Boarding at Oswestry School is divided into four houses: School House, Holbache, Guinevere and Spooner Cottage. The key members of staff in boarding are:

Guinevere House

Miss Lisa Jones, Houseparent

Mrs Kim Amyes, Assistant Houseparent

Miss Sarah James, Assistant Houseparent

They can be contacted on 01691 681134 or guineverehouseparents@oswestryschool.org.uk

Holbache House

Mr & Mrs Darren Hollingsworth, Houseparents

Mrs Jane Jennings, Assistant Houseparent

Mr Michael MacKay, Assistant Houseparent

They can be contacted on 01691 681117 or holbachehouseparents@oswestryschool.org.uk

School House

Mr Dave Arnott, Houseparent

Mrs Maria Martoccia, Assistant Houseparent

Mr Jonathan Miles, Assistant Houseparent

They can be contacted on 01691 681151 or schoolhouseparents@oswestryschool.org.uk

Spooner Cottage

Miss Jo Holloway, Houseparent

Mr Lee Jex, Assistant Houseparent

They can be contacted on 01691 681136 or spoonerhouseparents@oswestryschool.org.uk

There are other members of staff in the Boarding Houses that you will get to meet over your first few weeks at School; each and every one of them is here to support you and help you settle in to life within the boarding community. All boarding staff will be very happy to discuss any issues, queries or problems which may arise and will do whatever they can to resolve them or re-direct you to someone who can help. In addition within the School you have a Head of House and a Form Tutor. You may discuss with them any issues or concerns thataffect you, including boarding issues. They will be there to help. You may also take your concern to Ms Sue Nancini, Deputy Head Pastoral and Head of Boarding or Mr Douglas Robb, the Headmaster. On your first day at Oswestry School you will be introduced to your House Prefects and will be assigned a ‘tribe’ or family who areassigned to help you settle in. The School also has a School Council and Boarders’ Council; please feel free to approach your student representatives with any questions,worries or concerns and also suggestions for improving the boarding experience at School or better still become a Council representative.

The School’s boarding capacity is 142 pupils. They are accommodated in one of three houses in rooms of varying sizes. Each house is overseen by a residential houseparent, together with a team of qualified staff. Students are given their own internet account when they join the school and have access to internet facilities. All houses have wireless internet access installed.

The girls' boarding house, Guinevere House, is modern and well appointed. The bedrooms for girls in 2nd to 5th Form have three or four beds in each room together with ample storage facilities for clothes and personal items. There is a common room with satellite television, Wii and music facilities, as well as a kitchen where supper is prepared for the girls each evening. There is also another common room with computer facilities, internet access and printers.

In the Sixth Form annex, which is attached to the main building by a small corridor, the rooms are designed for two to share. The rooms are a good size and each girl has her own study desk. There are eight double rooms in the Sixth Form annex, four on each floor. Each floor has its own bathroom facilities and there is a separate kitchen should the girls wish to prepare any food themselves. There is also a small common room. The annex is reserved solely for the Sixth Form students.

Boys up to 5th Form are accommodated in School House, the original school building on the present site, dating from 1776. This accommodation has recently been refurbished. 4th and 5th Form boys are now  accommodated in separate rooms of two or four, each with ample storage facilities for clothes and personal items. Younger boys appear to prefer the more open dormitory type of accommodation.

School House has a common room/television lounge with satellite television, DVD, Xbox, Wii and music facilities. There is a games room with a pool table and a good supply of books, newspapers and games.  In the prep room each boy has his own desk area where he does his homework after school and can keep his books. There is a newly refurbished kitchen where supper is prepared for the boys each evening. The older boys also have their own common room equipped with an air-hockey table. The School House office has two computers which the boys may use at any time. They also have access to the computer and internet facilities in the school’s library and computer suite.

Opened in January 2006, Holbache House is home to 42 boys and offers excellent facilities. Most rooms are designed for two to share but there are also some single bedrooms. Upper Sixth boys are given single rooms wherever possible. Each of the rooms has a washbasin, desks, as well as ample storage. There are kitchen facilities where the students may prepare their own food and a spacious common room/television lounge with satellite television, xbox,DVD and music facilities.

There are two boarding annexes. The most recent addition in 2011 being one that houses eight ensuite single rooms. The other consisting of four single rooms with a shower room and common room area.

In September 2012 the School launched a new development; a Pre-A’Level course called the International Study Centre.

Spooner Cottage has been developed to accommodate thirteen pupils from Russia, Ukraine, Germany, Spain, China and Hong Kong. These students will study six IGCSE’s in an intensive one year course under the direction of Niall Lambkin, who is heading up the new centre.

For more information please click on the Spooner Cottage Handbook

The international community at Oswestry School provides a welcome diversity to the life of the school. Our aim is to keep a balance of international boarders, so that no single nationality dominates.