Boarding Life at Westbourne
Welcome to Boarding at Westbourne School, your home away from home! We hope you have a brilliant time, whether you are staying at our Boarding House or with one of our lovely Home Stay families.
We have a total of 43 beds within the Boarding House, plus additional spaces within Home Stay. Rooms are organised according to the age of the students. Boarders will be allocated a room at the start of the year, and from this point, the house staff monitor the dynamics of how everyone is getting along. As the year progresses, obviously friendships develop and change. We try to ensure that everyone is happy, and occasional changes are made when needed. Our friendly Boarding Team is readily available to support students with any concerns.
Students are encouraged to decorate their rooms with suitable posters, photos, cosy rugs, favourite lamps, books, fun duvet covers (bedding is provided, however, some students prefer their own designs). This results in a warm and cosy atmosphere which helps the boarders thrive away from home.
All students tend to suffer a degree of homesickness on arrival, it is very normal, and great care is taken to ensure new arrivals are welcomed into the Boarding House family. Children from sunnier countries will take a little time to adapt to the cold of British winters, so please ensure they have sufficient warm clothing. Miss Angell operates an ‘Open Door’ policy, where students who may be unwell throughout the school day can be sent to her to be cared for in their boarding home.
"The community at Westbourne is incredible. Living in the Boarding House is absolutely amazing. It really is living with your mates at all times... and they become your best friends even after you've left for university. When you've had a tough day, you go back to the Boarding House and our amazing houseparent will ask you about your day and make every problem go away." Dharani, international student from Malaysia
Boarding Aims & Objectives
The aim of the staff and pupils within the Boarding House is to provide a caring, safe, comfortable, and structured environment to enable boarders to live within a warm, friendly, and happy family setting while at Westbourne. Through boarding, we aim to give the young people in our care the very best of opportunities to become well-balanced, responsible adults who are willing to contribute to society at large and, in so doing, to enrich their own life and that of others.
For those students who enter into Home Stay with a local family, the experience runs in parallel to our boarding house. Host parents are fully integrated into the Westbourne community and make up our extended family environment; they are invited to their host student’s special events, attend parents’ evening, and regularly keep in touch with their students after they leave Westbourne. Students in Home Stay are also warmly welcomed to join in all Boarding House activities and can book in for meals within the Boarding House at any time.
We believe that living in a boarding community, with the continuity in relationships it provides and the direct experience of diverse cultures and people it offers, constitutes an education that reaches into a young person’s core in a particularly deep and lasting way.
Guiding principles of boarding at Westbourne:
- All members of our House have the right to work, play, and relax free from abuse and intimidation, harassment, unkind teasing, and bullying.
- Based on mutual respect, all members of our House will enjoy equal opportunities regardless of their gender, cultural background, or abilities.
- To celebrate an international ethos and recognize the need to prepare students for a future in their global society.
- Every member of our House will be treated and respected as an individual.
- The link between home life and school life will be strong, offering support and guidance at all stages of our children’s lives.
In the Boarding House we aim to:
- Produce an open and trusting environment in which every member of our House feels able to approach one another, confident in the knowledge that he or she will be treated and respected as an individual.
- Create an atmosphere of tolerance and understanding in which unkind teasing, harassment, and bullying would find great difficulty in developing.
- Provide a range of activities, hobbies, and opportunities related to age and maturity that will assist in the personal and social development.
- Safeguard and promote the welfare of every member of our House, by providing an environment that is, as far as possible, free from physical hazards and dangers of any sort.
- Provide accommodation that is comfortable and suited to the needs of children, according to age and maturity.
- Develop the student’s responsibility for self, for others, and for the environment.
- Develop the children’s qualities of leadership and ability to work as part of a team.
- Provide suitable conditions for the children to feel able to turn to members of staff to share the good things in their lives, as well as seeking advice, counselling, and support during times of difficulty.
A-Z of Boarding
Activities
Boarders have the opportunity to participate in a variety of fun activities in the evenings and weekends, including group cooking, BBQ, basketball, table tennis, volleyball, football, board games and film nights, with others dependent on demand. Outside of the house, there is a plethora of sporting, academic, and leisure clubs to be discovered in the local area. All students have the option to sign-up for a membership at a local gym, which is included in their school fee.
Invitations to boarders to visit day students at home are always welcome and valued. Boarders are allowed to accept, with the permission of the House Parent.
Communication
Have Your Say: There are various opportunities offered to boarders to enable them to have a say in all elements of school life. Boarders’ opinions and comments are very valuable, and it is vital that they feel able to have a voice. If boarders have an idea or suggestion for the benefit of the Boarding House, they are welcomed to speak to the House Parent. There is also an elected member of IB2 who acts as Head of House and represents the student body at school council meetings.
House Meetings:
House meetings are held at regular intervals and are compulsory for all students to attend. These meetings give both staff and students the opportunity to discuss concerns, how the week is going, give out messages, and talk through arrangements for various events, etc.
Other ways for boarders to have their say…
- The Principal meets all boarders once every half term and is always happy to listen
- School Council
- Head Boy and Head Girl
Daily Routine
| Sunday – Thursday | Friday/Weekends | |
| Rise and Shine | 07:30 | 09:00 |
| Breakfast | 07:30-08:30 | 09:00-10:00 Saturday and Sunday |
| School Day | 08:45 Depart for School | Free time/activities
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| Lunch | 12:00 – Year 8+9 12:30 – Year 10 13:00 – Year 11 13:30 – Pre-IB/IB1+2
| 13:00-14:00 Saturday and Sunday |
| End of School Day | No returning to the Boarding House before 16:30, at which point all boarders must return to the house and sign in | |
| Activities | 16:30-17:30 – Year 7-10 Study time in school (Monday-Thursday)
Co-curricular activities for Year 7-IB2 (Monday-Thursday) | |
| Supper | 17:30-18:30 | |
| Free time | 16:30-19:30 Year 7-11 may sign out for the gym or to go to the shops in Penarth.
16:30-22:00 IB Students may sign out for the gym, to go out in Penarth or to go into Cardiff. They are expected to factor study time into their evening routine.
| |
| Study Hour | 19:30-20:30 Quiet time throughout the House. Year 11 and below expected to have their doors open during this time so that staff can supervise.
| |
| Free time/ Curfew | 20:30-21:30 Year 7-11 may go to the shops in pairs. 21:30 Year 7-11 Curfew (Sunday-Thursday) 22:00 IB Curfew (Sunday-Thursday)
| 22:00 Year 7-11 Curfew (Friday and Saturday)
22:30 IB Curfew (Friday and Saturday) |
| Prepare for bed | 21:30 Years 7-10 hand in phones, laptops and iPads and prepare for bed (Sunday-Thursday) | 22:00 Years 7-10 prepare for bed (Friday and Saturday) |
| Lights out | 22:00 Years 7-10 to be in bed with the lights out. 22:00 Girls and boys on the correct floors and middle door locked. 22:30 Year 11/Pre-IB and IB students are in their rooms and quiet (includes Sundays).
| 22:30 Years 7-10 to be in bed with the lights out (Friday and Saturday). 23:00 Girls and boys on the correct floors and middle door locked. 23:30 Year 11/Pre-IB and IB students are in their rooms and quiet. |
Dress Code and Uniforms
Dress Code
Students up to Year 11/Pre-IB wear a uniform.
IB students wear business attire. Please see your Sixth Form Student Handbook for more information on the expected standards.
As a co-educational boarding house, there is a dress code maintained to ensure all pupils are appropriately attired while in communal areas.
Please ensure appropriate coverage with pyjamas, slippers, and dressing gowns.
Uniforms
Uniforms are ordered via our external supplier Trutex.
Please address deliveries with the name of the child and send to:
Westbourne Boarding House
Plymouth Road
Penarth
Wales
CF62 2AJ
Facilities
There’s a TV for Netflix, digital piano, a student microwave, a kettle, and a student fridge, with drinks, fresh fruit, and biscuits available for students to use at any time. If students wish to purchase snacks at the local supermarket, they can store them in the communal fridge.
The kitchen is off-limits for students unless supervised by a member of staff. There is a small outside area for relaxing, fitness, and outdoor eating.
Students have access to the school buildings for independent study, use of the art and computer room, and basketball court.
Membership to the local leisure centre is included in the school fees for students aged 14+.
There is a well-stocked library in Penarth, and Sixth Form students are also able to use the many Cardiff University libraries following induction from the Sixth Form Coordinator.
Health
Our House Parents and staff are first aid trained, look after the boarders’ health, and support boarders in registering at the local doctor’s surgery on arrival. The House Parent is responsible for dispensing approved medication, dealing with minor injuries, and other related matters. Students are not permitted to bring non-prescribed medication into the boarding house.
Prescribed medication is to be declared on the medical form and given to the House Parent on arrival at the boarding house for dispensing.
Allergies must be declared on the medical form, and the boarding parent must also be made aware of any allergies on arrival at the school. Allergies will then be recorded, and all staff will be informed.
Anaphylaxis (nut allergy) is a serious condition, which is on the rise. It is difficult to diagnose in advance and is often discovered only when a child eats a nut for the first time. Peanut butter is particularly hazardous, as even contact with a person who has eaten peanut butter can provoke a reaction. Please be vigilant about any food coming into school; snacks, birthday cake, cake sales, etc.
For this reason, NO NUTS OR NUT PRODUCTS OF ANY SORT ARE TO BE BROUGHT INTO THE SCHOOL or BOARDING HOUSE.
Holidays
The Boarding House remains open over half terms, and there are no exeats. In very special circumstances, arrangements can be made to arrange Home Stay families over the Easter and Christmas holidays. This request must be made well in advance of the holidays.
Homework
Every evening between 7.00 pm and 8.30 pm, the boarding house is quiet so that people can study. This means there is no music playing out loud, no TV/films or gaming.
Laundry
Laundry is done weekly, and students are allocated a day. Our domestic staff will wash, dry, and fold laundry and it can then be collected from the laundry room. Students are able to use the laundry facilities after school hours and on the weekend.
Lights Out
This means that students are in their own bed, with electronic items turned off and all lights are turned off, it is time to go to sleep! Please note that reading with a reading lamp is permitted after these times.
Meals
Our fabulous catering team creates a variety of healthy and balanced meals each day. All dietary requirements are catered for. Students should be present on time at every meal, unless they have informed the House Parent. For students attending out-of-school clubs and activities, meals can be plated; however, it is important the Boarding Parent is informed in advance.
Money
We recommend you open a bank account upon arrival. There are banks in Penarth and also in Cardiff City Centre, and the school can offer support in doing this.
Overnight Stays
Students are permitted to stay out overnight with email permission from their parents and 24 hours’ notice.
House Parents will not permit an overnight stay unless a consent email has been sent to them directly from a boarder’s parent.
Passports
The safekeeping of travel documents – your passport – is your responsibility. You will be assigned a safe in the Boarding House for your passport and valuables.
Post
You should have any letters or parcels sent to the main Senior School site on Hickman Road.
If you need to post something to parents or friends, there is a local post office in Penarth to send things overseas. You can also ask your House Parent and School reception for help.
Sick Days
Students who feel they are too unwell to attend school should inform their House Parent before 8am.
Boarding students will be cared for at the boarding house. House Parents will assess the student and decide if they warrant a visit to the doctor.
Sports
There are a wide range of individual and team sports available at Westbourne, including competitive Saturday fixtures.
Students with a strong interest in a sport beyond the curriculum can take full advantage of the breadth of local teams and clubs within Penarth and Cardiff.
Signing in and out
Students must sign in and out of the Boarding House by seeing the member of staff in person to ask for permission and then sign-out using the sign-out board by the front door. They must record the time when they are leaving and the location they are visiting. Any students wishing to travel outside Cardiff must have written permission from their parents and the member of house staff on duty. When students return to the house, they must sign in and let a member of staff know that they are back in the Boarding House.
If students are going to be late, they must inform the member of staff on duty otherwise the member of staff will contact the student directly to clarify their whereabouts and if needed, implement the missing student procedure should all reasonable attempts to establish their whereabouts have been exhausted. With this in mind, please ensure that your mobile phone is fully charged before leaving the building.
It is vital that the signing in and out records are kept and archived accordingly in line with our responsibilities as Student sponsors. Students who do not sign in and out will be subject to disciplinary action.
Staffing
Boarding House Parent: Ms Ceri Angell. A wealth of experience as a House Parent and as a boarding student in the past. Ms Angell will be your main contact for the Boarding House and is first aid trained.
Boarding House Assistants: A team of house assistants support the wellbeing of students on weekends and on occasional evenings.
Homestay Parents: we have a short list of carefully selected host families who live in the local area. All our host families are very well known to the school and are in constant contact with Ms Angell. Usually, more than one Westbourne student is placed in each household.
Technology
Students may access social media websites at the Boarding House. However, occasionally you will see filters that block some sites. The School filtering systems that are in place are there to protect you. If there are sites which you feel you need to access, please see your House Parent.
Internet Usage Times: Mon – Sun: 6am – 11pm
Students in Year 10 and below are expected to hand phones, laptops and iPads in overnight to support them in maintaining effective and healthy routines. If it is noticed that older students are not using technology responsibly, it may be suggested that they also hand in their devices.
No phones or electronic items are to be taken to meals. Students will be given a Westbourne email address on joining, to enjoy internet privileges whilst at Westbourne. Students should use the internet safely and appropriately and are not to share accounts and passwords with others.
If a pupil is going to bring a laptop to School, it is the responsibility of parents to ensure that their child’s laptop is adequately insured, since School insurance does not cover loss or damage to pupils’ laptops.
There is a large printer and copier available within the boarding house for students and at the School reception area to facilitate the printing of work.
Visits
Parents are more than welcome in the Boarding House when they pick up or bring their children to school. Parents must sign in.
We would ask parents not to enter shared rooms unannounced as this does not give the other boarders the privacy to which they are entitled. If parents wish to take their child out one evening, or if the child is staying with a friend, then the House Parents must be informed in advance, and the student must sign out.
Weekends
During the weekends, there is flexibility for individuals to pursue their own interests and take advantage of the great facilities that we have nearby, alongside school-organised activities and student-led weekend sports.
With parental permission, students are allowed to venture into Cardiff City Centre in small groups using the train.
The train station is less than 5 minutes walk from the Boarding House, and trains to the city take around 12 minutes.
