With space at a premium in many urban and suburban schools, a daily car ride into the beautiful countryside that our region has to offer may be an attractive prospect but may mean travelling further afield than you initially thought practical.
The modern face of boarding means that settling on that ideal balance could be within reach. Flexible boarding options provide children with access to everything a vibrant school community has to offer coupled with the flexibility to have quality family time.
So, what does ‘Flexi Boarding’ mean?
Flexi boarding places the child and their family in the driving seat, so they can choose when they spend nights at school. For many children embarking on boarding for the first time, it enables them to book individual nights (comparable to a sleepover) to enjoy all the benefits of a vibrant boarding community, such as additional extra-curricular activities and spending more time with their friends! It is also designed to fit in with parents’ work commitments or indeed the many other pressures of everyday life.
What does the modern face of boarding look like?
James Wilton was a Housemaster at Repton for ten years, before being appointed Deputy Head at the school. He emphasises the importance of providing a balanced environment where all pupils feel happy and at ease in the company of their friends. He explains:
“Pupils can board at Repton Prep from the age of 7 and here Houseparents and their families live with the boarders in each House, creating a strong sense of family. At the senior school pupils belong to a House, where they dine together three times each day so the closeness of the boarding community and the enormous emphasis placed on caring for the emotional, physical and mental wellbeing of each of our boarders remains a priority throughout their time at Repton.”
Repton Prep has a reputation for valuing the innocence of childhood, so that pupils feel confident and supported throughout their school journey. Preferential class sizes – meaning children are placed in a class size suited to their pace and capabilities – nurture their strengths and qualities in order to help them develop in other areas and allow them to reach their full potential.
Mr Wilton continues: “The Repton community is a supportive, purposeful and unbounded group of young people – so much so that pupils often enrol for day schooling and quickly swap to boarding so that they can make the most of all the incredible opportunities on offer.” That comes as no surprise when you discover that the Prep school is nestled in 55 acres of countryside, with its own den-building wood, lake for watersports, astroturf pitches, swimming pool, sports hall, tennis courts, theatre, not to mention dogs that are delighted to enjoy regular walks with gaggles of enthusiastic children.
To find out more about Repton Prep contact Ellie Jones, Registrar on 01283 707112 or visit: www.reptonprep.org.uk
