Boarding

Boarding is fundamental to the Blundell’s ethos. All pupils, including day pupils, are attached to a Boarding House, and these Houses quickly become central to a pupil’s life at school. A boarding ethos such as ours brings many benefits, but chief amongst these are the values and social skills imparted in the boarding environment. Skills such as getting on with others, making conversation, and studying independently, for instance, and values such as kindness, inclusivity, integrity, and respect for others. All are vital in helping our pupils grow into adults who will make a positive contribution to the world around them, and all are promoted, learned and honed within the boarding environment.

Basing our pastoral care through the Boarding House system also enables us to provide all pupils with the extensive support network that comes within the boarding environment. The Housemaster or Housemistress is central to this, and they are a key figure in the life of the pupils in their House. Yet they are supported by a wide and diverse team. Tutors help pupils in their day-to-day academic lives, as well as providing an additional sounding board and source of support and advice, while matrons are the ever-present figures within the Houses themselves, always seeming to know what is needed whether that be a cup of tea, an arm-around-the-shoulder, or simply a spare pair of socks.

Finally, of course, boarding is fun! It is not only that pupils get to spend so much time with their friends, enjoying each other’s company while surrounded by wonderful facilities. We also do all we can to enable pupils to make the most of their time as a boarder, and the variety of opportunities, events and trips on offer is enormous. From BBQs and quiz evenings, through outdoor games and activities, all the way to surfing trips and excursions to the South-West’s best towns and cities. The richness of a pupil’s time here at Blundell’s is one of the aspects of the school of which we are most proud, and while we are determined that we help pupils develop into adults who can make a positive impact on the world, we are equally determined that they should have fun while they are doing it.