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Boarding school

Connect with fellow parents of boarding school students on our supportive forum. Share experiences, tips, and insights.

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Original poster

Charterhouse - day pupil or boarding ?

38 replies

whattopick · 23/05/2023 15:47

Hello,

My son has a space next year and we are deciding whether to be a weekly board or day pupil.

Any advice?

I think he should board Monday - Wed and a night at home then go back Thurs - Sat.

My husband thinks he should get a taxi there daily and sleep at home (30 mins in a taxi which is half the time of his current school so logistics are better)

Suppose I want him to enjoy the experience. However, if he didn't board would he miss out? With friends etc?

Anyone a parent with a day pupil? Apparently there is 2 day pupils to each house. However, do you feel like your the odd one out if your a day pupil? And never totally gel with everyone.

Suppose it's the first year and he could always change if he didn't like it (board or not board) When he gets older he will prob defo want to board and hang out with his friends.

Appreciate any advice,
Thank you

OP posts:

TBOM · 25/10/2023 20:32

SOBplus · 25/10/2023 17:28

There is the option for flexi discuss with head of house and depending on how often/how regular they will either ignore the extra meals or add it to the bill. Day students also get a room. Pre-Covid almost everyone was boarding even those who lived less than 2 miles from campus. After Covid, lots found they enjoyed the opportunity to get away from it all at home and kept it up following full re-opening. Ours boarded a year and flexi boarded a year and day student for the remainder. Yes missed out on some of the activities but on balance enjoyed his home life more than the opportunities and was very active in sports at the local facilities instead of the House games. And in relation to the above poster, we had no sharing of rooms in our son's house for him or others who converted to day. edited to add, we were at Daviesites.

Edited

I don’t know when your DCs were there but the only flexi option right now is a day pupil staying an odd night here and there.

The girls houses are very, very different from the boys ones post the 2021 shift to fully co-ed

iulus21 · 25/10/2023 20:35

Thanks so much for your comprehensive reply Tbom. It’s so helpful to hear from current parents.

My daughter raised her eyebrows at the strict phone policy. Only thing that would worry me is her not being able to contact me readily, lack of access to social media not so much!

What I’m looking for is really inspiring teachers, so that’s a huge plus. A kind bunch of kids too? I know you’ll get problems at any school, but I’m just after kids that look out for each other. Girls can be tricky through the teenage years.

Can the kids go home in a Wednesday night then?

TBOM · 25/10/2023 20:44

iulus21 · 25/10/2023 20:35

Thanks so much for your comprehensive reply Tbom. It’s so helpful to hear from current parents.

My daughter raised her eyebrows at the strict phone policy. Only thing that would worry me is her not being able to contact me readily, lack of access to social media not so much!

Can the kids go home in a Wednesday night then?

In Fourths (Y9) a few people went home on Wed night and back on Thu am but that pretty much peters out past Y9. More pupils have local parents or grandparents taking them out for dinner and dropping them back.

They’re never uncontactable and always have access to a phone to contact you on. It’s just a landline rather than mobile. DD needed a lesson in what a landline was 😂

IMO the phone policy will come in more widely across a lot of schools. It’s not a bad thing - just a bit annoying when you’d rather send a quick text than make a call!

It’s not perfect. No school is. And it’s very much about what suits your child. But DD really loves it.

SOBplus · 26/10/2023 10:42

TBOM · 25/10/2023 20:32

I don’t know when your DCs were there but the only flexi option right now is a day pupil staying an odd night here and there.

The girls houses are very, very different from the boys ones post the 2021 shift to fully co-ed

Show quote history

Every house is different. IMHO, a talk with the House master/mistress is the best approach for each individual circumstance.

TBOM · 26/10/2023 11:11

SOBplus · 26/10/2023 10:42

Every house is different. IMHO, a talk with the House master/mistress is the best approach for each individual circumstance.

Show quote history

Yes agree - it’s also important for a child to gel with the heads of house as well as house tutors.

Medlady · 26/10/2023 16:08

In my experience, they all have burner phones to hand in.

iulus21 · 26/10/2023 19:46

This doesn’t surprise me!

TBOM · 26/10/2023 19:46

Medlady · 26/10/2023 16:08

In my experience, they all have burner phones to hand in.

True! DD got caught with hers though 😂

iulus21 · 26/10/2023 20:00

Any recommends on a good girls house would be great too! Although all seem to have pros and cons. Thank you

TBOM · 26/10/2023 21:04

@iulus21 TBH they’re all about what’s the best fit for your DD. You really have to visit and meet house heads plus current pupils. DD said she didn’t want to be in a new house - she wanted the architectural Hogwarts thing (she’s an art scholar) - so that ruled out Northbrook. Bar that she decided on visiting. She got her first choice as did most girls in her year.

iulus21 · 27/10/2023 09:15

Good tip! Thanks

iulus21 · 27/10/2023 10:51

Also do they push the kids academically? DD is smart, but inclined to be a bit lazy. She needs teachers that have high expectations and tell the kids that

TBOM · 27/10/2023 13:28

@iulus21 DD has just spent half of her time off re-doing a piece of coursework that her teacher said wasn't fulfilling her potential, so definitely push to achieve their highest level of work. They're on a bit of a drive to improve their results (part of why they went co-ed) - but it's not a hot house like some London day schools, or schools like Wycombe.

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