Life as a Boarder
Life as a boarder offers a vibrant and fulfilling experience for your child, shaping their school years with invaluable lessons in teamwork, community, and independence. Within a secure and close-knit environment, boarders forge lasting friendships and create cherished memories that extend far beyond their time at Epsom.
Boarders form strong bonds across year groups – with senior pupils mentoring and supporting younger ones. While inter-house events further strengthen bonds among boarders. Guided by attentive Housemasters and Housemistresses, boarders follow a structured daily routine designed to cultivate independence and resilience, ensuring they thrive both at Epsom and beyond. With unwavering support from dedicated staff, boarders find comfort and stability in an environment that truly feels like home.
Daily Routine in the Boarding House
All students, both Day and Boarding, start their day in their House. Boarders take their breakfast in the Dining Hall, while Day students generally begin arriving at the College from 8.00am.
All then congregate in their Houses. Here, they start the day with their friends and peers and have time with Tutors – a crucial part of the pastoral care we provide. Registration is called at 8.10am.
Students return to their Houses for registration, for morning and lunchtime breaks and after lessons in preparation for CCAs.
Whilst Day pupils go home each evening after 5.30pm, Boarders have dinner before evening registration and supervised Prep time. Time before bed may be spent socialising with friends in the House, playing basketball in the Sports Centre or keeping fit in the gym.
Weekly boarders go home after lessons on a Saturday (or after their sporting commitment) to return either by 9.30pm Sunday evening or 8.00am Monday morning.
Full boarders generally stay at College throughout the term. At weekends, activities and trips are often laid on for full boarders, and they may visit each other’s Houses with permission from Housemasters and Housemistresses.
Equally, with prior permission, full boarders may spend time at weekends with the parents of their friends.
In all cases, there is considerable flexibility to allow for the changing circumstances of families.
Prep School Boarding
Whilst the majority of our boarders join us from Year 7 onwards, it is possible for Prep School children from Year 5 upwards to join as boarders. If this is something you wish to discuss with the College, please contact the Admissions Department.