Boarding at Haileybury

[Baili]

Help - my 14 yo will start boarding Sept at Haileybury....any tips, suggestions will be v welcome

What do you want to know? DD2 had day friends there. She boarded nearby. Is it school specific or boarding in general?

Well, both general boarding and Haileybury really. Both are new experiences, so I’d like to know how others have found it. . What things can I do to make boarding easier or better? What is the downtime like - I know some schools are quite geared towards weekly boarders, but my son won’t be able to leave on the weekends, so is there lots to do? And so on.

Hi. I have 2 children at Haileybury. One boards, one doesn't. We have been really happy with the school. They plan weekly activities for the boarders in each house, and lots to do around the school, especially when the weather is nicer.

There are many international children, therefore lots of full time boarders.
I'm happy to answer any questions you have or follow their twitter account to see what's been going on.

Thx Flo. I’m about to start buying all the bits and pieces that he will need. Anything that you found to be really useful? I’ve seen somewhere that mattress toppers are a good idea. Did it take your child long to adjust to boarding life? He’s really looking forward to it, but not being able to come home at weekends will be tricky, I think.

No we didn't ever send a mattress topper in for my son. I really can't think of anything special we had to buy, but boys need less. Girls seem to need fairy lights, photos, all sorts of accessories for their desks, lots of treats and cushions/throws!

Mattress topper yes. Plenty of home clothes. Schools often down play the amount needed. Make sure everything is labelled. Check laundry arrangements. How much bedding and who supplies it?

I’m assuming they are ok with suitcases and not trunks. Send photos with him and anything he is attached to. Are they allowed games consoles?

Does he have a guardian for exeats? When are they allowed to contact home? Skype arrangements? Sometimes schools don’t want parental contact for 2 weeks when they start. What happens at Haileybury?

Other dc will be mostly 13 so is he going into y9? I’m assuming not into y10. Schools like this will keep dc busy and he will be able to choose clubs and activities. We found that if dc are busy, they are fine. Lots of international dc will be invited to the homes of other dc too. Hopefully he does get variety at exeats. I’m sure he will thrive and if he’s looking forward to it, that’s a brilliant start!

hi @Baili
How's your son getting on? Has he enjoyed his first term?

Hi, thx for asking. It’s been a bit tricky to start, as we can only get there for exeats, and he does find it hard on the other weekends. Hopefully he will start getting asked to visit friends some weekends. He is finding the big changes (both boarding, and academic/music workloads) really tiring, but he is settling in and adjusting. The opportunities, however, are terrific and he knows he is very lucky to be there. I’m happy too, but wished we lived close enough so that he could be a weekly boarder!

Hi. I’m sure he will make friends and get asked back to friends’ houses. It’s early days at the moment. Boarding is always a big change. My DD1 preferred to stay at school when she could have come home! We were quite close but she had great friends at school who didn’t go home and the school put lots of trips on so she enjoyed her “second home” at school. She made friends for life at school and it was valuable.

@flo222may i know more about haileybury? how do u fell about it? are your kids still there?

My son was there for 4 years, and loved it. He finished this year. It wasn’t easy for the first term - we don’t live in England. But everyone was lovely, and he had an enjoyable time. DS has a very strong music lean, and he was well supported there. He loved the sports, and the academic side is terrific. The students become confident, thoughtful young people. We are all very pleased with Haileybury - go for it.

@Baili it is so nice to hear comments from parents of the school. can u share more about haileybury? does your son board? we also live overseas and am much concerned about the boarding lives there, especially at weekends. how do u think about the school, say in terms of academic support to students or performance, teaching quality, pastoral care, interaction / programmes / colloboration with other schools, etc.

btw, may i ask your son go for a level or ib?

He was a full boarder, we got there when we could. I think there could be more available for them to do on the weekend. He took A levels. He used to go to London every Saturday for Conservatoire, so missed his Saturday classes. The school were supportive and helped with additional tutoring for him to catch up those missed lessons. Also, on Sundays, he was offered additional teaching time on occasions - the teachers did not have to do that on their day off - but they were kind to offer and help him out. I feel they went above and beyond. The IB students do very well. Pastoral care is great. I don’t know about collaboration with other schools, but they have a strong MUN presence.

@Baili it sems the teachers or boarding houses tutors are nice. but are the boarding houses empty at weekends when most of the local boarders go back home after sat AM classes and only return on sunday nights or even monday morning?

my case is similar but we live overseas. i just wonder if dc can make friends with the others at weekends or wont feel alone in particular.

I think a lot of the boarders are weekly. It might be best if you ask HB directly what their weekend plans are