Welcome to Osborne House
Student Handbook
Welcome from the HouseMistress of Osborne House ms Swiech
Whenever stormy days come our way, you will never have to face them alone. We have an incredibly loving, dedicated team right here to guide and support you through every single step. We are always here for you, and no worry is ever too small for us to listen to. This little booklet is here to help students, parents, and guardians alike. It is packed with useful information about daily life at Osborne. It also shows how our cozy House systems fully meet the Government’s National Minimum Boarding Standards to keep everyone safe and happy.
If you feel nervous or have any questions at all—whether it is before you arrive or after you move in—please reach out. You can always contact me at: Paulina.swiech@lvs.ascot.sch.uk
Resident staff
Resident Boarding Matron
Miss Chiwara
Miss Sterling
Osbrone House GBA
The boarding team
Head of Boarding, Hampton Housemaster, DDSL
Mr Dennis
Housemaster of Blenheim, Head of Mathematics, Head of Academic Boarding, DDSL
Ms McMahon
Assistant Housemistress 2nd in Art
Kew & Osborne Senior House Assistant
Blenheim House Graduate Boarding Assistant
Head of Philosiphy
Non-Resident Tutor
Non-Resident Tutor
Assistant Head of Boarding, DDSL
Kew Housemistress, DDSL
Hampton Senior House Assistant
Hampton Graduate Boarding Assistant
Non-Resident Tutor
Teacher of Business & Economics
Non-Resident Tutor
Message from our House Captain
Hi, I hope you are all doing well, and a very warm welcome to Osborne!
I joined this school in September 2025, so I can genuinely understand how overwhelming it can feel to start at a new school and be surrounded by people you don’t yet know. Adjusting to new routines, expectations, and friendships can be stressful at first, and trust me those feelings are completely normal. Keep in mind that many of us have been in your position before and understand exactly what you may be feeling.
As House Captain, my main role is to ensure that everyone in our house feels happy, comfortable, and supported. I take this responsibility very seriously and want to help create a positive and welcoming environment where everyone feels included. If you ever have a concern, need advice, or simply want someone to talk to, I am always here and happy to help.
I am both very academically focused and involved in sport, which has helped me develop strong teamwork and leadership skills. I hope this also allows me to connect and bond with students across different year groups, especially younger students. Having already experienced many of the challenges you may face, I am more than happy to support you with things I have already learnt, whether that is managing schoolwork, settling into boarding life, or balancing academics and extracurricular activities
I am truly committed to my role as House Captain and will always do my best to support every member of our house. I look forward to getting to know you all and working together to make this year a positive and enjoyable experience for everyone.
Prefects
Osborne 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.
House Captain
Deputy House Captain
Pastoral Prefect International Prefect
Activities Prefect
House Prefect
Useful Communication Information
Osborne House Office number : 01344 898536
Ms Swiech mobile number: 07557014096
Mr Swiech email address: Paulina.swiech@lvs.ascot.sch.uk
Ms Chance email address: Sophie.chance@lvs.ascot.sch.uk
Post and packages for you should be sent to the following address:
[Student’s Name]
Osborne 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
Breakfast roll call is taken at 7:45am and dinner roll call is taken at 5:30pm. During roll calls pupils are given important information and notices. The House is locked and alarmed at 9:45pm. 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 10:30am and 5:30pm on both Saturday and Sunday. There is a Check-in at the office on Friday and Saturday between 9:45pm - 10:00pm. Students must then come to the House office to check in with a member of staff.
There is also a check-in roll call at 1pm on both days, during which every pupil must come to the Common room and check in with a member of House staff.
On Sundays, the House is locked and alarmed at 9:45pm. A member of House staff will then walk around the House and take a register to ensure that all pupils are present, as required. Bed times are as normal.
On Sundays there is a dorm check completed at 8pm to ensure students’ dorms are tidy and that the students are ready for the school week ahead.
We are a modern, inclusive, and self-determining school, driven by essential behaviours, sharing knowledge and skills in a culture of trust within an adaptive environment.
Life at Osborne House
Our Community: Home to up to 53 girls and supportive resident staff.
Shared Dorms: Thoughtfully allocated and rotated within year groups to build friendships.
Prefect Flat: A dedicated Year 11 space with cooking, refreshment, and lounge facilities
Active Common Rooms: One large room for study and printing; one for snacks and TV.
Quiet Room: A peaceful, private space for study, relaxation, and mental health well-being.
As with any community, certain basic rules and routines are necessary to ensure the freedom, safety and wellbeing of every girl within the House. These may differ from, or be more extensive than, those girls are used to at home; however, they are essential for living successfully as part of one large community.
Expectactions
To be polite and courteous to other members of the House, the wider School community and staff;
To be tolerant of others and respectful of their feelings;
To be clean, smart and appropriately dressed at all times;
To be punctual, both in attendance and in handing in work;
To take pride in belonging to Osborne House by helping to keep it clean, tidy and welcoming to visitors;
To participate in all activities to the best of their ability;
To challenge themselves to fulfil their potential;
To work hard for the good of the House;
To put others first and show selflessness in both their thoughts and actions.
Weekday Routines
Weekend Routines
(Timings are for orientation only, check the weekend plan for details)
ACTIVITIES & WEEKEND OUTINGS
WEEKEND OUTINGS/Activities
Throughout the year, we participate in a wide range of activities and outings, many of which are inspired by the interests and suggestions of the girls or organised by staff. Below are some examples of recent activities and trips:
Go Karting
Thorpe Park
Trips to London
Art gallery visits
Paint balling
Jump in
Cinema trips
Indoor skydiving
Dinton park pastures
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 Osborne House – one upstairs and one downstairs. We have three fridges: a personal fridge a small house fridge upstairs, and a large house fridge downstairs. We also have a freezer. Should the girls wish to purchase food items and store them in the personal fridge or freezer, they may do so, provided they ensure that the fridges and freezer are kept tidy, regularly check use-by dates, and label their food. Both kitchens include a kettle, toaster, microwave, sink, and dishwasher. The girls are permitted to cook using these facilities once they have received an induction into basic food hygiene from house staff. This includes the proper use of colour-coded chopping boards for different foods. Kitchens and equipment must be left clean and tidy after use. Personal cooking equipment such as rice cookers or hotplates is permitted on the understanding that it is stored in a food cupboard within the House, used only in kitchen areas, and only at permitted times. These items must be kept in a tidy and hygienic condition by their owner. Boarders are not permitted to store fresh food in their rooms or 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; therefore, food and ingredients should only be purchased in small quantities. If a student purchases food without consideration for others and there is insufficient space, the food may need to be disposed of. Additionally, due to associated health risks, boarders are not permitted to possess high-caffeine drinks (e.g. Red Bull, Monster, etc.); these will be confiscated and not returned. All boarders are expected to eat breakfast and lunch in the Dining Hall every day.
Takeaways
Takeaways can be ordered on a Saturday from 6pm only. They cannot be ordered on any other day of the week.
BOARDING Activities
In addition to the co-curricular activities organised by the school, there are many organised activities provided after school during the week, after prep and at weekends. It is each pupil’s responsibility to participate in the wider life of the school and not the responsibility of Osborne staff to constantly remind them. Sign ups to co-curricular activities are done by parents via Evolve.
Signing in & out of the house
Pupils must sign in and out on Orah whenever they leave or return to Osborne House. This includes when moving to other areas of the school site, ensuring House staff are always aware of pupils’ whereabouts.
All pupils are required to use our boarding electronic registration system, Orah. Each pupil must download the app, register using the link sent to their school email account, and log in using the same details used to access school email and the internet.
Pupils must sign in and out via Orah whenever leaving or returning to Osborne House There are tap devices located around the House to make this process easier. Parents must also use Orah to submit all leave requests and complete boarding-specific forms.
In addition, the girls MUST inform a member of staff and seek permission before leaving site at all times.
ORAH WEEKEND LEAVE
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 daughter/ward will be out for the coming weekend. There will be a weekly weekend email sent on Thursday stating 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, they must inform Osborne 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.
Please note that the only taxi service approved by the school is Ascot Cars. This is because their drivers are DBS checked which gives us an extra layer of security. House staff will not be allowing students to use any other taxi service when travelling alone.
Visitors to the House
All boarders visiting the House must report to the duty member of staff before entering. Once permission has been granted, they must sign into Osborne House on Orah. All non-boarder visitors must sign in using the Visitor’s Book, which is located in the downstairs common room. At no point do visitors enter pupil dorms They are welcome in the common room downstairs.
Any pupil visitor who has not sought permission from the duty member of staff will not be welcomed back in Osborne.
Essential items for living in Osborne House
Toiletries (Toothbrush/shampoo/etc.) As well as a towel and a face towel.
Home casual clothes and footwear.
Small electrical items as required, please see below.
Pocket money to be kept in House if worth over £50GBP, however, in a world of contactless payment we strongly suggest a debit card for our girls to use instead of cash.
Tuck/snacks (optional, but must fit into the box provided)
Bedding (Osborne can provide bedding, but you are also welcome to bring your own)
Please consider the appropriateness of very expensive items of clothing/footwear/jewellery.
Although Osborne 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 fellow pupils could feel that may not be as financially lucky as some other students.
There will be regular opportunities to shop for essential items, for example, shampoo, toothbrush etc Nevertheless, if there are emergencies, girls are encouraged to communicate with a member of House staff directly if they need some items 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
All electronics are collected from students in all years up to and including Year 11 They are stored in a locker and/or the locked office, thus allowing pupils to sleep uninterrupted. A prefect on duty is given the responsibility to look after their own electronics at night to ensure their duties are done on time the following day. However, should they fail to meet expectations, they too will follow the rules of the rest of the year groups.
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 a named laundry box on arrival. All clothes must be labelled with the allocated laundry number.
Dirty washing should be placed in the laundry boxes provided first thing in the morning by 8am 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 once a week on a Tuesday.
A dry-cleaning business is located at Fernbank road shops if pupils require dry cleaning during the school term
All laundry is machine washed and tumble-dried. All clothes provided must be suitable for this process.
Room Care
Girls are expected to keep their dorms tidy and presentable at all times. Each morning, they should neatly fold back their duvets, turn off the lights, tidy desks, open their curtains and windows, remove their laundry boxes, and ensure the floor area is left tidy. Dorm checks are carried out by duty prefects and staff each morning during the school week to monitor these standards. Dorms that do not meet the required standards will receive a House sanction - 24 hr confiscation of electronics. Suitcases must be stored in the upstairs storage area. Girls are encouraged to personalise their rooms and display boards to create a welcoming and homely environment.
ROLES & RESPONSIBILITIES
Everyone in the House is on a weekly chore rota for their respective duties. It is the expectation that every student fulfills their roles when requested to do so by a member of staff or Prefect. The duties are not too strenuous and may include (but may not be limited to): cleaning the kitchen; loading/emptying the dishwasher and collecting rations. It gives the pupils a sense of ownership and helps to instill pride in the House by carrying out these tasks, as well as preparing them for independent living in the future.
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
Rewards
In Osborne we run a house point reward system. Girls collect points throughout the term and then on the last day of term the students with the most number of points are given prizes. Rewards vouchers are also given for outstanding performance, volunteering and help. We also choose 2 Boarders of the term who will then be rewarded by a Head of Boarding in form of trips, dinners and activities.
Rewards are given for a range of activities, which can include, but are not restricted to the following:
Volunteering
Taking part in activities
Winning an in-house competition
Supporting or participating in a House event
Helping a new student
Outstanding help to your tutor over a term
Maintained improvement in behaviour.
Commitment to co-curricular activities
Participating in representative sport for a term
Setting a good example in terms of commitment or behaviour in the house
Taking part in productions
Completing D of E section to meet requirements.
Conscientious completion of prep
Suggestion Box
The house suggestion box is located in the common room downstairs. All boarders who wish to make a suggestion about the running of Osborne 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.
Sanctions
Medical centre opening hours
Medication Counselling Health & Wellbeing Centre
The Health & Wellbeing Centre (HAWC) is staffed by qualified nursing staff and a wellbeing practitioner, providing pupils with access to a range of support services, including medical care and counselling. If boarders feel unwell for any reason — physically or emotionally — they are encouraged to speak to a member of house staff or contact the HAWC directly. Further information can be found on the house notice board.
Confidential private counselling services are available to pupils at LVS Ascot. Counselling provides a safe and supportive environment for young people to discuss any concerns or challenges they may be experiencing. Parents can arrange a counselling appointment directly with our counsellor, Julie Easterbrook, via her website: www julieeasterbrookcounselling com
Every boarder is required to register with the School Doctor and, should a boarder require medical treatment during school holidays, they should register as a temporary resident with a local doctor. Pupils may not keep or use any medication, whether prescribed or non-prescribed, unless it has been approved by the Health and Wellbeing Centre. All medication, including vitamins, supplements, and over-the-counter medicines, must be declared on arrival, remain in its original packaging, and be clearly labelled in English. All items must be approved by Health and Wellbeing Centre staff before use Any undeclared or unapproved medication found in a pupil’s possession will be confiscated and may be clinically disposed of for safety reasons.
Term Dates
‘Never give up’
