Boarding at Stamford

Stamford’s Boarding Houses work on a flexible basis, to fit around your family needs. Family members are encouraged to visit whenever possible and visits can be arranged via Houseparents. We encourage all boarders to communicate with parents regularly, via video call, telephone, email, and social media.

If a student is taken ill, or has an accident on the school premises, the School Nurse, or a qualified First Aider, will decide on the seriousness of the injury/illness and determine the appropriate course of action.

Students are assessed and cared for in the Health and Wellbeing Centre and, in more serious cases, the nurse or an appropriate member of staff will accompany the student to hospital, if required.

In the event of a significant accident or illness, parents/guardians will always be contacted at the earliest opportunity.

Pupils with ongoing medical requirements will be supported by the School's nurses and matrons, Houseparents and tutors, on an individual need’s basis. Pupils are also able to access support from the School doctor, dentist, and optician where necessary.

First Aid Policy

Uniform can be purchased from the School Shop as required, and paid for over the phone, or via cash or card. For our youngest children, they can be accompanied to the School Shop to make a purchase, or items can purchased by parents over the phone and the items then posted, via internal mail, to the Boarding Houses.

Uniform Shop

Our pastoral programme is given the highest priority; as a School we are caring, friendly and know that happy and cared-for pupils will achieve their best.

Houseparents get to know each pupil well and take time to listen and support them individually, however, pupils are encouraged to speak to any member of staff with whom they feel comfortable, if they have worries or concerns.

There is a wide network of support for pupils and families; health and wellbeing advice and emotional support is available via Houseparents, pastoral leads, boarding staff, Heads of Year, teachers, tutors, nurses, the Chaplain, School Doctor, the School Counselling Service, and the Independent Listener service.

Pastoral

We encourage all boarders to communicate with parents regularly, via video call, telephone, email, WhatsApp, Skype or social media. The student mobile phone, tablet and laptop policy is flexible depending on individual need; for example, if pupils wish to contact family late at night or early in the morning due to time zone differences, this can be arranged, and a private space can be provided for this call to be made.

More generally, students have access to their mobile phones whenever they wish, with restrictions only being put in place during school periods, overnight and during homework times. Use of laptops and tablets is again only restricted overnight. Many students choose to use the School's computers for homework and socialising.

For further details on the mobile phone policy of specific Houses, please see the individual boarding handbooks which can be provided on application.

The Schools’ Chapel is located at Stamford School. When the Schools are open, the Chapel is open for any student, member of staff or parent to use. There are regular services on Sundays, which are attended by boarders, along with optional services most days during the week. 

We celebrate the important festivals and occasions, including Advent, Christmas, Remembrance and Commemoration. Every reasonable effort is made to accommodate if a boarder’s faith requires different provision, and this would be discussed directly with Houseparents.

Boarding Houses are made up of private bedrooms and small dorms, with the aim of having no more than five children to a dorm. The number of children per dorm varies by age, decreasing as children progress throughout the Schools. Some bedrooms have their own en-suite facilities.

Each House is light and airy, has a warm, homely décor and includes facilities such as social lounges equipped with games and activities, and private, quiet study rooms.

Breakfast, lunch and dinner are all provided in the Schools’ dining halls. All our meals use fresh ingredients, freshly cooked daily on site.

Each Boarding House has kitchenette facilities, including a toaster, microwave, and fridge, so that snacks can be made. House activities such as cooking and baking can be coordinated via House parents, and offer pupils excellent preparation for life beyond the Schools.

Parents are asked to inform Houseparents of any specific dietary needs, so that the Catering Department can accommodate this within their meal planning.

Students are not allowed to have cooking devices in their own bedrooms, such as slow cookers or rice cookers.

Pastoral

Boarders enjoy a social life rich in after-school clubs, sports, fun-packed trips at weekends and activities tailored to their age group. For more details on our co-curricular offering, please click here. If they want to do something less formal, boarders can meet with their friends in one of the many eateries and coffee shops that the town offers.

Organised trips take boarders to many different towns and cities. Recent visits include to London’s West End theatres, Harry Potter World, Cadbury World, shopping trips to Cambridge and fun days out to Alton Towers. Not every weekend needs to be a big excursion, however, and closer to home regular outings are made to local facilities including cinemas, cafes, and restaurants etc.

Boarders are also encouraged to arrange their own in-house activities, helping them develop their leadership qualities; be that from organising a festive party or cupcake workshop to setting up a fundraising initiative or holding a big brunch.