As I reach the milestone of a 25-year career in boarding, it feels like the right moment to reflect on a lifetime spent within school walls, not just as a professional, but as someone who grew up in this unique environment.
My journey began as a boarder in the late 1970s at a small independent school by the sea in Cornwall. It was a wonderfully “Enid Blyton-esque” experience! Fittingly, the school was even named St Clare’s. In those days, our weekend highlight was a traditional “crocodile” walk through the town.
Weeknights revolved around Top of the Pops on a Thursday night! As one of the youngest boarders, my “duty” was to arrive early and save seats for the Prefects while I happily perched on the floor. That was simply the social contract of the time! While my Housemistresses were distant figures compared to the dedicated teams we see today, that era lacked the robust support structures of nurses, counsellors, and specialised pastoral staff who now ensure every child is closely supported.
Boarding has undergone a remarkable and positive transformation. The “austere” days of cast-iron beds, scratchy blankets and unappetising meals have been replaced by environments that truly feel like a home away from home. Today’s boarders enjoy high-quality dining that rivals many restaurants and are encouraged to personalise their spaces with photos and comforts. I am immensely proud to have played a part in this evolution toward comfort and well-being.
When I began my career in the late 1990s, the landscape was very different. Emails were a rarity, and the pace of communication was slower. This allowed for a certain type of immersive community building. Without the distractions of mobile phones or social media, we spent Friday and Saturday evenings with boarders piled into my sitting room for DVDs, pizza and fizzy pop.
While the introduction of more formal frameworks was necessary and right, there is a certain nostalgia for that simpler time when professional intuition was the primary guide. Today, we balance those memories with incredible new opportunities. At my current school, our “Treat Nights” and organised weekend activities and outings provide a level of engagement and excitement that was non-existent when I was a boarder.
As we see a growing conversation around restricting mobile phones and social media in schools, I wonder if we are moving toward a “new old” era, one that recaptures that focused, face-to-face connection of my early career, but with the superior facilities and safeguarding of the modern day.
What does the future hold? Who knows but it is certainly exciting for those who are starting in the profession. And me? I shall be watching from afar like a benevolent aunt, deeply interested, forever supportive, but perhaps finally enjoying a full night’s sleep!
Violaine Ludwick
Assistant Head (Boarding)
Queenswood School
