Phones and Activities

[MrPickles73]

So DC2 started state boarding in year 7.
The school is excellent but boarding is underwhelming in terms of evening activities.

He flexi boarded by his own choice at previous school (150 pupils mostly day) where there would be an activity after school (choice of about 6 things - sport, art, DT etc). Then dinner, then an activity all together for the boarders e.g. making dens in the grounds with gap year students.
Hardly anyone had a mobile phone.

State boarding school (1000 pupils) is majority day pupils. There are after school clubs but choice is more limited. If they don't go to a club they play til 5pm without phones. They all have smart phones.Then have dinner and do homework and then 7.30-9pm can do what they like which means be on their phones. Nothing is organised in this time.
The school has big grounds (circa 100 acres) and a sports hall.

I've checked with 3 other state boarding schools and they offer more choice of sports activities after school.

I think DC2 found it quite lonely in the winter as everyone sat staring into their own phone.

New phone policy has come out restricting year 7 phone use after 8pm but not year 8. I messaged all the other year 7 parents and they agreed for year 8 they would like the same new restrictions as year 7 as they think their kids are on their phones too much. I messaged the boarding master and he doesn't want to change his new policy.. given other boarding schools are banning phones I think he's mad.

Surely I'm not asking for too much? less phones and more activities? Any suggestions please. Thankyou.

Surely you knew about lack of activities before sending him?

Obviously we thought it would be boring and still sent him! Ha ha..

All schools tell you there are evening activities..

DC1 went for a taster day and night at quite a well known boarding school and said it was very boring in the evening.. they were all in their rooms on their phones.

Yeh but it doesn't take much digging to find out whether they are telling the truth about evening activities
DDs boarding school finishes timetabled lessons at 5pm then tea followed by prep and then 1-1 1/2 downtime. Phones only allowed between 8-9pm.

and what are you suggesting we do now?

Obviously we believed the rhetoric that there were activities.. as I said my daughter went on a taster day at another school which also said they had activities.

it's a state school so school finishes at 3.45
4-5 downtime without phones
5-6 tea
6-7.30 prep
7.30-8.45 phones

this is year 7.

My DS has just finished boarding at a state boarding and certainly the last few years they were pretty unrestricted on their phones in spare time, which I too was disappointed with. In the junior boarding house (years 7-9) there were restrictions on phones but my DS still wasn’t as interested in activities although they did have compulsory sports hall/outdoor play time which I’m glad about.

I agree with you though - I know they pretty much have to have smartphones now for school apps etc but certainly in those early years you are partly paying for the social life the school is meant to be providing where the boys are fulfilled in being in a group.

You really don't have to be sparky with people who take the time to reply.

No idea what you do other than change schools, they aren't going to change the structure of their day or phone policy for 1 parent are they? You've spoken to HM and got your answer so you either escalate to the Head/governors or you accept it and stay or move your child.

I can’t believe it’s a huge surprise that a state school doesn’t provide the same service as a private. Either send him to another school or speak to your child to get them to do something themselves if they wish. Reading, art etc.