Boarding

Why girls love boarding at Woldingham

At Woldingham, boarders live in year groups in our homely and well-equipped boarding houses.

Academic studies are balanced with music, drama and sport, alongside a huge variety of activities and trips. Woldingham feels like a big family with its distinctive caring community, and strong set of values, underpinned by the goals of a Sacred Heart education.

Three quarters of our students are British and our international boarders come from over thirty different countries. We are very proud of this diverse mix of cultures which develops a strong global perspective in all our students.

Woldingham is set in hundreds of acres of beautiful Surrey countryside; it is a wonderful place in which to live, work and play. Our green and peaceful valley is just 30 minutes from London by train.

Boarding at Woldingham will help you learn about yourself as well as make plans for your future and career ahead. You'll achieve exam results which open doors to top universities and exciting careers. You’ll be able to try the most amazing range of activities, music, drama, art and sports. You’ll learn resilience, tolerance and understanding. Just as importantly, we’ll focus on your wellbeing and making a positive impact, not just at school, but throughout your life.

Full and weekly boarding

Students love boarding at Woldingham. Some girls board throughout their time at Woldingham and others move from being a day student to boarding as they go through the school.

Our caring and experienced team of housemistresses are available round the clock offering support and guidance. They really understand how to help new girls settle in quickly and make the most of school life. Support, care, guidance and feeling valued are essential aspects of any family and Woldingham seeks to ensure this for every girl.

Most full boarders stay at school at weekends taking part in our great programme of weekend activities but our family-friendly approach means students can also choose to go home at weekends.

Weekly boarders stay at school for up to five nights a week, usually Sunday to Thursday or Monday night to Friday night. Additional evenings can be requested if a student wants to stay for an occasional extra night.

Flexi-boarding

All day students have the opportunity to flexi-board. It's a great introduction to boarding and is very popular, especially with our younger girls.

Students in Years 7, 8 and 9 can board up to three nights a week and in Year 10 upwards for one or two nights each week (subject to availability).

Spaces for flexi-boarding are booked in advance for each term. We provide bed linen and rooms are cleaned by the school. Flexi-boarders only have access to their bedroom on the nights they board.

Boarding Houses

Our Year 7-11 boarders live in Marden House and Main House. Sixth Form boarders, who live in Berwick House and Shanley House, take on greater responsibilities and play an important role in shaping the character of Woldingham.

Our boarding houses are homely, with comfortable common rooms, TVs, games and WiFi, as well as wellness rooms for quieter relaxation. Boarders eat together in our dining room and snacks are provided in all boarding houses later in the evening. Each year group is cared for by a Head of Year, a Housemistress, an Assistant Housemistress and Resident Tutor, who get to know each girl well and help create the busy, happy community Woldingham is known for.

Marden – Weekly and full boarders in Years 7, 8 and 9

Marden House is home to our weekly and full boarders in Years 7 to 9. Girls share rooms in groups of three or four and have use of the boarders’ common rooms and an adventure playground just outside Marden.

Ms Renshaw, Deputy Head Pastoral, oversees an experienced and caring team who look after the girls’ needs and help them to settle quickly into boarding life.

Housemistress Ms Kuster knows that moving to a new school - particularly from overseas - is a big step and she and the rest of the team make the transition as smooth as possible. In the warm and friendly atmosphere of Marden, girls soon make many new friends.

Marden – Weekly and full boarders in Years 7, 8 and 9

Main House

The grandeur of Main House is home to our boarders in Years 10 and 11.

Each girl has her own individual study bedroom, complete with desk, wardrobe, storage drawers and sink. There are modern shower and bathroom facilities, and light and airy common rooms in which to enjoy some well-earned relaxation. Kitchens include a fridge, microwave, hot chocolate machine and toaster for the girls’ use.

Flexi-boarders in Years 7 to 9 are also based in Main house, sharing bedrooms. The girls benefit from the guidance and support of our experienced Flexi-Housemistress, Mrs Hanna.

Berwick House and Shanley House – Sixth Form

Our Sixth Form boarders live in purpose-build, modern accommodation, with laundry areas, kitchens and common rooms, which provides the perfect transition from school to university.

Lower Sixth boarders live in Berwick House and have their own study bedrooms with shared bathrooms. In the Upper Sixth, students move to Shanley House, where their study bedrooms have an en suite bathroom.

Sixth Formers enjoy the use of two wellness rooms and can use the study and collaboration zones in our superb new Sixth Form Centre at weekends, as well as during the week.

Berwick House and Shanley House – Sixth Form

Weekends for boarders

Life at Woldingham is home from home and weekends are active and varied. Friday evenings kick off with Friday Fun for the younger students, where movies, games, karaoke and pizza nights are some of the activities arranged.

In groups of at least three, from Year 9 upwards girls often visit Oxted, our local country town, which has a cinema, shops and coffee bars, while Sixth Form, students can enjoy trips into London.

On Saturday mornings many girls will be involved in team sports, such as netball, hockey, athletics, cricket and tennis. All boarders in Years 7 to 9 participate in Saturday Active, which includes such things as roller skating, Pilates, cake decorating and Photoshop.

Before lunch, there is supervised study time for girls in Years 7 to 11.

A carefully considered programme of weekend excursions offers boarders a wide range of experiences, with visits to historic places and exhibitions; active trips, such as watersports or cycling; and leisure trips including a meal out, going to the cinema or bowling.

Sundays are usually quieter, with a later wake up, breakfast and Mass. In the afternoon, girls can relax in our beautiful grounds or enjoy in-house activities like swimming and badminton, whilst older students may choose to visit Oxted or London.

Weekends are also used for music and drama rehearsals and whole school events. The school puts on six major productions each year to enable maximum participation.

House and school events are an important way to bring the community together and are hugely popular. Highlights are the House Festival, House Feasts, House Drama, House Pancake Race, Bonfire Night, Foundation Day and Sports Day

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Discover the enriching experience of boarding at Woldingham