Blog
Learning to Live With Others: What a Boarding House Teaches You Without Lessons
I did not board as a pupil, although I always wanted to – probably much to my parents’ confusion at the time. Yet now, having lived and worked in boarding…
Reflections on a Lifetime in Boarding
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…
Creating a Thriving Co-Educational Boarding House: Lessons from School House
What does it take to bring two long-established boys’ and girls’ houses together and create one thriving co-educational community? If it takes a village to raise a child, it certainly…
My Journey as a Boarding Professional
I never set out to become a Head of Boarding. In fact, my career in boarding began almost by accident — as a cleaner in a new junior boarding school…
Working with Teenage Boys, Not Against Them
As I write this, the term has properly begun, with lessons now in full swing after a handful of INSET days and induction for new pupils — the familiar rhythm…
Reflections on My First Year as a Houseparent: Leading and Role Modelling for Young Men
Reflections on My First Year as a Houseparent When I stepped into the role of Houseparent (Sutton House – Lord Wandsworth College), I did so with a clear set of…
Building meaningful connections in boarding
As I enter my 13th year as a House Parent, the start of each year, solidifies the fact that building meaningful connections is my fundamental role. As someone hired exclusively…
Vocational Pathways in Boarding Schools: A Study into the Distinct Roles of Boarding Staff and Teachers
In the educational sphere, the role of boarding staff has often been seen through a lens of functional necessity rather than vocational calling. Traditionally, boarding schools have operated with a…
Over 500 girls in 17 years
Some would say being a Houseparent in a boarding house of 60 teenage girls for 17 years is no easy feat, but I have found it an extremely rewarding one….
Opening Boarding in Central London
Not many boarding professionals get the opportunity to open boarding from scratch, let alone doing so in Central London. When the chance to do so popped up here at MPW…
