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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:

http://www.abingdon.org.uk/staff_list/

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Communication is the key

for an effective relationship

between you, your son and

the School.