Clifton College Prep School Boarding Guide

EVERYTHING YOU NEED TO KNOW ABOUT BOARDING AT CLIFTON COLLEGE PREPARATORY SCHOOL SCHOOL

KONNICHIWA HOLA

GUTEN TAG BONJOUR NǏ HǍO NAMASTĒ

YASOU ZDRAVSTVUYTE

HELLO CIAO OLÁ

BENVENUTO WELKOM

WELCOME BIENVENUE

WILLKOMMEN VÍTEJT

BIENVENIDO

YŌKOSO

WITAJ

HOŞ GELDIN

I am Mr Wood, the Housemaster. I live in the Boarding House with my wife, Mrs Wood, three children and two dogs, and I am here to look after you as boarders.

As well as being your Housemaster, I am class teacher and Games coach too! Mrs Wood was Head of English and Faculty at Cotham school and during her time there was also a pastoral lead. She was a boarder as a child and as such, has a brilliant understanding of boarding and House life.

I have been at the College for 16 years. I was Housemaster of Tait’s Town for three years, and have been Housemaster of North Town for the past eleven years. Before arriving at Clifton, I spent six years as a secondary school teacher, as well as playing rugby for the Wales Youth Team and playing semi-professionally. I am an avid rugby and Star Wars fan, but thoroughly enjoy learning about, and getting involved in, the many and varied interests of the pupils, trying my hand at anything from table tennis and pool, to Nerf guns and Tchoukball!

We have plenty of staff in Hartnell’s who are here to help make your time at Clifton enjoyable, profitable and safe. There will be always staff in the House overnight who you can contact using a bell and a list of all staff is up on the board in the House.

All staff will have a blue lanyard around their neck to show they are Clifton staff.

HOUSEMASTER

Mr Wood (Housemaster - lives on the private side)

HOUSEPARENT

Mrs Wood (House Tutor - lives with Mr Wood)

RESIDENTIAL MATRON

Mrs S Ingram (who lives in the House)

MATRONS

Mrs C Rogers, Mrs J Moss

RESIDENT TUTORS

Mr Taylor and Miss S Barman (who live in school)

TUTORS

Mr Walton, Mr Tierney, Mr Sainsbury, Mr Evans and Ms Millar

OUR

We believe everyone should be empowered and supported to take risks. We are not afraid of setbacks. We learn from our successes and challenges. We encourage bravery and, through reflection, build inner strength.

We treat each other with kindness, sincerity and respect. We are liberal and open-minded, free from prejudice and pretension. We strive to make a positive difference in everything we do.

We are determined to explore and develop what excites and motivates us, to fulfil our potential and realise our dreams. We are curious, adventurous and intellectually agile.

FORM positive relationships between boarders, their parents and our staff

PROVIDE experiences and opportunities to encourage self-development in all areas

NURTURE boarders’ leadership skills and the ability to work as part of a team

BUILD an open and trusting environment in which boarders are treated with respect

ENCOURAGE responsibility for self, others and the environment

CREATE an atmosphere in which any form of bullying would have difficulty flourishing

PREPARE boarders for their future

There is one boarding House at Clifton College Prep School, it is called Hartnell’s House. There are 5 other Houses but these are for day children only. Hartnells has boys and girls from every age group in the school (4-8) and some day pupils as well.

It is run by Mr Wood, his wife Sarah and the rest of the live-in team of assistants as well as our team of Graduates. All the children have the support of Clifton’s pastoral system which includes all teaching staff as well as the School Counsellor, the well-being and medical team, The Chaplain and the on site Safe-Guarding team.

All the boarders at Clifton College, whose parents live either overseas or a significant distance from school, are required to have a guardian. These guardians are appointed by the parents as someone who can react readily in the unlikely event of an urgent call from school as an emergency contact.

Many of our pupils have guardians that are relatives or perhaps a friend of the family that lives close to school. They must be over 25 years of age and not a full time student.

If there is not someone like this available, reputable Guardianship organisations, such as AEGIS, (The Association for the Education and Guardianship of International Students) or the BSA (The Boarding School Association) can help parents to find a suitable Guardian. Both of these organisations provide accreditation for reputable guardianship organisations.

It is the responsibility of each family, and not the school, to ensure that the guardian is in place.

We will make contact with these Guardians, and ideally meet them, before you first visit them and will ask you to complete a questionnaire when you return to school about your stay. This way we can check you enjoy the stay and everything is as it should be.

During Exeats (weekends away from school) and school holidays, your parents and Guardians will need to ensure you are either staying with them, or they have organised for you to stay with a host family. Generally, you will leave school around 4pm on the Friday and return on the Sunday Evening around 6pm.

Once you have been at the school and made some friends, you may be invited to their house for either an Exeat or school holiday, this is also ok and something our boarders really enjoy.

Throughout the term, you might also be invited out to play at another pupil’s house, to a club outside of school or to a birthday party and as long as your parents give permission, this is encouraged!

A DAY

It is important to get into good habits so that you know where you have to be at all times. Mr Wood will be really clear with instructions and has a bell in the dorms to let you know when you should come downstairs. You will be given a buddy who will help you around the House, but also getting around the school and to your lessons.

You will need to put on your school uniform every day but on Saturday you will put on your games kit in the morning. You will get a small bag to put your dirty laundry in and the matron will wash it and hand it back to you.

You will have games on two afternoons a week as well as PE and possibly swimming lessons, although this depends on which year you are in.

There are matches against other schools. You will travel to matches in kit and tracksuits. Mr Wood will put the team sheets on the House notice board.

After school, Mr Wood is keen that you have time to relax in your rooms, just like you would at home, as well as take part in our various activities which include this like sport, drama, art, music, bee keeping and chess.

Each year group will have a different bedtime depending on age. After prep (homework) you have some free time and we might go out and play or stay in and relax. After this it will be showers, cleaning your teeth and putting on your pyjamas.

If you come down stairs, in your pyjamas, you must have a dressing gown or a onesie on as well as your slippers. If you are hungry, there is cereal and toast for supper.

SCHEDULE

6.45 AM WAKE UP

7.15 AM BREAKFAST

8.15 AM REGISTRATION

8.35 AM ASSEMBLY OR HOUSE TIME

8.50 AM LESSONS

10.35 AM MORNING BREAK

12.10 PM LUNCH

4.00 PM END OF SCHOOL

4.15 -5.15 PM ACTIVITIES

5.15 PM TEA

6.00-7.00 PM PREP TIME

7.00 PM EVENING ROUTINE

8.45 PM READING & LIGHTS OUT (slightly later for the older ones)

When you arrive at Hartnell’s you and your parents will be shown your room by the staff who will help you take up your luggage and unpack, as well as give you a tour of the House.

We will introduce you to your room mates, one of whom will be your ‘buddy’. This buddy will be a pupil who is already at Clifton and can answer all your questions and show you where everything is - you don’t need to worry about getting lost!

There will be lots of other children who are new to Clifton and feeling the same as you do, so we will make sure you meet all of the House staff and get an opportunity to mix with your new friends.

Don’t worry if you have forgotten something, we can always get anything you need from the school shop or from the local shops when we go out on weekend trips.

It will be a busy day. You will have met lots of new friends and heard plenty of information. Tomorrow will also be busy, but for now you’ll be ready to get a good night’s sleep.

ACTIVITIES

We are very proud of our activities program. These run before school, during lunch breaks or after school and offers activities such as various sports, music (orchestra, pop group, choir, strings etc), chess and other games, table tennis, real tennis, rackets, bee keeping, cookery to name but a few!

We will help you choose, and give you information about them. We would advise you to do at least 3 during the week, choosing things you love, but also being brave and trying new things too!

At the weekend, we will also get up to lots of fun activities - more on that later!

PREP

Throughout the week you will be set prep (homework) in various subjects, this will be a mix of computer based assignments and written tasks. Every pupil has access to a computer and much of your prep will be set on Google Classroom. If you haven’t used this before, don’t worry, we will guide you through it, and no doubt with a bit of time, you’ll be better at navigating it than Mr Wood!

Boarders do their prep each evening and it is your responsibility to check when it has to be handed in, and get it done in time. Prep is a quiet time so you are able to concentrate and work on your own, although there is always a teacher with you to help if you need it.

On Saturday mornings, we play sport, this could be training or matches against other schools. We may also have the occasional Chapel service, guest speaker, yoga sessions or even Mr Walton’s world famous general knowledge quiz. In the afternoons, we do various activities, depending on the weather, which include a fun swim, a walk to the local shops, activities/games on the playground or in the House, as well as time to do your own thing.

Year 8 students are also allowed to go to Clifton Village on their own, once Mr Wood has shown them the route and has parent permission. This is something they look forward to and enjoy enormously!

Weekends are also good for spending time with your friends, as well as spending time relaxing!

Saturday evenings may include a movie, some tuck and some free time to play.

We all need a lie in occasionally! On Sunday morning we do not wake you up, you can get up later and have a leisurely breakfast.

On Sundays, there is often a planned activity or trip away from the House. Some of the things we get up to are:

ICE SKATING

BUGSBOARDING

CINEMA

BAKE OFF

WATER PARK

NINJA WARRIOR

CIRCUS

THE BEACH THEME PARKS

HARTNELL’S GOT TALENT

CHRISTMAS FAIRS

ROCK CLIMBING

CALLING HOME AND MOBILE PHONES

It is really important you can contact home. So you can ask to call home whenever you like, or just use the House Phone in the basement. Although when you first start, your House Parents may advise on how often they think is enough, to make sure you have enough time to get involved in all of the fun things going on.

Pupils can bring one mobile phone to school, but it must be handed in to Mr Wood and locked in the charging cupboard for safety.

You can have your mobile phone on some designated evenings, but not during the day (like all other pupils) and you need to understand how we keep you safe online by having the ‘Prep Pupil Contract’ explained to you by the E-Safety Lead.

Whilst using your phone in school, you will also need to use our school WiFi. This is also the same for any tablets or laptops. This is to keep you safe online rather than stopping you enjoying yourself.

POST

Your friends and family are welcome to send you letters and parcels too! It’s a brilliant surprise to arrive back at the House after school and find letter or parcel waiting for you!

ESSENTIAL EQUIPMENT

Your parents will be sent the uniform and kit lists before you start in Hartnell’s - please make sure they read it very carefully so you have everything you need. If there is anything that you do not have, but need, talk to Mr Wood or the Matrons. They can get it for you from the School Shop or elsewhere.

LOCKERS

In addition to your dorm space, you will also have your own locker to put your possessions and school things in. Please bring a padlock if you can, if not, we will give you one.

LAPTOPS

You can bring a laptop, but you need to make sure you use the school WiFi so that we can protect you from any on-line harm. These laptops must not have VPN’s.

Like with your mobile, the Pupil Contract (which you will need to sign) tells you how to use the College Wi-Fi safely and which websites and apps are ok to use. Mrs Evans, (E-Safety Lead), will come and talk to you about this in the first week and answer any questions you have.

PASSPORTS AND POCKET MONEY

We often go out on trips and if you need money, you can bring a maximum of £100 per term. Mr Wood has a House bank, so you do not lose your money and will give this out when you need it. You will not be allowed to keep your own money with you just in case it gets lost. We strongly advise you have a card similar to a ‘Go Henry’ card (this is a debit card for children) as many places no longer accept coins and notes.

If you have a passport or other important papers, please give them to Mr Wood and he will look after them for you.

DIETARY NEEDS (this

is for medical or religious needs only)

If you have a special dietary requirement, please speak to Mr Wood who will introduce you to the catering staff, they will show you where you can get your food in the dining room. Remember, always ask if you’re unsure!

SNACKS

Hartnell’s has snacks every breaktime and after school for you. We also have baked treats, noodle nights, tuck nights and as much fruit as you want.

YOUR HEALTH

If you are unwell during the day please tell any adult. If you are a day pupil or boarder who lives close to Bristol, you might go home, if you’re a boarder who lives further away or overseas, you will come back to the House where the Matron will look after you. She will also inform the nurses in the Health Centre, these nurses are in school all day and night to look after you.

Some people have allergies to things. These might include milk, eggs, nuts, and cats. Some people take medication to help them and the staff will help you do this. It is very important that you tell us if you think you are not well because of an allergy as we will be able to help. (Parents will be able to tell the school any of this information through engage) Pupils: please remind your parents to do this - you know how forgetful they can be!

All medication must be handed to Mr Wood. Pupils are not allowed to have homoeopathic remedies such as cough medicine with them. Vitamins and supplements must also be handed in to Mr Wood to look after. If medication has foreign language labels these should be given to Mr Wood who will speak to the school doctor.

It is vital that if there are any concerns or questions about medication, supplements or homoeopathic remedies, these are addressed to Mr. Wood.

Part of staying healthy is to stay clean. You will need to have a shower every day and brush your teeth at least twice a day. Each year group will have a different time to shower and we will let you know when it is your turn.

HOUSE COUNCIL

There is a House Council that meet with Mr Wood and Mrs Ingram to tell them the views and ideas of all of the boarders. It is important that pupils have voice and can be a part of making the boarding House and school even better. We discuss lots of things to do with the House, make a plan and then try to put them in place. This can include new resources for the House, suggestions to make the House run smoothly or planning trips and activities.

LAUNDRY

Your clothes will all be washed, dried and folded for you to collect from the laundry each day - all you have to remember to do is put them in the laundry baskets outside your dorm when they need a wash. Remember to name everything, even socks, as it will be much easier to return them to you.

FIRE DRILLS

Fire drills are carried out regularly to ensure everyone knows what to do in the unlikely event of a real fire. Don’t worry, we’ll run through everything with you.

BIRTHDAYS

We like to make a big fuss of boarders’ birthdays! Birthdays are always celebrated with our world famous Birthday Banana, alongside the traditional birthday cake. The Birthday Banana came during COVID when we weren’t allowed to blow out the candles on birthday cakes so we put candles on a banana before eating the cake! (Don’t worry, you still get the cake!)

Parents: We also like to put an ‘embarrassing’ toddler picture of the birthday person up on their special day - please could send one through to Mr Wood in advance!

REWARDS

DORM POINTS

You can also earn rewards with your dorm at the end of each week. Everyday, your dorm will receive points for punctuality and neatness. At the end of the week, the dorm with the most points will get to choose a pupil chosen prize - some of which can be seen below!

HARRY POTTER POINTS

When you arrive at Hartnell’s, the sorting hat will place you in one of the four Hogwarts Houses (Gryffindor, Hufflepuff, Slytherin or Ravenclaw). Throughout each term, you can earn points for your HP House for kindness, helpfulness, intuitiveness, initiative and a whole lot more. At the end of each term there is a special prize for the winning House!

CLIFTON

TUCK = SWEETS AND SNACKS

PREP = HOMEWORK

NF = NEW FIELD (Rugby and Cricket ground, 5 min walk)

BB = BEGGARS BUSH SPORTS GROUND (15 mins by bus)

PP = PREP SCHOOL PLAYGROUND (blue one outside Hartnell’s)

HALL = WHERE WE HAVE ASSEMBLY IN THE PREP SCHOOL

BSK = BIG SCHOOL KITCHEN

BMH = BRETTON MEMORIAL HALL (Lower lunches and sports hall)

THINGS TO KNOW

CAN I BRING A COMPUTER?

Yes, but it does need to be checked by the school IT department first and only connected to the school WiFi.

CAN I BRING OTHER ELECTRONICS?

No, but speak to me and we will see what you are considering. Some people have pocket translators and these are allowed.

CAN I PLAY GAMES ON A COMPUTER?

Yes, but only on the ones that the school allows, there is a list on the wall in the Prep room.

WHAT HAPPENS IF I CAN’T DO MY HOMEWORK (PREP)?

There will be a member of staff with you when you are doing your prep. Ask them for help. There are computers in the House that you can use and some people use their own.

WHAT HAPPENS IF YOU FIND SCHOOL WORK TOO EASY OR DIFFICULT?

Speak to your teacher first then have a chat with a member of staff in the House and we will see what we can do. Don’t just carry on, we will be able to sort it out for you. We are teachers after all!

HOW DO I GET THINGS LIKE TOOTHPASTE, SHAMPOO?

If you ask the matron, she will get it for you from the school shop.

WHAT HAPPENS IF I HAVE LOST SOMETHING?

You need to make sure all your kit and equipment has your name on it, the House (Hartnell’s) is also a good thing to put on it. If you have lost Games kit or uniform we have a supply in the House we can lend you until yours appears. The matron is a good place to start when looking for something that is lost as she knows where everything is!

IF YOU NEED TO

IF AT ANY TIME YOU NEED SOMEONE TO TALK TO, THERE WILL ALWAYS BE SOMEBODY TO HELP.

If you don't feel well or are upset during the night there is a bell on each floor you can ring and a member of staff that lives in will come and help you. The most important part is that you get an adult to help you.

You can report issues anonymously via Whisper if you would rather we don’t know who you are. To report by SMS, send CLC1 + your message to 07860 021 323 or visit welisten.cliftoncollege.com.

Alternatively, Childline are always available to help

ON THE YEAR

AFTER MY FIRST WEEK I FELT...

AFTER MY FIRST TERM I FELT...

AT THE END OF THE YEAR I FELT...

Clifton

Clifton,