Boarding Life
The boarding community is a thriving one and offers students the chance to enjoy all the opportunities of school life to the full. Boarders enjoy an excellent standard of accommodation, readily available and educational, social and sporting facilities. Our boarding students come from all over the world creating a rich and culturally diverse student community in which all are given a warm welcome and helped to integrate into boarding life by the caring and committed team of residential house staff. Friendships are forged here which broaden horizons and last a lifetime.
Both weekly and full boarders are welcomed. Weekly boarding is an ideal option for students who live too far away to commute on a daily basis but who wish to return home at weekends as there is no Saturday school. Weekly boarders are encouraged to arrive on Sunday evening although they may come early on Monday morning and leave on Friday evening.
Accommodation
Students are accommodated in comfortable and well-equipped single or shared bedrooms and all meals are served in the College Dining Rooms. There are kitchen facilities in the boarding houses for the students to provide their own drinks and snacks and sitting rooms with televisions and DVD players where students can relax and socialise. Girls and boys are housed in separate buildings, each with their own resident house staff living within the building. There is a School shop where students may buy snacks and essential items. Students are expected to do their own personal laundry using the machines provided with support from House staff as part of our programme to encourage independent living skills. However bed linen is provided and laundered by the House staff.
A typical day
A typical day in boarding life looks like this:
| 7.30am | Breakfast is served in the Dining Room |
| 8.45am - 10.30am | Lessons |
| 10.30am | Morning break |
| 11.00am - 1.00pm | Lessons |
| 1.00pm | Lunch break and Activity time |
| 2.00pm - 4.00pm | Lessons |
| 4.00pm | Afternoon tea break |
| 4.15pm - 5.15pm | Lessons |
| 5.15pm - 6.15pm | Evening Activity time |
| 6.00pm - 7.00pm | Supper |
| 7.30pm - 9.00pm | Quiet study time in the boarding houses |
| 10.00pm - 11.00pm | Bedtime (according to age) |
Weekends and holidays
The pace slows at the weekends when students are free to use the facilities of the school. House staff offer a full programme of visits, events and outings to encourage students to make effective use of their leisure time and to balance their academic studies.
There are no fixed exeat weekends or limitations on the number of weekends away. Boarders are free to visit relatives or friends any weekend provided that parents have given their permission; otherwise they are accompanied whenever they leave the college site. For students who are unable to return home, the College remains open during half-term holidays and by arrangement, sixth formers may stay during the Easter vacation.
"The thing I liked most about Padworth was its friendly environment. All the staff and friends were so nice and warm which made me feel at home, even when I first arrived. My two years at Padworth were one of the most wonderful times for me - I met a lot of great people and I will never forget them." Quynh Anh, former student.