Thread For Boarders

[morethanpotatoprints]

Just thought I'd start a support thread for those either starting this september or established boarders happy to help those with many queries.

There are quite often individual threads for particular schools but it doesn't necessarily say whether boarding, day, private or state in the title. So I thought this would be a good way of getting us all together and also for those people from overseas looking for particular types of schools.

My dd is starting in sept and will weekly board, atm I am gathering uniform and other essential items and will begin the labelling process soon.
I do quite like this as sad as it seems, I find hand sewing very therapeutic and relaxing for some reason.

It is true that as long as boys have money to cover the weekly pizza then they are unlikely to feel deprived . However I do hear stories of pressure from conspicuous consumerism with girls in certain more mixed ability schools particularly those with a significant number of extremely wealthy Russians or Europeans in the boarding houses.

I don't notice any pressure in my house. Yes there are very wealthy parents but some fly home via easy jet, others in a private jet. Lots of labels and lots of primark!

derekthelady I think that as long as there the numbers in a boarding house for a mixture of personalities and spending limits then it should n't be a problem. Full boarding sounds a better equaliser than mixed day and boarding. However girls do spend more time retailing including buying each other presents and therefore certain girls have more opportunity to notice and be sensitive about the difference in allowance designer dresses and Gucci handbags

The y8s at ds's boarding prep are supposed to have £15 per term pocket money. No smartphones allowed, only plain mobiles for the seniors and only between prep and bedtime.

I think this is probably more modest than a lot of kids their age.

I guess it depends in their opportunit to spend it.

Until recently my children only had a pound or two a week pocket money as she never went anywhere to spend it.

Now she goes into townon her own.

At her school the boarding house is 5 mins walk away from the town centre & everyone goes shopping on Saturday afternoons, often including a trip to Costs.

Costa

balletgirl I agree and what I'm saying applies to teenagers rather than below year 9. However since most local shops won't sell the high end goods I am thinking of internet shopping must also occur if schools are n't near enough major shopping centres.

There is a lot of internet shopping, mainly boho and asos though

My son buys loads from Amazon (comics mainly though

From year 7 shopping was supervised (they go with a matton or year 11. But Dds school is 5 mins from a major high end town centre (think WAG territory) so lots of opportunity! Luckily ds heads for new look & Primark & Poundland rather than Hollister & Jack Wills.

Dd

"That anyone who sends their DC's to private school must be rich"
Let's be realistic here anyone stumping up £35k+ PA in school fees out of their income or saving or what ever i.e. It's not being paid for by grand parents, company, government is very rich in the grand scheme of the thing. The average wage in this country is 25k only a small % can afford 35k+. The anti independent ed. brigade might be irritating but most aren't stupid.

Oops just popping my head in quickly to say I haven't run away, sorry for any offence I caused with the phone comment! Perhaps I am out of touch then suggesting most teens have contract phones, lesson learnt :) Back later on to read the rest of this interesting chat!

Around half the children at dd's school only pay what they can afford which for some means nothing.

Balletgirl I know at some schools especially specialist schools many are on bursaries but even at Eton who have a high number on bursaries this applies to 20%. The vast majority of parents who are paying the full whack at a UK boarding school are "rich" by most peoples in the UK's standards let alone by many in less wealthy countries.

Lookout

It wasn't you my love it was me being a ninny, what's new

summerends Thank you for your lovely posts about the girls. Hopefully dd knows that a Gucci handbag doesn't make the person but I think I will have a chat about this before she goes off. She normally looks after her money well and up until now hasn't followed other girls with designer labels, but who knows when/ if others are into them, how she will act.

Derek I think you may have hit the nail on the head with your comments about her being a bit worried. I asked her and she said she was a bit apprehensive, but I went in her room last night and she is surrounded by her teddies. Unusual for dd as she announced a year ago she was too big for them now and had stored them away.

My DS has my old phone 5 and I've got him a giff gaff sim so no contract its a monthly top up of £12 and he gets 3GB and 500 mins he mainly used the data to be fair. He also gets £25 pm in his account , once it's gone it's tough til next month and he seems to manage or no doubt taps grandma & nanny when he runs out .

Joining rather late!

On consumerism etc., I think boarding school seems to be rather good for children from prosperous homes: they learn to live in a relatively Spartan environment with very little stuff(labelled!) and have their corners rubbed off by having to learn to get along with people- particularly good for an only child like mine.

Wealth doesn't seem to come into popularity at school. When asked if everyone knoew who was on a bursary my son said "yeah, we know; but why would anyone care?" The child at prep who had a chapel and a lake at his house was gently teased

The only exception seems to be some of the wealthier girls, for whom the Spartan conditions and uniform must come as a bit of a shock

Anybody looking for new luggage, I have just bought a Tripp hard case from Debenhams for £42 reduced from £140, so great savings for those who need to buy.

Hi everyone, I'm an overseas parent & new to MN.
I have a DD & DS who may be boarding in the UK in 2016.

Just want to say thanks to OP for starting this thread & the contributors so far - some invaluable advice here. Thank you all!

Hello Ahwoo and welcome to MN. This thread had gone a bit quiet so have resurrected it now I have a funny dilemma.

Met an old friend today she is lovely, but she asked about sewing labels.
She loves sewing and has offered to do the whole lot on her machine.
I didn't know what to say as my theraputic labelling was going well.
In the end I agreed for her to do the bulky stuff and bedding, so haven't as much to do now .

We visited on Saturday to get all the info we were missing an had all our questions answered, bought uniform etc.
Came away a bit upset, didn't tell dd though. It turns out that even this school want them in on Saturday morning, so she will be home for sat aft, evening and Sunday. I know that sounds great as many of you will only see yours at exeat and holidays, but we are going from 24/7 7 days a week together. I'm getting the wobbles again

Absolutely normal for the wobbles. I missed my ds so much I physically felt sick. However make sure dd does not pick up on these wobbles. It is really important that she goes away to school knowing you and the rest of the family are happy. I have seen children get really upset knowing that their Mum's & Dad's are unhappy with them being away.

Fine to tell them that you'll miss them, but don't say this will make you unhappy. When your dd settles in and is having a really good time, she'll feel really guilty about you being sad. Do not cry on the phone, make an excuse the cat's just been sick, come off the phone and call back when you're upbeat again.

Just keep thinking that it's a long sleepover she's having, soon you'll be having all the benefits (no rows about homework) and she'll really appreciate you and home.

Has anyone ordered uniform from schoolblazer.com? If so, am I right in thinking that it comes with name tags already sewn in?

Daft question.

Out of curiosity, how often is laundry? once a week? twice a week?

king ??? the answer is yes..you can also order more name tags from them for the rest of your clothes. TheIR tags are better...softer

Laundry is done whenever you take it down. When it comes back is when it comes back.