Military Families

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Military Families

"Around a third of our boarders are from military families, whose parents are serving both across the UK and internationally. Our boarding houses are flexible to the needs of our families too, so if you return from deployment you can take your child out to lunch or dinner, or have a weekend visit."

Andy Murphy
Head of Boarding

Boarding

We provide a traditional boarding experience for seven days a week during term time.

Around a third of our boarders are from military families, whose parents are serving both across the UK and internationally. At Stamford we understand that the upheaval of frequent relocations and deployments can have an impact on the stability and continuity of a child’s education. We provide a consistent and supportive environment where children can thrive academically, socially, and emotionally, irrespective of the transitions their families may undergo.

First and foremost, we understand that continuity and routine for children is vital to feel safe, happy and secure. Stamford’s boarding teams have a wealth of experience with children from military families.

We want all our boarders to be able to relax and enjoy their time at school, keeping the same routine whilst parents are away. Houseparents will co-ordinate visits home or overseas, ensuring students are confident to travel to and from parents and school.

At weekends, our boarders enjoy a social life rich in sports, fun-packed trips and activities tailored to their age group. During the week, students enjoy after-school clubs and make use of our leisure centre and pool or take advantage of support and advice from tutors and Houseparents during homework time. Our boarding houses are flexible to the needs of our families too, so if you return from deployment, you can take your child out to lunch or dinner or have a weekend visit. We will always work with parents to make sure the needs of the family are met.

Boarders develop strong friendship groups. Collaborating and sharing experiences often leads to very strong bonds being developed and enables life-long friendships – which, as well as supporting each boarder’s wellbeing and happiness while they are at school, is the foundation for a lifelong network for the future. A busy and active social programme will enable your child to have as full a life as they would if they were at home with you. We encourage them to visit friends, or if they want, to stay overnight with other day pupils or go out to events outside the school.

Fees

Our generous fee structure means that those in full receipt of Continuity of Education Allowance (CEA) will be charged no more than 10% of our published boarding fees.

We have a great deal of experience with CEA applications and are happy to help military families through this process.

If you have any questions then please contact our International and Military Registrar, Alex Kennedy, on 01780 750380 or at AMKennedy@ses.lincs.sch.uk.

Refer a Forces Friend

If you refer a friend to us and both you and they confirm the referral and ‘friendship’ at the point of application or registration, we will give you £500 credit which can be offset against extras such as music lessons or trips and thus kept separate from your CEA claim. The first £250 is credited to your account when the pupil starts, and a further £250 credited on completion of their first year.

Fees

Boarding Options

Full Boarding

This is a traditional boarding experience for seven days a week during term time. For military families stationed overseas or a distance from Stamford, this is the best option.

Weekly Boarding

This can be boarding for three, four or five nights a week. This is a popular option for military families who are based within an hour of Stamford and enjoy home life at the weekends but want continuity for children during the week.

Flexi Boarding

One to two nights a week, which can help with busy evenings or as your logistics require. This option is particularly helpful for students who have early morning clubs, training or fixtures and can stay at school the night beforehand.

Occasional

This option is used more by day families who require the occasional weekend of childcare support for work commitments or weekends away or for students who may just want to enjoy the experience of boarding with friends for a change of scene.

We want all our boarders to be able to relax and enjoy their time at school, keeping the same routine whilst their parents are away.

Contact our dedicated Military Families Registrar to arrange a visit

Boarding Houses

Overview

We ensure pupils and boarding staff feel part of a close-knit community.

At our St Paul’s and St Martin’s sites, there are three boarding houses at each to ensure students are close to their school site.

Year 3 – 6

St Michael’s House

Andy Murphy
Head of House

St Michael’s is our Junior School boarding house for mixed pupils in Years 3-6. We have a maximum of 20 boarders and boast a healthy staff to pupil ratio. St Michael’s is a beautiful period property set in the heart of the Junior School site. The pastoral team at St. Michael's understand the challenges military children can face, including adjusting to new environments, coping with parental absence during deployments, and maintaining a sense of belonging amidst constant change. The pastoral team collaborates closely with parents and guardians, ensuring open communication and partnership between home and school, reinforcing a sense of continuity and stability for the pupils.

Year 7 - Year 10 Boys

Byard House

Mr Dion Di Cataldo
Head of House

Mr Di Cataldo has previously been the Assistant Housemaster for Byard. He is also currently the Acting Head of Boys' Sport at Stamford School and will bring with him energy and experience both in pastoral leadership and people management. The boys and tutor team in Byard will already know him very well and we are sure this will help with the transition.

Year 7 - Year 10 Girls

St Paul's House

Mrs Rae Burns
Head of House

Mrs Burns, Head of House at St Paul’s, is a military wife. Along with her husband and family, they have been part of the forces community for over 30 years. Mrs Burns also has a wealth of pastoral experience, having previously worked as a Houseparent in other boarding schools and fulfilled multiple pastoral roles. In addition to this she has had significant involvement with the military bereavement charity – FAB – who provide family activity breaks specifically for bereaved military families.

Year 11 - Year 12

St Martin's

Miss Denise Smith
Head of House

Miss Smith is already Head of House at St Martin's and is well known by our boarders. St Martin’s can simply and best be described as a home from home. The St Martin's experience, led by Miss Smith, centres on nurturing a kind and caring community, with positivity and fun at its essence, and a true sense of belonging at its heart.

Year 11 - Year 12

Welland House

Mrs Franki Hall
Head of House

Mrs Hall is already Head of House at Welland House and is well known by our boarding community. She brings traditional family values, warmth, energy and nurturing pastoral care to Welland House. At Welland House, students live with a sense of purpose, identity and camaraderie, under the careful guidance of Mrs Hall, who is devoted to creating motivated, well-rounded students.

Year 11 - Year 13 Boys

Browne House

Miss Anneke Davies
Head of House of Browne House

Miss Davies already has plenty of experience of boarding, having been our Houseparent of Byard House since 2018. She also knows Browne House very well, having already worked as a resident tutor. Anyone who has visited Byard House in recent years will know ‘Miss D’ has developed a warm, inclusive and purposeful culture in Byard and we have no doubt she will do the same in the senior boys' House.

Social Programme

A busy and active social programme will enable your child to have as full a life as they would if they were at home with you.

We encourage them to visit friends, or if they want, to stay overnight with other day pupils or go out to events outside the school. Our boarding House Parents canvas the students’ interests when planning weekend activities and our students often enjoy fun outings to nearby adventures such as escape rooms, laser tag, the theatre, or dinner at a local restaurant.

Weekends

All seven of our boarding houses are busy and vibrant and continue to be at weekends.

We have great transport links to nearby cities such as Cambridge, Lincoln, and London, which means a day trip further afield can also often be on the agenda. Closer to home, we are very fortunate to have Rutland Water (which has a fantastic Aquapark in the summer!) and Burghley Park on our doorstep, both of which our boarders enjoy in the warmer months.

The Town Around Us

I love boarding because of all the great people, including the amazing staff who continually help you out, always make you feel better when you feel sad and will encourage you to do things that you never thought you would enjoy until you tried them.

We are also really close to town so you can pop into town and get what you want easily.

There is an hour of prep where you sit down and get all your homework done with access to the school computers which makes it a lot easier to work. This also gives you access to a teacher at all times to help out so you never get stuck on a piece of home work and you always get it done on time.

Year 8 Student, RAF Family

Here at Byard House, we have a strong community, and you will find that Year 7's are friends with older years and younger years. We get to joke around with staff and they are super nice!

Year 7 Student, Army Family

You can really tell that the teachers enjoy working in our thriving boarding house. You might think that older kids in Year 9 don't like the other younger years, but they are almost like our older brothers in Byard House. The Year 7's are funny and try and make a laugh out of anything. The Year 8’s love to burn energy, and whilst they are doing that they try and laugh along the whole way.

Year 8 Student, Army Family

The boarding house is like a second home and I have good friends here who I can count on.

Year 8 Student, RAF Family

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the policy regarding exeat weekends?

At Stamford School, we understand the importance of family time, which is why we do not have exeat weekends. Instead, boarders have the opportunity to enjoy a supportive and enriching environment throughout the term without the need for frequent returns home. Students are encouraged to either travel home, stay with friends or a UK guardian within the longer holidays.

Do you have Saturday School?

No. We believe in providing our students with a balanced educational experience, allowing them time to recharge and engage in extracurricular activities over the weekend. Many of our sporting fixtures are played on a Saturday so students involved in those will have more structured activities to take part in.

Are there any additional fees for weekend activities?

No, there are no additional fees for weekend activities at Stamford School. We offer a diverse range of activities and excursions as part of our holistic approach to education, ensuring that all students can explore their interests and develop new skills without any extra financial burden.

What is the military CEA fee structure at Stamford School?

Those in full receipt of CEA will be charged no more than 10% of our published boarding fees. We understand the sacrifices made by military personnel and their families and strive to provide accessible education to their children. Our admissions team can provide more detailed information and assist families with the application process.

How does Stamford School support military families?

Stamford School is committed to supporting military families through tailored pastoral care, academic assistance, and a welcoming community. Our staff are experienced in understanding the unique challenges faced by military children, and we provide a nurturing environment where students can thrive academically and socially.

Are there opportunities for boarders to connect with their families?

Yes, Stamford School encourages regular communication between boarders and their families. We provide various channels for communication, including phone calls, emails, and video calls, allowing students to stay connected with their loved ones while they are away at school.

Do you offer taster days or nights for those who have never boarded before?

Yes, we can arrange a taster visit to the school along with meeting with Houseparents and other students as well as a trial sleepover in the most suitable house for your child.

What makes boarding at Stamford so special?

We have seven Houses, which are all decorated and equipped to make students feel at home. The boarding community at Stamford is very friendly. Our boarding students benefit from the enjoyment of living in a community of friends, whilst having the flexibility to gain confidence and independence with the support of a large team around them.

Is a guardian necessary?

When a boarding student is enrolled to Stamford School, we require a UK based guardian to be nominated if the parent(s)/guardian(s) lives overseas. It is essential that a UK guardian is in place in order for the UKBA requirements to be met. Guardians are not required for those boarders whose main home address is in the UK. Guardians can offer a point of contact in an emergency, support during term time and an alternative holiday destination for short breaks. They can be friends or relatives appointed by your family or a professional guardianship agency.

How many boarding students are from military families at Stamford?

Just over a third of our boarders are from military families. We know and understand how important community and belonging can be to children of service personnel so we ensure stability, pastoral support at every step of their journey with us as well as a home from home boarding experience.