Boarding at Bilton Grange

 

'The educational experience provided by boarding produces well-rounded, confident and articulate pupils who live within a secure and happy environment' - ISI

'Full, weekly and occasional boarders all benefit from the excellent pastoral care offered by the boarding team of houseparents, matrons, tutors and GAP year students' - ISI

As Tatler's 2011 Good Schools Guide put it - boarding is booming at Bilton Grange.

Bilton Grange has a long tradition of boarding. The boarding community is at the very heart of this thriving, co-educational school and all our houseparents, boarding and other teaching staff contribute hugely to its success. The School prides itself on creating a family atmosphere where the children feel happy and safe. We offer full, weekly and flexible boarding. The boarding accommodation is situated in the main school building and consists of Girls' and Boys' wings. 

Girls might find themselves staying in a dorm named after their favourite shoes, such as Uggs or Jimmy Choos, whilst boys take a different tack with the motorsport themed boys' boarding house, perhaps finding themselves sleeping in Silverstone or Brands Hatch.

Children may board from Year 4 (aged 8) upwards and we have children who board from local, national and international backgrounds. About 2% of our boarders are foreign nationals from a wide range of countries. The school's heritage, its current structure and its ethos recognise the value of boarding in the development in each boy and girl as they progress through their prep school.

The confidence, self-assurance, and independence that boarding builds in children provides them with important stepping stones into adolescence and adulthood. The need to organise oneself within the routines of a boarding school is another fundamental lesson for life. Within the warm and friendly environment at Bilton Grange, where there is a strong support structure, with many experienced matrons and house parents, enables children love boarding.

At Bilton Grange, there is a strong core of full boarders, around whom all the evening and weekend activities are planned.  Other families welcome the opportunity to take their children home on a Saturday afternoon and drop them back at school on a Sunday evening or Monday morning.  Every family has different needs, and will approach boarding differently, and our role at Bilton Grange is to ensure that the transition to boarding is both smooth and enjoyable for all.

Flexi boarding, staying for just a few nights during the week, is also very popular, with many children opting to stay at school to enjoy the many activities in the evening or after a late return from an away match, whilst also getting a feel for boarding life. 

We often find that children in their final year at Bilton Grange benefit hugely from boarding (either weekly or full boarding) in preparation for boarding at their senior school.

Most important of all, boarding is fun and children board not out of necessity, but because they want to.