What It’s Like to Be a Short-Term Boarder

Written by our Short-Stay Students (September–December, Winter Term)

Spending just one term in boarding might sound short, but for us it became a time full of new experiences, friendships, and memories that will last far beyond the winter term. Here are our reflections, written by students from different year groups, sharing what made our time in boarding so special.

Year 8 Short-Stay Student – My Five Highlights

1. One of the things I enjoyed most was being able to try lots of different sports. Playing games like netball and hockey helped me discover activities I might not have tried otherwise, and it was fun learning something new.
2. I really enjoyed the boarding trips during the term. Going ice skating, visiting places like Chinatown, and attending football matches made weekends exciting and gave us memories outside school.
3. Making new friends in boarding was a big highlight. Living together helped us form strong friendships quite quickly, and it made boarding feel like home.
4. I liked the school environment and how everyone works together. The relationships between teachers and students felt positive and respectful, which made lessons and boarding life enjoyable.
5. I also enjoyed the times when we went into town together, as it was a nice way to spend time with friends and explore new places.

Year 10 Short-Stay Student – My Five Highlights

1. School friendships and the integration between day students and boarders worked really well and helped everyone feel included.
2. I really enjoyed the boarding parties and trips to sports clubs, especially hockey and netball.
3. The house competitions were great fun and made boarding feel like a real team.
4. I liked working with the younger students and sharing breakfast together – there was always lots of variety, which made mornings enjoyable.
5. I really enjoyed the food and nutrition activities, including the national chef competition, and I also really liked the teachers.

Year 11 Short-Stay Student – My Five Highlights

1. The friends I made and the good moments we shared – these friendships meant everything to my boarding experience.
2. The amazing food we had throughout the term.
3. Learning new skills, such as netball, and gaining confidence by trying new things.
4. The incredible trips we went on every weekend, which gave us something to look forward to and created great memories.
5. The boarding activities like cooking, dancing, playing games, and also improving my English through everyday life in boarding.

Year 11 Short-Stay Student – Overall Reflections

My stay in boarding has been an incredible experience with so many positive moments. I loved meeting new people who are now very important to me, and boarding would have been completely different without the friends I made.

I really enjoyed the trips every weekend and the way weekends are organised – there is always something to do, which makes boarding life fun and busy in a good way. I also liked being woken up with music, as it is a really nice way to start the day.

Even though my stay was short, the memories, friendships, and confidence I have gained will stay with me for a long time.

Even though we were only in boarding for one term, the winter months helped us grow in confidence, independence, and friendships. Being short-term boarders showed us that you don’t need a long time to feel part of a community – sometimes, a few months is all it takes to make memories that last a lifetime.