BOARDING SCHOOLS
supported, they take the risks that serious learning demands. “Belonging is therefore not a pastoral extra; it is a condition for scholarship. In a strong boarding house, belonging is built into the everyday: shared meals, shared responsibilities and the small rituals that can make a place feel like a home away from home.” Some schools let families express a preference for a particular house. Others manage the allocation process themselves, which requires a judicious evaluation of various personalities and interests to get the balance right. “We place students very carefully by religion, culture and language etc, so we get a good mix in each house. We want them to have the experience of meeting others,” says Helen Walker,
BOARDING BENEFITS Friendships made at schools such as Bishop’s Stortford College (pictured) often last well into adult life, materialising into an invaluable support network
48 MARCH 2026 CAMBSEDITION.CO.UK
Powered by FlippingBook