Boarding

Boarders at Oswestry School make up about one third of our community; they come from both the UK and overseas, with 14 nationalities represented.  This international presence enriches the life of the school, bringing a new dimension to the life of our students and offering them a greater understanding of other cultures and religions.

 

Each boarding house is run by houseparents who lead a team of dedicated staff to care for the pupils in their charge.  The staff are supportive and understanding, providing on-going guidance throughout the student’s time at the school and ensure that new boarders soon settle in with the existing pupils.

 

From Monday to Friday the boarding day starts at 7.30 a.m. when students prepare for the day ahead and go for breakfast in the school’s award-winning dining facility.  From there they go to their form room for registration and to join with the day pupils; this is followed by assembly and lessons from 9.10 a.m. to 4.30 p.m.  After school there are a variety of after school clubs, activities and training sessions available, followed by the evening meal in the dining room.  The evening is devoted to supervised homework sessions and an evening break when house staff provide supper for the students; the older students are responsible for this themselves.  Finally the students have some free time and prepare for bed at a set time, appropriate to their age.

 

At weekends a member of the teaching staff is on duty to supervise activities with the boarders; these include trips to places of interest, the cinema, hill-walking, go-karting, etc.  Over the weekend time is also allocated for homework but there is plenty of free time to relax, perhaps go into the town of Oswestry, or to spend time with families of other pupils with whom they have made friends.

 

Each house organises their own social events; these can vary from in-house sporting competitions to barbeques and parties.  There are also occasions throughout the year when all the boarding houses join together for social events.

 

There are two ‘exeat’ weekends each term when students are encouraged to stay with their guardians and learn more about British culture. 

Boarders are encouraged to play a full part in the life of the school, thereby developing their skills and interests and becoming confident young adults, ready to take their place in the world of university and work.