Boarding
We believe in the value of all types of boarding at every level of the School and the importance of the boarding community for all students.
We strive to provide a happy, fun and caring boarding environment where students are able to develop and flourish. Each individual is encouraged to develop their own character and sense of self, growing in confidence, courage and compassion.
We believe that boarding should complement, not replace family life, and a student’s House is their home from home and the centre of their personal life. We aim to create a supportive and relaxed environment where each student can develop at their own pace.
During weekends our boarders enjoy visits including London and Cambridge, scaling high ropes, canoeing on lakes and taking advantage of the School's Hertfordshire location and close proximity to London.
Boarding staff seek to guide students appropriately, using praise and encouragement liberally whilst upholding high expectations of behaviour. We want each boarder to feel that they are a valued member of the community to which they are able to make a contribution.
The students form firm, diverse and global friendships. Boarding gives students a sense of community and by living with others they develop invaluable life skills, such as respect, tolerance, teamwork and self-motivation. Boarders learn to be tolerant of each other, yet they learn to be independent too. The boarding environment offers a rich variety of experiences which allows children to develop culturally, creatively, physically, spiritually, morally and socially.
Boarding options
Our Boarding House offers a range of boarding options including full, weekly and occasional options from Year 7-13 for girls. From September 2020, we will be welcoming boys into boarding in Years 7, 8, 9 and 12. Families can choose the type of boarding that best suits their needs.
Full boarders stay in school throughout the week and enjoy a full weekend programme, that includes visits to London and Cambridge, outdoor activities such as scaling high ropes and canoeing, as well as various planned sporting and other activities within the school’s building and grounds.
Weekly boarders arrive either on Sunday evening or on Monday morning and return home on Friday afternoon, spending four to five nights in school.
Occasional boarding allows families to decide which nights their son or daughter boards. This allows students to gain the experience of boarding without being away from home full time. It can be arranged on a permanent basis or ad-hoc, subject to availability.
Boarding Facilities
Students in Years 11, 12 and 13 have individual study bedrooms, while students in Year 10 share twin spaces, and those in the junior groups share in rooms of between four and six. Bath and shower rooms are allocated to a small number of students in each section of the House and there are kitchens and common rooms for relaxation and games. Boarders have access to the music practice rooms, sports facilities, IT suites, the Learning Resources Centre and the Art Department in the evenings and weekends.