Boarding – A School Where You Belong

“My favourite thing about boarding at Sedbergh is that we do everything together. We come back to the House and we have meals together. From year nine to 11, you’re sharing a room, so you’re together with your friends. Now, in year 13, we’re in our own rooms but we share the same corridor. It’s the togetherness of it and just spending time together; that’s what I really like.” Daniella

A warm welcome to boarding

Sedbergh is one of the few longstanding full boarding schools in the UK that thrives on providing the classic traditional boarding experience. In the picturesque, safe rural book town of Sedbergh, nestling in the dynamic environment of the Howgills, Sedbergh’s boarding culture centres on the House; a special environment where leadership, loyalty and laughter happen

Boarding Houses are family for pupils when they are here, and also when they are away or have left. The camaraderie and support offered spans the year groups and a first class prefecting system ensures that younger children are supported by older pupils and always have someone to go to, beyond their Housemaster, Housemistress or Tutor.

Tutoring remains within the house and staff feel as much a sense of belonging as the pupils. A tutor will have a specific academic and pastoral responsibility for a small group within each House. Sedbergh now has six boys’ Houses and three girls’ Houses:

A Sense of Belonging

Our boarding is defined by the strength of our community in the House and School where everyone is committed to collective success. Trust lies at the centre of that community and we expect our pupils to offer unconditional support to their peers. Boarding Houses are the heart of the School; the term-time home of our pupils and where they forge the closest friendships. The House system creates a smaller, tight-knit, cross-year community within the School where pupils are well supported by staff they know well. The sense of belonging inspires confidence, allows problems to be resolved and develops strong social skills.

Our houses

Sedbergh has nine senior Houses, six for boys and three for girls. All are individually located around the school campus which is situated in the heart of the town, and each has its own personality, emblem, culture and ethos; much like the collegiate system still observed within many of our famous British Universities.

Full boarding means that even for those very few pupils who sleep at home, school life is in full swing until lights out. The House is a home – House tutors, prefects, matron and catering staff all support the ethos of an individual house and features such as oak-panelled House libraries, newly refurbished kitchens, and interior-designer styled common rooms are the hub of the House. It’s a place to be your quiet self or your outgoing self, and House parents guard ‘down time’ carefully, ensuring there is time to switch off gadgets and read, chat, bake together or play chess after a busy day

House Dining

Sedbergh retains House Dining for the specific reason of participation and a sense of belonging. Three times a day, pupils and staff meet to eat, drink and talk together. Sometimes a guest, pupil or teacher may read a poem, prayer or thought for the day and through this the traditional values of good manners and socialising over lunch are reinforced. It is a chance to come together and regroup; often before an afternoon’s inter-house competition or major school event. Coming together as a House is typical of traditional boarding, rather than meeting in a modern communal dining room, this approach nurtures House spirit and bonds between the year
groups and staff.

House Activities

Each House offers an exciting array of activities – ranging from pure fun to inter-House competitions, which cover almost every facet of School life, be it chess, rugby, sailing or netball, academic challenge, music or drama. Pupils are inspired to take on new challenges in support of their peers and the House. This range of opportunity ensures that every individual contributes their talents to collective achievement and ensures that each pupil benefits from an all-round education.

Staff are as committed to their Houses as pupils. The structure of daily routines is balanced by a relaxed and homely feel and is encouraged by the resident Housemaster or Housemistress and their families. Assistant Housemasters/Housemistresses and House Tutors are resident in each House and supported by a strong team of non-resident Tutors. Year Heads oversee academic progress and work closely with House staff to ensure pupils are well supported in their studies. Together, they closely monitor pupils’ welfare as well as their academic progress and social development. Senior pupils offer support for the younger ones, whether by helping them to find their way around, playing games with them or assisting them with ‘Prep.’

Pastoral Care

Sedbergh prides itself on providing superior pastoral care seven days a week, and our experienced matrons will liaise with the school nurse and Sedbergh medical centre, supporting and trouble-shooting where necessary. Because of the full boarding culture, there is no mass exodus at weekends – life is as busy as during the week with supervised socials, sport, house balls, expeditions, debate dinners, impromptu music in ‘The Boathouse’ and House Entertainments, such as panotimes, music nights and sketch shows.

School Life

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