Boarding FAQs

I always ask children who they’d like to share with and which dorm. I don’t promise they will get exactly what they want but I try my best. New children tend to be in with their year group and their boarding guardian who looks after them until they have settled in.

If a child can’t go home or to their guardian, the School can arrange for them to spend exeats with friends.

We have a nurse and matron on site every day and a local doctors surgery.  Unwell children will be looked after in the Sans.  All boarding staff are 1st aid trained.

We have an activity programme for the weekends which is a happy balance between time spent at school using our fantastic facilities like astro, swimming pool and sports hall or just having some ‘down’ time with a book or a movie. We usually go out on Sundays, this can be anything from cinema to mountain biking or shopping to chocolate making.

Once lessons are finished children can do a club; these range from carpentry to judo and from various sporting activities to cookery. There is then a prep or music practise followed by supper. After supper there are a couple of optional activities ie games on the astro or sports hall, cycling or playing on the Wii.

All children have their own school email address.  The boarding house has three landlines and one boarding mobile for parents to call in on in the evenings.

Yes, during the week prep is supervised by a teacher: at weekends Boarding staff and the gap students supervise prep.

The food at Vinehall is exceptional. There are always choices at every meal. At breakfast there are yogurts, fruit, cereal, toast and cooked food. At lunch and supper there is a salad bar, baked potatoes, soup and a hot option. Boarders also can have milk and biscuits before bed.