Boarding at a Prep School should be a memorable and special experience, and this is certainly the case at St John's. The boarders are an important part of life at St John’s. The boarders are looked after by our House parents, two dormitory masters, two dormitory assistants, two academic boarding tutors and a team of matrons and assistant teachers.

Many of our boarders live either in the immediate local area or within 25 miles of St John’s, although we also have a number of boys from overseas. Over half of our boarders are full boarders. Parental contact during the term is encouraged, either by phone, email ‘Skype’ and by logging onto the school intranet site to watch uploaded videos of matches and concerts etc. For those boys who are staying in over the weekend there are trips every Sunday and a wide variety of activities arranged every Saturday that are fitted in between sporting and other commitments.

The weekly after school routine is also very busy with activities arranged after supper in the evenings (as well as academic study sessions for senior boys), although most boys also like spending quality time with their friends away from the pressure of the school day. The boarders also enjoy taking advantage of the facilities at St John’s such as the sports complex, the swimming pool, music department, tennis courts, art studio and fields.

In general, most boys choose to board because they enjoy it. They get to spend time with their friends doing things that they enjoy. During ‘exeat’ weekends, there is a tradition at St John’s that full boarding pupils stay with their ‘day boy’ friends and their family.

At the same time boys learn to become independent and to look after their own and other people’s possessions. It is also a chance to learn to live alongside other people and to develop self-confidence and independence.

Who makes a good boarder?

• A boy from a supportive family background, where parents & son are all committed to the boarding life-style.

• A boy who likes spending lots of time with his friends.

• Above all, a boy who is mature enough to understand the benefits and reasons for boarding, and wants to do it.

What effect does boarding have on a boy and his family?

Boarding boys will invariably grow in confidence, as they take greater responsibility for their day-to-day lives. They become more independent as they go up the school and more organized, learning to get to the right place at the right time with the right kit. Living in a community encourages them also to understand that their actions impinge on others, and therefore they learn to think of others more and respect their different opinions and needs.

Boys comment that they have a good social life as boarders, their location enabling them to have more free time, more time to spend with friends, better access to a wide range of activities and an ability to use the facilities available on the school site.

Inevitably there will be moments when things are not going so well and they miss home. But they also understand that life has its ups and downs and that that this is quite normal and something with which they can cope.

Why boarding?

Likewise parents too become more a part of the school community and holidays and exeats are more "special." Hard-working parents find "quality time" when their boarding boys are at home.

However, we also know that boarding is not the right thing for many boys. We will not encourage families to board their sons unless we feel it is the right thing. Happy boarders do well and get a lot out of the experience. Unhappy boarders do not.

Will boarding have an adverse affect on my son’s work?

Certainly not – quite the contrary. Over the past six years two thirds of St John's academic scholarships have been won by boarders. The Common Entrance results for boarders have also been outstanding. This is because from the start the boys’ achievements are the result of greater independence and the impact this has on a boy should not be under-estimated. For a boy to achieve independently and to set his own targets is always more meaningful and ultimately more motivating.

Obviously it is impossible for a boy to get the same level of attention that a parent can give at home. However, there are plenty of opportunities for boys to work in the evenings either on their own or in pairs. Academic studies (homework) for Year 8 Rudiments boys is completed under the supervision of the Dormitory Master and Head of Boarding and in the run up to exams there are organized evening revision sessions and boys learn to be more self-disciplined as well as spurring each other on.

What sort of boarding does St John's offer?

St John's boarders are a mixture of local, national and international boys, so we offer full boarding. The system allows families to be together regularly where this is possible, and where it is not, for the boys to be well catered for here at school.

How much contact do boys have with their parents in term time?

Boys can buy phone cards to phone home in the evenings and there are regular opportunities to email.

We are always delighted to welcome parents to the school to see their boys take part in musical and dramatic productions and sporting matches. All boys need to stay in for the first weekend of term and in the Christmas term for last weekend of term. Otherwise, boys can go home after their final school commitment on Saturday and return in time for chapel on the Sunday evening. Parents are always welcome to stay for Chapel and to sit with their sons.