Boarding
Boarding at Pinewood is popular throughout the school from Years 3-8 (age 7-13) with over half the children in the Prep school choosing to experience the advantages of boarding life, whether they are a full, weekly or flexi boarder. 140 of the 230 children in the prep school take part in one of the three bands of boarding, which are described below.
Living alongside other boys and girls and learning to be part of a community, as well as the opportunity to enjoy the grounds, facilities and friendship of others away from the busyness of a regular school day, all contributes to children growing in independence and confidence.
The Headmaster and his wife head up the boarding and act as Form tutors to those who choose the weekly and fortnightly option in years 3-6. Hot chocolate in their kitchen is a regular highlight and one of the many things that contribute to the family atmosphere which makes boarding at Pinewood such a positive experience.
Children sleep in recently refurbished dorms and are looked after by a team of committed boarding staff and qualified nurses. Evening activities abound after 6.30pm and, following cereal at 8pm, there is a staggered bedtime according to age. On Saturday after games the boarders have free time and a typical evening is supper followed by a film. On Sunday, following a lie in, a Boarders’ Outing takes place (see below) and all return for a Sunday roast with the Headmaster and his wife and the resident staff that evening.
Special events are held throughout the year with a particular highlight being end of term Feasts. At Christmas this is followed by carols in the Hall with the Headmaster including every pupil in the words of one carol!
Boarding Options:
Flexi boarding gives a child the opportunity to have a taster of boarding and the increasing advantages of school life. Flexi boarding involves sticking to set nights per week (which may well tie in with an activity that finishes late).
Weekly boarding encourages a child to become independent, with pastoral and academic guidance from the boarding staff, in preparation for their future years.
Full boarding incorporates all bands of boarding. At Pinewood we have an Exeat every other weekend which works well for parents that live a greater distance than others. When the children are at school on an “in weekend” the children are looked after by the Headmaster and his wife along with members from the boarding team; hot chocolate is a must, along with pizza and other goodies! We feel that it is important to get out of school on a Sunday, so various trips are organised such as punting in Oxford, Bowood House, Cheddar Gorge, ten pin bowling, walks along the Ridgeway, bike rides and picnics.
Evening activities are optional, the children can decide if they want to do an activity or relax with their friends, knowing that the boarding staff are always on hand day and night.
Boarding Activities include:
- Film nights in the school theatre
- Playing on “Tree Tops”
- “Dancing for Fun”
- Rounders
- Cricket nets
- Swimming
- Football
- Tennis
- Netball
- Croquet
- Cooking
- Art
- Year group Discos
- Dog walking
- The Pinewood legendary winter term game of “Spot light”
- Hide and seek
- Board Games
- Assault course
Click here to download our Boarding Principles & Practice.
To view our policies on Bullying, Cyberbullying, E-Safety and Complaints, please go to our Policies page.
