Boarding and Care at Frewen

Boarding is available for boys from the age of around 10, or a little younger if they have an older brother here. Regrettably we are unable to offer boarding for girls on site, although it can be provided via host families.

We try to make Boarding at Frewen as homely as possible.  Boys are accommodated in rooms rather than dormitories with the largest number in any room being four in the junior house, and two in the senior house.  All rooms are en suite and the boys are encouraged to personalise their rooms.

Boarding is very popular, and whenever we have room, we are happy to accommodate day boys for 'occasional boarding' visits, subject to a supplementary payment.

A Boarder's Day

All boys are woken by a member of staff at 7.30 a.m. ready for breakfast which is served at 8.00 a.m.  They return to their rooms to tidy up and clean their teeth and after a brief room inspection they go off to school.  Rooms are cleaned every day and laundry is also done, in house, on a daily basis.

At five o'clock the boys return to the house.  A roll call is taken and the evening activities outlined.  The boys then collect their clean clothing and change out of school uniform.  Boys choose which activity they would like to do at tea time at 5.45 p.m. We expect all boys to take part in communal activities for at least an hour each evening to help develop their social skills. 

Activities are very varied including football, art and craft, table tennis, pool, table football, swimming, laser quest, ten pin bowling, cinema and theatre trips, camp fires, card games, banger racing, computers and many more.  Each boarder is expected to take part in an activity for an hour each evening as we find this extremely valuable in developing their social skills.

After activities boys are free to relax.  When the nights are light they make good use of our extensive parkland and swimming pool and in the winter they enjoy using the Playstations that are in the house as well as board and card games.

Most younger boarders say they really enjoy boarding because there is always someone to play with!

Weekends

We offer full boarding at Frewen for those boys who live too far away to travel home at weekends but several of the weekly boarders also choose to stay for the weekend.  Weekends are less structured with a balance of time to relax, and trips out.  Boys in at the weekends cook their own breakfast and we always go out for our main meal on a Saturday.  Sunday lunch is a traditional roast with a delicious pudding!

Our Boarding Team

The house is run by Richard and Jane Sage who have many years experience of running boarding houses as well as having brought up their own children.  Richard and Jane are also teachers and they teach for part of the school day so providing a link between the academic and the pastoral side of Frewen College. Richard is also an avid 'Pompey' fan, but chose not to disclose this at interview!

Our Boarding Assistant Colin Webster has responsibility for the organisation of activities and acts as a Keyworker for the senior boys.  Two gap tutors join us each year and prove excellent role models for the boys especially with regard to sport.  For 2008, we are delighted to welcome Andre and Ben, both from Melbourne, Australia. Andre is a keen cricketer, and Ben a musician, both popular activities here. This year our Gap team is supplemented by Mao Ye ('Jacky' to most of the boys!), an English teacher from China, who is offering free Mandarin classes to anyone brave enough to try!

Pastoral Care

Complementing our boarding staff in providing pastoral care, we have Matron Lizanne Brown , who is an extremely experienced State Registered Nurse.  As well as being responsible for First Aid across the school, Lizanne supports the teaching staff in providing health education. Lizanne is supported by two of our classroom staff who are trained Mentors, Moira Marchant at The Oaks, and Stephanie White at Frewen.

Ofsted Inspection

Our boarding provision is regularly inspected, formerly by CSCI, the Commission for Social Care Inspection, but from 2007 their responsibility for residential special schools has been passed to Ofsted. Ofsted will in future undertake inspections of both boarding and educational provision.

Past CSCI reports can now be found via the Ofsted website (www.ofsted.gov.uk), by following the 'Residential Special Schools' link.

Parents' latest comments to the CSCI inspectors about boarding include:

'Wonderful, on the ball.'

'I'm happy he's safe and being looked after well.'

'He's blossomed and settled.'

We are currently awaiting the written report for this year's boarding inspection, but have been told that we have been rated 'outstanding' for the section on 'Enjoying and Achieving'!