Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. Child-safe in minutes.

Meet the Other Phone.
Child-safe in minutes.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Talk
AMA
Original poster

I'm a boarding school Housemistress. AMA

117 replies

HMno1 · 21/12/2022 17:19

Time on my hands.

OP posts:
Mumdiva99 · 21/12/2022 17:21

Is it anything like the St Claires books I read and reread as a kid. Lol.

Do the kids get a tuck box one a term.

cavily1806 · 21/12/2022 17:22

How many midnight feasts do you intercept in an average year?

LadyHarmby · 21/12/2022 17:22

What is the youngest age the pupils come to you? If it’s under 10, do you think it’s a good thing for them?

Original poster
HMno1 · 21/12/2022 17:23

Mumdiva99 · 21/12/2022 17:21

Is it anything like the St Claires books I read and reread as a kid. Lol.

Do the kids get a tuck box one a term.

Haven't read them sorry! They buy snacks when out in town but our house does have a lot of healthy and not so healthy snacks for whenever they want really.

OP posts:
Original poster
HMno1 · 21/12/2022 17:24

cavily1806 · 21/12/2022 17:22

How many midnight feasts do you intercept in an average year?

Lights out for the older ones in my house (they are 16) is 10:30. If they're up having midnight feasts and aren't noisy, I'd never even know! Before lights out I generally need to tell younger ones to calm down a bit as they can get excited. They're 13

OP posts:
Xiaoxiong · 21/12/2022 17:25

Do you take away their phones and iPads overnight? What is the craziest thing a parent has ever done/asked?

Original poster
HMno1 · 21/12/2022 17:26

LadyHarmby · 21/12/2022 17:22

What is the youngest age the pupils come to you? If it’s under 10, do you think it’s a good thing for them?

11, but in my house they're 13. Definitely definitely don't think it's a good idea under 10. I boarded 16-18 and would maybe allow my daughter to if she really wanted to, but I hope she wouldn't. I'd prefer to have eyes on her every day.

OP posts:
Original poster
HMno1 · 21/12/2022 17:27

Xiaoxiong · 21/12/2022 17:25

Do you take away their phones and iPads overnight? What is the craziest thing a parent has ever done/asked?

Yes, they hand in their phones at night.

Nothing too crazy to be honest, I'm only a few years in so maybe it's all to come and I've been lucky so far. I've had a parent shout at me because she wasn't happy with the room her daughter was in.

OP posts:
DobbyTheHouseElk · 21/12/2022 17:28

Do they ever play pranks on you? I went to a boarding school and we played pranks on the house mistress all the time.

Original poster
HMno1 · 21/12/2022 17:29

DobbyTheHouseElk · 21/12/2022 17:28

Do they ever play pranks on you? I went to a boarding school and we played pranks on the house mistress all the time.

They hid my keys on April fools last year!

OP posts:
AwesomeSauce4 · 21/12/2022 17:30

My daughter is a school refuser and wants to start a fresh new life and go to boarding school next year. What is your advise ?

Tryfull · 21/12/2022 17:33

My DD is desperate to go to ballet school in September. She is 11. I really don't want her to go but it is her lifelong dream. Just wondering if you have any positive things to say about boarding? She is very mature and sensible, friendly and easy-going but I would miss her so much!!

zapeze · 21/12/2022 17:45

How did you get into this line of work?

Original poster
HMno1 · 21/12/2022 17:51

AwesomeSauce4 · 21/12/2022 17:30

My daughter is a school refuser and wants to start a fresh new life and go to boarding school next year. What is your advise ?

Gosh that is really tough. If she is the one instigating it and it works for your family circumstances then it could be the making of her. Many thrive in the boarding environment. It's ínstense at times and solid pastoral care and a nurturing environment would be vital for her. I hope that next year goes well for her.

OP posts:
whatatanker · 21/12/2022 17:52

What discount (if any) do your own DC get if they attend there?

Original poster
HMno1 · 21/12/2022 17:55

Tryfull · 21/12/2022 17:33

My DD is desperate to go to ballet school in September. She is 11. I really don't want her to go but it is her lifelong dream. Just wondering if you have any positive things to say about boarding? She is very mature and sensible, friendly and easy-going but I would miss her so much!!

I very much understand. I went to a music school myself and my parents were not keen. But that was also at 16. I think because of the ballet and the very specialist nature of these schools, it's worth it as long as she is enjoying it and thriving. These places can be competitive and that would be something I would monitor as a parent. It's very fulfilling to be among like minded people, and if it's her dream and she gets in, it's hard to say no I imagine. 11 is young, though.

OP posts:
PlaitBilledDuckyPuss · 21/12/2022 17:59

Do you find children have unrealistic expectations of boarding school based on books - Enid Blyton, Harry Potter and similar? Or is boarding school actually like it is in books?

PinkSkiesAtNight · 21/12/2022 17:59

This is so interesting! How much free time/time away from the school and kids do you get?

Wanderingoff · 21/12/2022 18:03

can you discuss your views on whether you think it can be detrimental and how often to children??

MadeInChorley · 21/12/2022 18:08

Do any children stay at your school over the longer holidays (Christmas, Easter hols)? Where do you go during the holidays if you live in?

BeanieTeen · 21/12/2022 18:08

I went to a boarding school and really enjoyed it, but funnily enough I was just thinking yesterday how different it must be now! We had a tv but only watched music channels, friends and hollyoaks 😄 except for Saturdays when two people got to go to blockbusters and get a DVD! Do they have netflix now? Facebook had just become a popular thing the year I left, some of us had an account but you couldn’t access it on the school computers, it was banned! How do you manage smart phones, social media and stuff like that now - it seems so integral to the lives of teens now.
Also I had to do homework from 7.30 until 10 with just a quick 15 minute break in the middle at 8.45! That seems insane now.

Pootles34 · 21/12/2022 18:13

How on earth does the laundry work?

TeenDivided · 21/12/2022 18:16

How do you make sure the pupils have someone they can really turn to if they are being bullied or aren't happy?

TeenDivided · 21/12/2022 18:17

What is the maximum dorm size? Are they mixed age?

Lilgamesh2 · 21/12/2022 18:25

How does it affect your love life?