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Original poster

A thread for boarding school parents 2020

282 replies

TheWomanTheyCallJayne · 31/07/2020 11:45

Have we got such a thread?
I did look but couldn’t see one.
If we haven’t wouldn’t anyone like to join me in this thread to support each other during these strange times. Getting a child off to boarding school is hard enough anyway for so many reasons but it’s decidedly more difficult at this time.
How are you all doing?

OP posts:
Lessofallthisunpleasantness · 16/09/2020 20:51

I was just going to ask if anyone had any confirmed cases at their schools yet. My kids are in bubbles of year group plus boarding house. So between 130 and 250 depending on the year. Half the kids are day kids .... I figure it is just a matter of weeks until they get sent home. Which is a shame as am meant to be overseas until half term, but really can't now as can't rely on the grandparents and honestly just can't be arsed to leave the country and deal with all the rules etc.

So am wfh still and hacking back everything in the garden in the evenings. Bit bored though TBH.

Lessofallthisunpleasantness · 16/09/2020 20:54

So yeah spill the boarding school cases gossip. MIL just rang me and said lots in Benenden were confined to rooms and that Winchester has 99 cases..... which I suspect may have been an exaggeration on the online bridge circuit.

OublietteBravo · 16/09/2020 20:58

@Lessofallthisunpleasantness - Does your school not have a policy for isolating boarders if they test positive? DS’s school does (lots of the full boarders are from overseas, so they can’t just go home if they need to isolate).

I’ve been WFH for 6 months now. I’m thoroughly bored of it. I’d love to go back to the office. Can’t see it happening before Easter 2021, and HR are currently saying that they don’t expect us to be back in the office FT before summer 2022 ShockShock

Barbthebuilder · 17/09/2020 06:59

Mine are at Oundle, there is a rumour of a suspected case in one of the houses but not confirmed. All staff and pupils had to have evidence of a negative test before being allowed back and they have both in-house isolation rooms and a separate isolation area for confirmed cases if needed. Seems very well planned so I am not too worried.

Polly99 · 17/09/2020 10:31

I haven't heard about any cases at DD's school yet, but it is another one where roughly half the kids are day pupils so hard to properly operate a bubble I think. They also have a separate building in which to isolate suspected cases (and bags of space, next to no "bottlenecks" as kids move around the school, and are rural so perhaps less contacts generally than if they were in the city/town) but I suspect once someone brings covid in it will be hard to stop.

Surprised to read that about Benenden - I have a couple of friends whose daughters are there but have not heard a thing.

My DD is due to come for a visit home next weekend - I'm hoping that nothing stops that (eg her younger sister getting sick). And that the school stays open beyond half term as she needs time to properly make friends...

Lessofallthisunpleasantness · 17/09/2020 15:52

As I say it was gossip. The girls at Benenden maybe self isolating, probably not confirmed cases. Would be surprised at the Winchester figures too!

SomethingInTheWaySheCooks · 17/09/2020 19:58

Oh dear I think there may have been some exaggeration on the numbers front Lessofallthisunpleasantness. I am a current Winchester parent and to date the school has no cases. Two boys presented with some common cold symptoms but were isolated and tested negative. Their close friends were also isolated at the same time. The test results were obtained on a 90 minute turnaround. It is all extremely well organised and the school’s strategy is being largely shaped by a top epidemiologist. I hope other schools are coping too.

ChequerBoard · 18/09/2020 10:38

It's an exeat weekend for us, so will be picking up the DC this afternoon!

Londonmummy66 · 18/09/2020 16:00

Exeat next weekend and both schools just confirmed it is going ahead - will be so lovely to see them both.

No reported Covid cases in one school but 1 member of support staff in the other

Sparticle · 18/09/2020 16:17

Hi all - welcome @petitdonkey :)

So no Covid cases as far as I know at DS's school (yet...) but his HM had to self-isolate this week as one of his DD's had symptoms. Luckily she tested negative so he is back now.

We and DS's school are in one of the areas which will be going into stricter measures from next week but I assume that although he is in one boarding 'household' and we are obviously a household, we will still be able to have him home for the weekends?? It's a moot point this weekend anyway as DS has chosen to stay at school. Trying not to take it personally! Sad Grin

flourandeggs · 18/09/2020 18:58

A neighbour just told me our local boarding school Millfield has had half term cancelled and boarders have to stay put but not sure how that works with day pupils allowed to mix?

petitdonkey · 22/09/2020 17:52

Thank you @Sparticle!

DDs school have lockdown three boarding houses now when there has been a child with symptoms but quickly reopened them when they came back negative. Exeat is going ahead this weekend but it isn't compulsory so they can stay in school if they wish to. Half term is going ahead as normal but they are offering a residential activity type holiday (In school) for those who can't go home. They also obviously have a big stock of tests as you can register to have your child tested on return!

I have to say, as a newbie boarding parent, I am so happy for DD that she gets to socialise with all of her peers. If lockdown should happen again, I wouldn't hesitate to let her stay as she is loving it!

leftandaright · 23/09/2020 17:29

Mine are at Oundle. If anyone tests positive then the house gets locked down, even if this were over the holidays! It’s great for the children who are relieved they won’t have to come home and study alone in front of a screen again - at least they will be surrounded by friends and have their own playing field. This means I can commit to work as usual which is handy (so I can pay the fees lol! )

Barbthebuilder · 23/09/2020 18:18

Hello @leftandaright mine are Oundle too.

Londonmummy66 · 27/09/2020 21:55

Mine just gone back after Exeat (sniffle). One is really loving Year 13 anf the "grown up" house. Younger one is less happy (only been there 3 weeks) and her school seems to be a bit draconian over COVID. She was quite weepy on Friday evening and crept into bed with me overnight first time in about 3 years...) A bit more cheerful thereafter but I called her housemistress who said due to COVID they weren't going round the house chatting to them which seems pretty austere to me. (And not what is happening in her older sisters school where it is pastoral care as usual.)

OublietteBravo · 27/09/2020 22:30

Mine (Y10) has been home for exeat too. Back to school tomorrow morning. So far boarding seems to be going well.

Polly99 · 28/09/2020 11:34

Mine also y10 was home this weekend too. I think it has been a bit bumpy settling in, primarily because of covid (distancing and masks definitely have an impact on making friends) but overall I think she really likes it and she is flying academically. Long may it last. She seems taller and more grown up and I was amazed by how unfussy she has become about food!! She has gone back with an extra pillow, a plant and a large supply of biscuits.

Original poster
TheWomanTheyCallJayne · 28/09/2020 17:26

@leftandaright and @Barbthebuilder
Another in your group

Dd is loving it. Her emails have been brimming with enthusiasm and she’s even said schools better than home (at the moment). This may be because we haven’t really been anywhere or seen anyone for ages whereas she has friends there and they get to do stuff. It hurt a little but she assured me it wasn’t that home is bad.
Ds2 is as chirpy, and annoyingly pedantic as always.
Ds1 is a bit stressed because of a levels and trying to choose unis without having seen them.

I need to finish these labels for all the extra stuff dd wants to take. Got to leave soon.

OP posts:
Londonmummy66 · 08/10/2020 15:44

DC has developed a cough and a very runny nose. I suspect it is a cold but it means isolation at least until the test comes through which may well not be until early next week. Any nice ideas on something I could get delivered?

Bit of a pain as meant to be practising hard for music auditions.....

Lessofallthisunpleasantness · 08/10/2020 16:28

Oooh I would send her a home spa pack. Face mask, deep conditioner for hair, home manicure set.oh yeah and lemsip. So that when she comes out of isolation she looks amazing!

Londonmummy66 · 08/10/2020 23:12

In the end I sent an M&S treat pack percy pigs, mini flapjacks etc etc.. What I really wanted (as 3 of them in the dorm isolating together) was to send a silly game plus a pack of face masks so they had one each plus some nice nibbles etc but I couldn't find anything like this - a gap in the market for someone...

If she is positive and has to isolate for longer I'll send a spa pack though!

Londonmummy66 · 15/10/2020 18:08

Half term tomorrow!!

How has it been for everyone?

Polly99 · 16/10/2020 21:57

Ours is home, and already asleep having eaten half of the fridge contents.
It's fab to have everyone under the same roof again.

Sparticle · 17/10/2020 22:16

DS doesn’t have half term for another week! He’s loved boarding so much that I practically have to beg him just to come home every other week Grin Apparently they are doing lazar tag this weekend so I’m not surprised that he wants to stay at weekends.

Londonmummy66 · 20/10/2020 23:40

Polly - I have to say that the weekly shopping bill was a lot higher this weekend as both DC had lists of the things they want bought. It's great to have them home but I'd forgotten the locust effect.

Sparticle - much better that than the opposite! One really didn't want to come home for half term and the other couldn't wait to get out. It really brings home the difference in approach - one school quite relaxed with large year group bubbles and the other ruthlessly locked down in small groups of 6 -10 by corridor and staff saying this means they can't give any pastoral care.... No difference in CV cases either.