Parents' Guide to Boarding

3 Communication is the key + for an effective relationship between you, your son and the School. 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. 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.