When a girl joins us as a boarder, she often feels very excited and just a little bit apprehensive. Boarding at HLC is a big step, both for girls and for their families. Our boarders join a community that is like a large family. They develop their own self-reliance and increasing levels of independence. They learn to be tolerant and how to live and work with others.
In our five boarding houses we have facilities for full boarders, weekly boarders and occasional or flexi-boarders. HLC runs a vertical structure which replicates a ‘home from home’ experience with younger and older ‘sisters’ sharing the house. Girls do however share rooms with others from their own year group.
A number of our boarders are from families in the armed forces. Boarding gives families security about the provision of continuity of quality education and enables a greater degree of flexibility. Many of our armed forces girls are weekly or flexi-boarders when families are nearby and full boarders when parents are overseas.
The School is a member of the Boarding Schools Association and our boarding facilities are inspected regularly. In our most recent report (Ofsted 2010), inspectors commented
“The health needs of boarders are met very well and they are protected and kept safe. Staff have a very good understanding of the boarders in their care and boarders say that they are supported very well. Boarders have many opportunities to make their views known and feel their opinions are listened to. There is a strong commitment to valuing diversity and promoting equality of opportunity and fostering a sense of community and integration.”
We have our own Health Centre, staffed by qualified nurses. Girls may register with the School Doctor. When parents wish it, we can arrange dental and orthodontic appointments and trips to the optician.
We also have our own laundry on site, and every House organises weekly collection. Laundry is collected in House, sent to the laundry and returned within 24 hours. Bed linen, school uniform and “home” clothes can all be sent. Every House also has facilities for those girls who may wish to take responsibility for their own laundry.
A number of activities are on offer during the school day, in the evenings and at weekends. There is little time to miss home as girls take part in badminton, basketball and table tennis competitions. They can learn to ballroom dance and indulge in chocolate evenings! Each boarding house hosts an evening’s entertainment on rotation each Friday.
Weekend trips out of school are a regular occurrence in the boarding calendar. These include ice skating, shopping, theatre visits, dale walking and many more.