1st time boarder preparation

[MrPickles73]

DS2 will be a 1st time boarder in year 7 in September. Neither DH nor I have experience of boarding.

We've been sent a list of uniform, duvets covers etc to take.

What else should he take? He's a bit funny about mattresses 😵‍💫 so does anyone have a topper they recommend? He will be in a dorm with circa 5 others. V sporty and busy but enjoys his sleep!

Also any questions we should be asking the school?

Any recommendations on a lockable tuck box? And what should we put it in it? He has v poor enamel so the dentist has banned sweets..

Don’t expect any more feedback than you get at the moment from his teachers at day school (ie - parents evenings and not much more).

The housemasters/mistresses have 50/60/70 teenagers to manage every single day, so they simply do not have time to feedback on how each child is getting on with homework. No news is very definitely good news.

BUT - if there any any problems or issues, you will be the first to know. Being a boarding school, the teaching staff and the housemasters work very closely together, so any issues will be flagged to the housemaster quickly by teaching staff. If they are worried at all you will definitely know!

Hands off is a part of being a boarding parent I’m afraid……not totally hands off, but a lot less than a day pupil parent as you simply aren’t there on a day to day basis.

In my experience, because there are set times for prep/homework/activities, they actually get them done better than when at home as the day is structured to make time for work/play etc. And like you say, being surrounded by everyone else getting on with their work is a massive help.

Weekly is a very different thing OP. Don’t worry too much!