I'm a boarding school Housemistress. AMA

[HMno1]

Time on my hands.

[Mumdiva99]

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]

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

[LadyHarmby]

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?

[HMno1]

@Mumdiva99

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.

[HMno1]

@cavily1806

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

[Xiaoxiong]

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

[HMno1]

@LadyHarmby

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.

[HMno1]

@Xiaoxiong

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.

[DobbyTheHouseElk]

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

[HMno1]

@DobbyTheHouseElk

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!

[AwesomeSauce4]

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]

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]

How did you get into this line of work?

[HMno1]

@AwesomeSauce4

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.

[whatatanker]

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

[HMno1]

@Tryfull

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.

[PlaitBilledDuckyPuss]

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]

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

[Wanderingoff]

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

[MadeInChorley]

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]

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]

How on earth does the laundry work?

[TeenDivided]

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

[TeenDivided]

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

[Lilgamesh2]

How does it affect your love life?