with Blu Tack or drawing pins
Suggestion Box
The house suggestion box is located inthe down stairs commonroom. All boarders who wish to make a suggestion about the running of the house or to raise a concern of any kind may write it down and place it in the suggestion box (either with or without their name). The box is checked regularly by the house staff.
In the event of a fire evacuation:
1) You must get out of the building as quickly as possible, via the nearest fire exit
2) If you are not sure which fire exit is your nearest, check the fire escape routes which are displayed in all dorms, the common room, corridors and lobby
3) Be quiet and sensible as you make your way out of the building. Head towards the fire assembly point.
4) The member of staff on duty will take a register. Listen carefully for your name and answer promptly and clearly
5) Once it has been confirmed that it is safe, you will be able to re-enter the building
In the event of an invacuation
(lockdown):
1)You must go into the nearest room, it does not need to be your dorm! If you are already in a room, just stay where you are 2) Curtains should be drawn and windows should be shut
3) Furniture should be used to barricade the door e.g. sofa
4) Remain silent
5) Stay in whichever room you have entered until you are told it is safe to come out by a member of staff on duty
At LVS, we take a positive approach to recognising pupils. Commendations are awarded for excellent work and outstanding contributions to boarding life.
Blenheim House also has its own rewards system, where pupils can earn vouchers for positive behaviour, helpfulness, and involvement in House activities. These points can then be exchanged for rewards.
Rewards will be awarded for a range of activities, which can include, but are not restricted to the following:
Volunteering to support the Boarding House or wider school community
Regularly taking part in boarding activities
Supporting, helping to organise, or participating in a House event
Helping, buddying, or welcoming a new boarder into the House
Providing consistent support to House staff, tutors, or prefects over the course of a term
Showing sustained improvement in behaviour, attitude, or routines within the House
Demonstrating commitment to co-curricular activities while balancing boarding life
Representing the school in sport or other activities throughout the term
Setting a positive example through behaviour, commitment, manners, and respect within the House
Contributing positively to the day-to-day running and atmosphere of the House
Demonstrating excellent camaraderie, kindness, and support towards other boarders
Going above and beyond to help others or improve House life, as recognised by House staff or prefects
sanctions Rewards
We like to do things fairly in Blenheim House and do not enjoy giving out sanctions. However, sanctions may be used when behaviour or actions have a negative impact on the House community. Looking after our home is everyone’s responsibility and treat the House, its facilities, and each other with respect.
Leaving kitchens, common areas, bedrooms, or shared spaces untidy
Not washing up or putting equipment away after use
Misusing House facilities or equipment
Poor behaviour, manners, or language
Failing to follow House routines, timings, or instructions
Disrespectful, unkind, or disruptive behaviour towards others
Repeated behaviour that affects the safety, wellbeing, or atmosphere of the House
Sanctions may include loss of access to facilities, additional House duties, removal from activities, earlier / more regualr check-ins, or house bans at lunchtime.
The aim of any sanction is to help you understand the impact of your choices and encourage more positive behaviour moving forward.
Health & Wellbeing Centre
The Health & Wellbeing Centre (HAWC) is run by nursing staff and a wellbeing practitioner. Pupils have access to facilities such as doctors and counsellors through the Centre. If boarders feel unwell for any reason – physical or mental – they should speak either with house staff or directly with the HAWC.
Further information can be obtained from the house notice board, duty member of staff or from the LVS Senior School Handbook.
Surgery times:
Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Friday - 08:00 - 18:00
Thursday – 8:30am – 4:30pm
Saturday – Open for sports fixtures and open mornings
Counselling
Confidential Counselling Services are available to all Pupils at LVS Ascot. Counselling is a safe space for young people to explore whatever is bothering them. Boarders can arrange to see a counsellor by emailing the counselling service directly at counsellor@lvs.ascot.sch.uk or by speaking in confidence to the House Staff.
Medication
Every Boarder is required to register with the School Doctor and, should you require treatment during School holidays, you should register as a temporary resident with your local Doctor. Pupils may not possess any prescribed medication unless these have been approved by the Medical Centre and a selfadministration form has been completed. Any medication prescribed or otherwise, including vitamins, supplements and indeed protein shakes or powders for shakes, must be declared on arrival and must be approved by our Health and Wellbeing Centre staff before being used. If Pupils are found with any medication of any sort it will be confiscated and may be clinically destroyed for safety reasons.
Expectations
As senior members of the school, Blenheim Pupils are expected to be aware of how they are perceived by younger pupils, and as such behave as role models. All members of Blenheim House are expected to be fully involved in the house community, treat it with respect and show consideration for other members. Every member of Blenheim will also be assigned a weekly chore. These range from cleaning and tidying kitchens to collecting rations from the dining hall at the end of the school day. Boarders are expected to undertake these duties thoroughly and punctually under the supervision of the prefect in charge on that day.
Whole School Policies
There are several vital ‘whole school’ policies with which all boarders should be familiar for their own safety and wellbeing. These include school policies on the following:
Alcohol Smoking
Drugs & Drug Education
Social Media
Sex & Relationships
Mobile Phone Acceptable Use
Anti-bullying
The majority of these policies are displayed on noticeboards within the boarding house and all are available for review by Pupils on request.
and finally..
INDEPENDENCE BUILDS MEN
