Boarding
Boarding at Great Walstead is built on three foundations: it is Flexible, Fun and Family orientated.
The boarding is flexible in the sense children can board up to four nights per week, Monday to Thursday. We have regular boarders who do all four nights and other boarders who do a regular night a week to fit in with their after school clubs or their own families’ busy lives. On top of that we have children choosing to board on other nights when they wish to do so. We also invite children for free taster boarding for those new to it. We actively encourage those who are thinking of boarding at senior schools to experience boarding here in Years 7 and 8 so that they can have an introduction to boarding life.
Fun is based around the activities and staff in the boarding house. The activities during the week revolve around the fantastic facilitates in the school. Activities may include swimming, touch rugby, rounders, cricket, football, early morning runs, use of the sports hall for badminton, indoor cricket, basketball, us of the performing arts centre for drama, games, Hip Hop dancing sessions, table football, pool, a wide selection of films (shown on our 32 inch flat screen TV) etc., etc. Children can also relax and chat to friends. We use the extensive woods for orienteering, walks and building dens. Even though we offer boarding Monday to Thursday we do hold events twice a term where we open the boarding house on a Friday and Saturday and boarders who are current and those new to it can sign up for such events such as a disco, art work shop, Greek nights, Abba nights, Fun Film Nights, theatre nights, Murder Mystery evenings. As you can see Great Walstead boarding has so much to offer!
The staff are a good mix with a seasoned Head of Boarding and an assistant houseparent, school nurse and three General assistants, who are here for a year (Gap students) from places as far afield as South Africa, Australia and New Zealand. They bring so much energy and vitality to the boarding community and children feel they have a big brother or sister to have fun with.
The family orientated approach is based on an open door policy where boarders are both a part of the boarding community but also the extended family of the Head of Boarding. Mr Floyd has years experience of running boarding houses and welcomes the children to be part of his family: he and his Wife bring the boarders into their own home for fun evenings of activity including cooking, playing board games, Nintendo Wii and watching films with a bowl of pop corn. Having a young family themselves, the Floyds believe the boarding community encompasses all those who live there. Come and have a look for yourself, as staying a taster night will give you a real flavour of what boarding at Great Walstead is all about.
Graham Floyd
Head of Boarding