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The dormitories in recent years have become a more important part of the schools. Sleeping arrangement at prep schools normally are based on class grouping dormitories. This is different than at public schools where the boarding houses are mixed-class groupings. A few schools had a separate house for the older children. The dormitories different in facilities from school to school. Most were brightly painted. Some had posters, but some schools discouraged this. This is a good indicator of how child friendly the school is, not always accurate but often so. Most beds were covered with duvets and populated with cherished teddies and stuffed animals. The children's bed-times are staggered by age so the younger children go to bed a little earlier. The amount of free time in the evening thus depends on the child's age. The younger children need more time for sleep, but this also is a convenient way of organizing bed time so matron and the staff can supervise the hole process. Generally the younger boys are put to bed earlier than at home. Some of the children complained about this. After washing up and getting in bed, the children are allowed to leave the lights on for a while and read or chat quietly with friends. The children generally go to bed by class. The prefects are normally allowed a little more time before going to bed.
After dinner or evening tea, the activities at boarding prep schools varied quite widely. At some schools the children are allowed to change into their own clothes. Matron tries to get the children to neatly fold their uniforms ready for the next day. At many schools the children continue to wear their unifirm after tea. The evening activies also vary. Some schools require the children to do more prep, the length of the prep generally varies by age, in part because the younger chiildren go to bed earlier. At many schools the prep is finished before tea. Often after tea the students are incouraged to listen to the news. Normally the TV is then turned off, unless there are educational’ programs. This normally requires permission. On the weekends the rules may be more relaxed at some schools, but even then television is generally not incouraged and most children find a lot of other activities that appeal to them. The children thus have free time for a range of activies. The activities on offer vary from school to school. The children often look forward to this period to have a little fin with their mates. The activities are affected both by the school facilities, but also are influenced by the season. During the summer term the days are longer and the weather longer meaning some outdoor activities are possible. In the winter term, activities are usually indoors. Activities can include swimming, cooking, computers, art, sports, games, and much more. Some children choose to pursue a class oroject or read an interesting book. This is also time that students learning a instrument can practice. The evening is an opportunity to spend time with friends. Schools a;so run competitions, such as table-tennis, pool, and pioneering. Better equipped schools might even have a handball court.
Boarding children sometimes get involved in favored activities like games or computer activities. Often many of the children become so acustomed to their bed times that they gather in the commons area, often a kind of foyaer of the country homes mosts schools are built around. Sometimes there is a fire place with a cheery fire going. Here they await their bedtime bell to go. This is especially the case during the fall and winter terms when it gets dark rather early which discorages outdoor activities. They might chat with friends or look over a book. They tend to be relatively quite, digesting the events of the day. Commonly they are ready for bed, especially the younger children. Most would prefer to stay up a bit longer, but it is easy to tell that they are ready for a good night's sleep. While bed time is generally earlier than what might the case at home, they generally have more active days than children attending day schools.
The children have had a busy day with plenty of both school work and exercise. This most children are tired by the end of the day. The children's bed-times are staggered by age so the younger children go to bed a little earlier. The amount of free time in the evening thus depends on the child's age. Although some schools do it by class. The younger children need more time for sleep, but this also is a convenient way of organizing bed time so matron and the staff can supervise the hole process. Generally the younger boys are put to bed earlier than at home. Some of the children complained about this, but as they are good and tired, quickly fall asleep. The children are summoned to bed by a bell. The actual times vary from school to school only slightly. The bell for youngest children at most schools rings at about 7.30 pm. Often schools vary the bell times seasonally as it is still light in England at 7:30 during the summer term. The bell for each succeeding age group then rings every 15 minutes. The children bath or shower. Matron inspects the children, especially the younger ones. She carefully sees to any scrapes and bruises or more serious ailments.
The dormitories in recent years have become a more important part of the schools. This is an ongoing process at many schools. Until recently they were rather stark places with just a baic bed. This has changed, especially since schools began to go coed. This is an on going process, some schools now have very comfortable dormitiries approaching what a child might have at home. The dormitories are now much more comfortable than before with creature comforts like rugs. The dorms have become not just a place to sleep at night. The dorms are becoming a place to laughs and play. Some have board games the children can play. They also provide learning experiences such as performing household chores. The children may also go over their home work at night or practices lines for a play. They also have the opportunity to chat and shgare experiences with friends. And normally the faculty member on duty comes by to say good night or speak with the children before lights out. This is anot unimportant part of developing close relations between the staff and children.
Sleeping arrangement at prep schools normally are based on class grouping dormitories. Here there is condiderable diversity. Most schoold do not use purpose-built buildings for dormitories. Rather the rooms of the manor or other large house is used and the various rooms o the upper floor converted to dormitories. Ths means that a range of different sized and configured rooms are used. This is different than at public schools where the boarding houses are mixed-class groupings. A few schools had a separate house for the older children.
The dormitories different in facilities from school to school. Decoration variedquite substantially. Most were brightly painted. Some had posters, but some schools discouraged this and the walls looked rather stark. Then there are teddies, often called mascots. The children in virtually all schools had teddies. Thus the dormitories have become more inviting living spaces for the children. This varies quite a bit, however, from school to school. Most beds were covered with duvets and populated with cherished teddies and stuffed animals. The physical appearances of the dorms is of more than passing significance. There are a variety of reasons for these diffeences. Both the age and gender of the children are factors. The school's basic attitude toward the children i often a major factor. Thus the appearance of the dormitories offers prospective parents a good indicator as to the child-friendliness of a school. Of course there are no perfect indicators, but dorms that are brightly decorated and adorned with posters tend to indicate a school that is making a real effort at creating a homey environment. This is particulsarly important for the younger prep-school child.
After washing up and getting in bed, the children are allowed to leave the lights on for a while and read. Most schools incourage the children to have a good book that they can read in their dorms, both at rest time and the evening quiet time. Some schools allow the children to chat quietly with friends. Other schools are very strict that this is quiet time. Here there is always the temptation to chat with mates and the younger children may at first get into trouble before falling off to sleep. The quiet time is normally about 15 minutes, sometimes a little longer for the older children. The prefects are normally allowed a little more time before going to sleep. bed.
