Figure 1.--.
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Figure 1.--. |
Again in resonse to parental desires and needs, the boarding schools have devised more flexible boarding arrangements. In addtion, improved transportation, especially personal cars has meant that parental visits to school and flexible boarding is now far more acceptable to both the children and the parents. Flexible boarding primarily allows the children to go home over the weekend and is referred toas weekly boarding. Weekly boarders usually go home after morning classes on Saturday. This is an arrangement that quite a number of parents now choose and especially popular with the children. Generally the children get much of the value of boarding while not being so completely separate from their parents. There are, however, many other alternative approaches involved with flexible boarding. The schools are becoming increasingly accomodating to individual needs.
Boarding is very informal, although early bedtimes and quiet dormitories are strictly adhered to. Free time in the evening, such as it is, is not organised and boys may read, play 'pool, table tennis or board games, use the computers, or, when possdible play in the garden as they wish. There is, of course, a master on duty at all times.
Most boys come to Barfield initially as Day Boys, but many end their careers as Weekly Boarders. At what point they become boarders is entirely a matter of parental judgement: there is no compulsion of any kind from the school. All boarders go home on SDaturdays, either at one o'clock or when the day matches are over. They return to school either on Sunday evening r Monday morning, whichever th parents find more convenient. A boy may become a temporary boarder for any length of time, if a parent is ill or has to be away from home for some reason. Almost no advamce warning of this is necessary and the school is always glad to help in a domestic crisis.
In the past it was alwats consudered that weekly boarding was unsettling. This has not been the case at Barfield -- indeed requests to board come as much from the boys as their parents. This flexibility is a comfortable introductionto Boarding School, and prepares the boys for full boarding when they move on to their Public Schools.
Barfield School Prospectus
All boarding at Beech Hill is on a weekly basis. Boys sleepin small dormitories, none has more than 6 boys. They have the use of a modern bathroom and toilet facilities built in 1969, a playroom and a sick bay. Boarders come to school on Sunday evening or Monday morning and go home after school on Fridays. There is a friendly, family atmosphere which is so important for boys of this age group. Weekly boarding allows boys to make full use of the working week, and ensures that preparation is regularly done under supervision. It also helps to accustom boys to boarding before starting full boarding in the Senior School at Langley.
Beech Hill Prospectus
There are a number of day boarders in the school. In order that no differentiation is made between full boarders and day boarders, they are most welcome to attend week-end activities. They have to be in school by 8.40 a.m. each morning and are free to be collected in the evening when school activities are over -- 7.20 p.m. on weekdays (earlier for younger boys) and 4.00 p.m. on Saturdays.
Beachborough Prospectus
The school is unique in its locality ... in providing a Monday-Friday boarding favility for younger boys who can spend weekends at home--a facility which is often of particular attractin to servicemen and scientific-service support personnelwhose sons 7-8 years can start as weekly boarders, changing to full boarding later. .... In addition to its full boarding facilities, Boundary Oak will accept boys og 7-8 as weekly boarders, i.e. boarding from Monday to Friday and return home at weekends. These boys transfer ti full boardership at the age of 10. Full boarders have extended free weekends every three weeks to spend with their families and all pupils have a long half-term break every term.
Boundary Oak School Prospectus
