There are numerous ways of contacting your children. One, of course, is by letter, although as every boy and girl has an e-mail address and there are PC’s throughout the school and houses, many families communicate regularly this way. There are telephones in the houses and boys and girls are able to buy phone cards.  In addition, although we don’t really recommend it, in the early years, many of our pupils have mobile phones. We do ask that these should be lodged in the house office when not in use and that they may only be used at certain times of the day when they will not interfere with the school routine.

Post arrives early each morning and is sorted and sent to the houses at breakfast and lunch time to be distributed to pupils by the member of staff on duty. Also, it is always possible to contact the house via e mail, fax or telephone. As all our pastoral staff are also teachers there is unlikely to be anyone in a house other than matron during the working day, but there is always a tutor in the house when pupils are likely to be there. During the working day contact can also be made through Reception and messages are added to house mailbags.

If we need to contact parents then it will be done by the relevant department; the Health Centre, the Deputy Headmaster or the Headmaster’s office in the case of school based matters and the house for welfare matters. In most cases the first pastoral or academic contact is through your son or daughter’s tutor, but of course the housemaster or mistress is always on hand and knows everything there is to know about the boys and girls in their care.

Exeats

We do not have compulsory exeats for boarders and therefore pupils can stay in the school throughout a whole half term – generally five or six weeks. However, once each half term boys and girls may go out with their parents or guardians overnight, returning in time for the evening Sunday Chapel service. Many families will visit on a Sunday, perhaps attend Chapel with their children before going out for the day or to watch sports matches on a Saturday or weekday afternoon. From time to time boys and girls will go on ‘leave out’ with a friend provided we have received written permission from both parents/guardians concerned.

Homesickness

From time to time, often immediately after holidays, homesickness can arise amongst boarders. This is completely normal and in a way there would be something wrong with home if children did not from time to time miss being there. There is always help and support from the house staff, but most of all there is help and support from their friends. Provided this is also backed from home then the child invariably recovers very quickly. We believe that good communication with parents is key and we are all united in doing the very best we can for all the boys and girls in our care.