Guide to Boarding at Abingdon

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12
Beginning and end of Terms
Boarders are expected to return to their houses by 9.00pm
on the evening before the start of term. The School cannot
accommodate boarders before the publicised start of term,
nor can we store the belongings of Upper Sixth once they
have ‘moved on’. Parents are asked to inform the
housemaster of any late arrival or early leaving that may
be different from the published dates.
School officially ends at 1pm on the last day of every term
and at 5pm on the day prior to half term break. The houses
need to be vacated by 5pm on the last day of term and 6pm
on the day before half term break. The boarding houses are
not staffed after this time so it is not possible for any boy to
remain beyond this time and date, nor are they able to
access the house at any stage over the school break. It is
therefore very important that flights are arranged for the
afternoon or evening that school ends. If it is not possible to
secure a flight on this day, then the boys will be required to
stay with their guardians until the date of their flight.
The only exception to this is when a school excursion is
leaving the day after school ends. On such occasions, one
of the boarding houses will remain open until 9am the
following day. Only those boarders who are going on the trip
will be permitted to stay in the house on these occasions.
Due to the requirements of the UK Home Office, all boarders
with a Tier 4 visa are required to provide precise details
of movements during weekends away and holidays,
including flight details and the address at which they will
be staying.
May Bank Holiday Weekend
The School does not have any exeat weekends. However
there is an expectation that third and fourth year students
are out of the house for the May Bank Holiday Weekend
(usually the first weekend in May). They can either go on the
organised activity trip away from school, or stay with parents
or guardians. Fifth Year and the Sixth Form will be allowed to
remain in the house.
Transport Arrangements
Booking Taxis
We recommend that parents contact their son’s guardian
to make transport arrangements between the airport and
school. The School does not book taxis on behalf of pupils.
This is the responsibility of the parent, the guardian or the
boy himself. We do, however, know of two local taxi
companies that the school has used in the past and who
only employ CRB checked drivers. These companies are:
• Auto Taxis Abingdon, +44 1235527711
• Pryors Executive Car and Taxi Service, +44 1235812345
Parental permission for other forms of travel
It is assumed that parents are willing for their sons to travel
in a minibus or car driven by a member of staff. Only staff
who have passed a professionally assessed test may drive
minibuses. Staff are covered by the School’s insurance to
take pupils in their cars.
The housemaster will appreciate being informed by the
parent of arrangements which involve their son travelling to
school by any means other than the parent driving their son
themselves (e.g. public transport, private car driven by a
friend etc.).
Bicycles
Boys may keep bicycles at school and are encouraged to
use the locked bicycle sheds. Boys may ride their bicycle
outside the school grounds but helmets must be worn at
all times.
Older boarders and cars
Due to the limited supply of parking space boarders are not
allowed to keep their cars at school. Exceptional request
should be made to the housemaster, who will keep the keys
between the agreed times at which the pupils can use the car.
It is expected that cars left at school are to be used only for
commuting from school to home. Only the designated driver
may use the car and they may not give lifts to anyone else.
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