Open Days - 17 May: Prep (4-13) / 18 May: Senior & Sixth Form (13-18)
LIMITED SPACES AVAILABLE - The perfect opportunity to gain an insight into the school, view the facilities and gather all the information you need.Boarding at King's
Much of what sets us apart from other schools in this area stems, we believe, is our strong boarding ethos.
Boarding is part of our DNA. Our houses are centrally placed (two are in the main school building) and boarding is central to what we are. Our boarders come from far and wide. Many are local - a few live closer to school than some of their day pupil friends. Others come from the south west of England, while others are from further afield in the UK and some from overseas. This makes for a varied and vibrant community within the houses. Wherever pupils come from, they soon develop a strong sense of loyalty to their house, which makes for exciting and hotly contested inter-house competition in sport and many other activities.
We believe that boarding is a rich and life-affirming experience for our pupils. We know that they leave us well prepared for the demands and challenges of university life. Their friendships are extraordinarily long-lived. They are independent, resilient, resourceful, cheerful, tolerant, pro-active, kind, capable young men and women who go on to make their mark on the world.
A House and a Home
At King’s College, the boarding houses are a vital base for each pupil. It is where they work, sleep and play: somewhere that provides a family atmosphere in new surroundings. It’s much more than a place to hang their coat - it offers individual personal space to day and boarding pupils alike. The boarding experience allows pupils to express their own individuality and personality whilst showing kindness and tolerance to others.
There are seven boarding houses at King’s College, four for boys and three for girls, and each has its own distinct charity, social and cultural events such as formal dinner dances, concerts and theatrical shows. There are regular inter-house events too!
Our Boarding HousesAccommodation
In each house, there is a common room where pupils can relax, chat to friends or watch a film, along with kitchen areas to make drinks and light snacks. Bedroom sizes vary, but on average there are four pupils sharing a dormitory in the Third, Fourth and Fifth Form.
In the Lower Sixth, pupils usually share double study bedrooms, while in the Upper Sixth each pupil has a single study bedroom (space permitting). They are encouraged to ‘decorate’ their bedrooms to make them feel homely. Each house also has a Houseparent, along with a friendly Matron, helping to keep pupils organised and tidy, offering a friendly ear, and providing a wealth of useful information.
Boarders enjoy a high standard of house accommodation including homely common rooms and modern kitchens in which to practise burgeoning culinary skills. Their comfortable bedrooms are shared, usually with three others from within the same year group, while Sixth Formers are in rooms of one or two. All meals are taken communally in the dining hall, where the food is excellent and plentiful. Tea and snacks are provided between meals.
The school’s beautiful grounds and many of its facilities, including the library, are open to boarders in the evenings and over weekends. The school boasts a state-of-the-art medical centre, manned 24 hours a day by qualified medical staff.
Weekends
Saturdays see pupils embark on lessons in the morning and sports matches in the afternoon. There is often a house event that might take place on a Saturday evening. On Sundays, we offer a weekend activity programme. This provides the support, attention and informal care that are such strengths of the school. Activities include trips to theme parks and sports events, paintballing, Christmas shopping and cinema afternoons.