3
Parental contact
Your son will, inevitably, experience a wide range of emotions
in the initial settling-in period. This is quite normal and we
simply ask that you allow him to settle into his new
environment by encouraging him to mix with new friends
and take part in the activities.
Please, in the first few days and weeks, plan the phone
calls to your son so that they do not become a daily event.
Boys generally settle quite quickly into boarding life and
the security of a routine.
House receptions for parents of new boarders take place
on the day of arrival. This is a good opportunity for you to
meet some of the key staff in your son’s life at Abingdon.
Day and Boarding
Day boys are an integral part of our boarding houses and
friendships extend across both day and boarding boys.
The structure allows boys to mix freely in lessons, activities,
sports and socially and boarders particularly welcome the
opportunity to spend time out of school with dayboy friends
and their families. Dayboys are not allowed into boarders’
bedrooms however, and must remain in the communal areas
of the House.
Communication
Communication is the key for an effective relationship
between you, your son and the School. Keeping in
touch is important, even more so if you are overseas or
many miles away from your son.
You are always welcome to visit or take out your son,
but please let us know before you come; an email to the
housemaster is fine.
Your son has various ways of contacting you including
E-mail, Skype and, of course, his mobile. Mobiles should
not be used during lesson times, during prep in the
evenings or after lights out, but otherwise he is able to
contact you as he wishes.
contact
We hope that your son will feel able to talk to staff about any
issue. Often boys will talk to certain teachers or his House
Matron; it doesn’t matter who they talk to as long as we can
help and be there for them. All staff are trained to deal with
issues, understand confidentiality and the need to refer
matters at other times.
Each house has a duty mobile phone that the member of staff
on duty at any given time carries. This phone will be manned
nearly always between 9am and 11pm. Your son should make
sure this number is in his mobile, so that he is always able to
contact the member of staff on duty within the house. Parents
are also encouraged to use this number to make contact with
the House. It is a good “first port of call” for general enquiries
that do not require a specific member staff, but rather any
member of staff who happens to be on duty.
All boys must provide updated mobile numbers to
housemasters. Boys update phones frequently and we need
to be able to contact them.
A ‘confidential box’ can be found in each house and
is checked regularly for any concerns that have been
posted by boys. A ‘whistleblower’ policy exists to support
anyone who wishes to raise concerns but is worried about
the implications.
Your son’s tutor is normally the first point of contact. You will
receive reports throughout the year and we will contact you
on any specific issues relating to your son’s education or
welfare. Please contact your son’s tutor with any information
that might influence his welfare and happiness or if you have
any concerns about his life at school. Tutors will make
contact with parents early in the first term and exchange
contact details.
Email is our preferred means of communication, and staff
contact details are available on the website:
/
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Communication is the key
for an effective relationship
between you, your son and
the School.
