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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:
Mamande2 · 24/10/2020 22:32

Such an interesting thread. Thank you very much. Thinking of sending my DS next year to state boarding school but such a difficult decision without visiting the schools.

Original poster
TheWomanTheyCallJayne · 29/10/2020 22:48

@Mamande2

Such an interesting thread. Thank you very much. Thinking of sending my DS next year to state boarding school but such a difficult decision without visiting the schools.
I went to a state boarding as day pupil. Quite a few of my friends were boarders and they seemed to enjoy it. None of them are traumatised. We looked at a state boarding school for our eldest but it actually worked out cheaper for us to send him private with his scholarship/bursary and there were no reductions for the boarding part at all. Also, loads of add ons including meals. It was a bit of an odd system. I did however, love the look of the school and really liked the the attitude and behaviour of the students who showed us around.
OP posts:
Londonmummy66 · 31/10/2020 23:06

Any comments yet from schools on how they will handle lockdown? I guess the next exeat will be cancelled so I'm waving mine off tomorrow for 6 weeks. Sad

Both schools were in any case planning a 2 week lock up with no leaving campus but neither are looking forward to the lack of Costa....

Barbthebuilder · 01/11/2020 08:22

Nothing as yet!

SerenadeOfTheSchoolRun · 01/11/2020 08:31

Not yet. It’s early days and nothing on boarding schools in the guidelines. I am wondering about Exeat too. But with day pupils also at the school is would be difficult to justify not letting the boarders go home. Unnecessary travel and household mixing I guess assuming the boarding house is the household till Christmas?

It feels very hard to send them back now with the uncertainty.

TheTeenageYears · 01/11/2020 08:39

DD is still on half term until next weekend and can't be the only school. Waiting to see if an early return to school before Thursday is suggested for boarders.

AutumnLady · 01/11/2020 10:29

DS school have advised they ‘will not advocate taking children out at exert’. Waving him off today for 6 weeks 😕

AutumnLady · 01/11/2020 10:31

@Mamande2

Such an interesting thread. Thank you very much. Thinking of sending my DS next year to state boarding school but such a difficult decision without visiting the schools.
My son attends a state boarding school and loves it. Full boarding so they’re all in the same position.
Sparticle · 02/11/2020 11:19

@Mamande2

Such an interesting thread. Thank you very much. Thinking of sending my DS next year to state boarding school but such a difficult decision without visiting the schools.
DS is also at a state boarding and loves it too. It must be really hard without you being able to visit the school and especially the boarding facilities. I think we had 3/4 separate visits (open days and private visits too) to definitely make sure DS was keen. In the end, he knew it so well that when he had a choice between boarding and another excellent day school, he chose boarding as he was familiar with everything by then.

Are there videos etc that you can watch? Also, perhaps you could start a thread on MN asking for others' experiences?

Re: lockdown, we are due to drop DS back on Wednesday afternoon and haven't heard anything different from the school. DS is gutted that their paintballing trip for this weekend will be cancelled :/

Sparticle · 02/11/2020 11:20

Also, perhaps you could start a thread on MN asking for others' experiences? I mean of that particular school - or you can ask on here of course!

Londonmummy66 · 02/11/2020 14:58

DC1's school had a sudden flurry of positive cases at the end of last half due to one of the day pupils going to a party in another town. So several pupils spent all of half term in isolation. Not quite sure what the parents were thinking to allow this....

DC reports back that all the 6th form day pupils were sent a major rant about responsible behaviour over half term.

Both DC are now "locked in" for the next fortnight. I'm pretty sure that at least one of their schools will cancel Exeat.

houselikeashed · 02/11/2020 18:57

Has anyone heard anything about making weekly boarders full board during Lockdown?

Devilesko · 02/11/2020 19:03

My weekly is full boarding atm, we just thought it better.
I'm not sure if they would have suggested/ insisted otherwise.
My dd school give one hours notice for closure so if her 2 friends don't have temps and me and dh don't they are to come to us until parents can collect/ travel arranged.
I'm impressed how well they are doing as they are in tier 3 area, but still out and about, not sure from Thursday.

Polly99 · 02/11/2020 20:22

My DD's school has a lot of weekly boarders and an awful lot of them have not returned after half term. The school has been running all lessons online all along so I guess switching over is easy enough . The ones who have turned up are supposed to stay until lockdown ends, and that is what DD (who is full boarding anyway, but probably would have otherwise come home for a weekend in a few weeks) will be doing, depending of course on how long lockdown runs on for.

houselikeashed · 02/11/2020 22:37

I ask as I have been told my dc schools are in discussion about it. Both have day pupils too though, so I don't see the point really.

Barbthebuilder · 06/11/2020 14:52

Bugger, Oundle have just said they are cancelling the exeat in November

Lessofallthisunpleasantness · 07/11/2020 01:09

We just got a note today to say 'please minimise trips home for boarders and contacts outside of school for day pupils'.

I am gonna leave mine in until Exeat (2 more weeks) as I have a ton of work on. It just seems simpler too really. Although I am anticipating a case or two to have snuck in from halfterm so they might have to isolate in a while.

The other boarding school near us is full boarding anyway and they have cancelled exeat. They also tested EVERY child before letting them back into school. Expensive I guess, but very impressive I thought.

NeedingCoffee · 07/11/2020 13:17

Just heard that our exeat weekend is going ahead which is a relief; nearly 7 weeks would have been far too long.

Travelban · 08/11/2020 09:45

DS boarding too and has had 14 days school so far this year. Currently at home isolating. School is rampant with Covid and my ds seems to have been unlucky and sat next to someone with Covid several times now.

I am not happy with school as ds has had barely any time at school, so I am effectively home schooling him full time still, through no fault of our own. There has to be a better way... They are now allowing exeats so basically this will carry on and on.

OlafLovesAnna · 08/11/2020 10:02

I'm so glad to have found you all! I'm in Europe while my sons are boarding and I spend a ridiculous amount of time fretting about school at the moment.

My sons state boarding has a lot of weekly boarders many of whom are now staying in at weekends.

They will still be doing the exeat through which is good.

NeedingCoffee · 08/11/2020 16:27

Travelban, that must be beyond frustrating; he’s been so unlucky! How old is he? Cases in our school have tended to be in higher years so far.

Londonmummy66 · 08/11/2020 18:30

DC2's school has cancelled Exeat except in exceptional circumstances and with Head's consent.

DC1's school has made it optional - all internationals have to stay and UK boarders can stay or go at their choice.

DC2 has a medical appointment specifically made for the Friday pm before exeat to minimise disruption so might put in a request....

Polly99 · 09/11/2020 08:06

DD is finding weekends at school pretty hard at the moment. She hasn't really bonded with the girls in her house yet, and due to covid they have cancelled a lot of the weekend activities so she has far too much time on her hands. What are other schools doing re weekend activities?

Takeittotheboss · 09/11/2020 08:50

DS's school is still having exeat weekend. Also has stepped up in-house activities for the weekends with a full programme laid out through to end of term. Plus inter-house sporting competitions going on. Minimal cases as far as I know, including day pupils.

yellowshoe · 09/11/2020 09:16

@Takeittotheboss

DS's school is still having exeat weekend. Also has stepped up in-house activities for the weekends with a full programme laid out through to end of term. Plus inter-house sporting competitions going on. Minimal cases as far as I know, including day pupils.
Would love to know what weekend activities are being laid on. DS’ housemaster following the “benign neglect” model apparently. DS admitted yesterday, possibly for the first time in his life, to being bored. Would like to propose some positive initiatives to HM, rather than just complain. Any ideas for what works elsewhere?