Parents' Guide to Boarding

6 The boarding houses follow the School’s system of Rewards and Sanctions. + Security and Safety The Boarding Houses are kept secure and the safety of boarders is enhanced in various ways: Duty staff are provided with a mobile and the duty porter’s contact number. All boarders have a direct contact number to their house duty mobile and/or housemaster’s mobile. Keypad locks are fitted to all doors leading into the boarding houses, with codes changed regularly. Boarders must sign visitors in and out of boarding houses and they must inform the member of staff on duty whenever they go off-site and as soon as they return. School gates are closed at night. Electric sockets must not be overloaded (only one four socket extension per socket). Windows are fitted with safety restrictors Boys must not climb over gates or walls Cooking equipment (e.g. kettles etc.) is only allowed in the house kitchens and not in bedrooms The Role of the Staff The boarding housemasters have overall responsibility for the welfare of boys in their houses and are in loco parentis . They are ably assisted by a team of tutors, a house matron and a team of cleaners. A member of staff is on duty at all times, and is assisted in the evening by duty prefects. Prefects The Head of House and house prefects are appointed from the Upper Sixth by the housemaster. They are essentially the conduit between boys and the house staff where necessary, their role is to make the lives of boarders in their respective houses happy, free from incident and a positive, fulfilling experience. Prefects’ responsibilities include assisting the staff in the running of the boarding house and helping in both the pastoral support and safeguarding of welfare of the boys in their house. Prefects are expected to use their status and authority in a mature and sensitive manner, and in turn expect the respect of those under their care. They are given training by the housemaster in how to carry out their duties and in Safeguarding and Child Protection. Rewards and Sanctions The boarding houses follow the School’s system of Rewards and Sanctions, although the boarding community also approaches discipline as parents might at home, matching sanction to inconsiderate behaviour. In addition boarders’ equipment such as mobile phones and computers may be confiscated for improper use. Peer Relations and Bullying The School has an effective policy on bullying with specific reference to the boarding community. Peer relations and friendships are particularly important within a boarding house. We acknowledge that living together can be challenging and requires the development of patience, consideration and diplomacy. All boys are encouraged to speak up swiftly about ‘bullying’ or any physical or verbal abuse. Attempts are then made to defuse tensions where they occur between particular boys and to repair relations before any boy is tempted to engage in verbal or physical bullying. Our policy assumes that sometimes adolescent boys lack awareness of the impact of their behaviour on other people, which can explain their own behaviour. Our first step, therefore, is to discuss the effects of bullying behaviour with the parties involved and encourage self-awareness before resorting to disciplinary measures.