Guide to Boarding at Abingdon

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Transfers between Day and Boarding
Transfers from boarding to day
In order to maintain a stable boarding community, pupils
who have entered the school as boarders are encouraged
to remain so throughout their school career. The Head may
consider transfers in the following cases:
• where the School has agreed in advance to keep a day
place open
• at the end of the Lower or Middle schools
• or in special circumstances.
• In all cases transfer will be at the discretion of the Head
and no automatic right to transfer should be assumed.
Transfers from day to boarding
Parents of dayboys who wish to transfer into boarding
should contact the Registrar and again transfer will be at
the discretion of the Head. A change of house may be
required even if your son is currently a dayboy member of a
boarding house.
Catering
All meals are taken in the dining hall and boys are expected
to attend. Menus are published in advance and
considerable choice of hot and cold dishes is available.
Pupils are encouraged to discuss catering issues and
concerns through a polite, direct approach or through the
School Food Committee or Boarders’ Council nominated
representatives.
Guardians and Weekends Away
A list of accredited guardians is published on the AEGIS
(the Association for the Education and Guardianship of
International Students) website:
Every pupil whose parents are resident overseas must have
a UK based guardian appointed by his parents as a
condition of entry into the school. A pupil may have more
than one guardian. A good guardian should take an active
and interested role in your son’s education and welfare and
live close enough for the pupil to visit for weekends away
and half terms and on the occasions when the school is closed.
The typical role of a guardian would include: transport
to/from school; accommodation during holidays; collecting
the pupil in case of exclusion from school; to bridge the gap
between term dates and flights to and from home. It is
therefore important that your son’s guardian is able to
accommodate your son whenever needed. Please take this
into account when choosing a guardian.
The provision of guardianship is monitored by boarding
housemasters as well as by the parents who employ the
guardian. In certain circumstances a housemaster may
question the suitability of a particular guardian and we ask
that, in such cases, parents take the necessary action in the
best interests of his or her child.
The School does not recommend or arrange guardianship
on behalf of the parents. Responsibility for the welfare of
pupils while in the care of their guardians, and while
travelling to and from School, rests solely with the parents,
not with the School.
Flights and Punctuality
Obviously flights become heavily booked up for the
beginning and end of term dates as many schools operate a
similar calendar. Early booking is strongly advised and term
dates are published well in advance. We expect all boys to
be here on the first day of term and leave on the last day.
The academic programme runs from the very first day of
term until the very last day and any absence will be
detrimental to your sons’ learning. As such, late returns or
early departures are strongly discouraged and require the
prior consent. Requests should be made to your son’s
Housemaster in the first instance, however please remember
that they are unlikely to be approved, except in extenuating
circumstances. Please note that classes always finish at 1pm
on the last day of each term and 5pm the day before half
term break.
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