Staff accommodation in boarding schools

[Doratheexplorer78]

Does anyone on here work in a boarding school and know what the staff accommodation is usually like? I appreciate that it probably varies from place to place, but is it generally nice or generally average? Any specific places that are better than others? Thanks

I’ve been an Assistant Housemistress, Residential Tutor and a Housemistress in a range of different Boarding schools. The accommodation varies a lot but generally speaking the more wealthy the school the better the accommodation is. When posts are advertised they often say ‘4 bed family house/ 2 bed flat etc’ at the bottom of the advert. I’ve found that a private entrance is really important, otherwise you always have to walk through the boarding house and therefore are always on duty.

Thank you, that's really helpful. Can you also clarify how the salaries for Houseparents work please for a couple, where one is a teacher. Is only the teaching half salaried? I have heard different things about houseparent 'allowances' rather than a proper salary. Is this the case? I realise I could just ask but I thought a bit of research on here wouldn't do any harm. Thanks in advance

It varies massively, from hovels to palaces.

We've lived in a cottage by a river with raging damp and no lagging in the loft. We could lie in bed and see the stars through the badly fitting loft hatch and misplaced roof tiles! It was absolutely freezing. However, I am now posting from a beautiful, detached, newly built 4 bed. Of six staff houses we've had, 4 have been great, 2 have been pretty awful.

For housemasters, my general observation would be that the houses are better in period boarding houses and where the boarding house is not part of the main school building. Look for a 'family house' rather than 'accommodation in the house'. The latter suggests a converted upper floor or similar rather than a proper house with own front door, garden etc.

Thank you, that's very helpful.

@lowdoor in your experience (as it sounds like you have a lot!), how do the salaries work for couples working as joint Houseparents - is just the teaching member of staff salaried or are both salaried? Is the salary generally worth it for the 24/7 of the job? Thank you

I don't think many schools employ couples. I'm part of a couple who run a boarding house and happy for you to DM me. If you're thinking of applying for a job where a couple run the house it might be at my school....!

I don't know as we've never been in that position. DH isn't pastorally minded (!!) so of our time 'living in' only 2 years of it was within a boarding house, the rest of the time has just been regular staff housing. I don't get involved in DH's schools.

DH's salary takes into account his benefits so isn't as high as perhaps it would be in, say, a top London day school. However, we live free of rent in a house worth £600k+ in a glorious place and get 70% fee remission at a major school, which makes up the shortfall somewhat.

He works his arse off for that deal though. 6am - 7pm 6 days a week isn't uncommon, and he can go weeks without a day off at all depending on what's happening on Sundays. It's not for the fainthearted.

Thanks all, DM'ing you @Deffo.

Sorry, coming back to this rather late.
In my experience you get paid a proper teaching salary and then an HM allowance on top. This is usually between £8,000-£10,000) there is often a difference between Houseparents and Housemaster/ Housemistress, with the later often being paid more and having more ultimate responsibility for the House/ pupils.
In my view, if you can do the crazy term time hours the holidays are amazing, you live rent free, bill free and can often eat at school so very little money is spent during term time. Fee discount for children is also a huge bonus.