A Boarder at Woodcote
Woodcote is very much a Boarding School, with a full programme of Free Time, evening and weekend activities for the 75% of boys who start boarding at any age from eight to thirteen.
As well as Mr Nick and his wife and family, the School Nurse, the School Chef, the four resident Matrons and the experienced teaching staff, many of whom live on site, all take great pride in the boys' happiness and welfare.
The boarder's life is a busy one, but with plenty of breaks to let off steam between the daily timetable of lessons and sport. As 'Prep' is done each morning after breakfast, the early evenings are kept free for a wide range of constructive and stimulating hobbies. There are eleven dormitories of different sizes in the main school, all with a Matron's room nearby.. Boys in their final year spend a term in the house of one of the Senior Masters and his family across the playing fields. Bedtime ranges from about 8.00pm to 9.30pm, depending on age.
In addition to a week's Half Term, there are two set Exeat weekends each term (three in the longer Michaelmas term) ; these normally run from Friday midday until Monday evening. Parents are also encouraged to come and visit during matches on Wednesday or Saturday afternoons, whether their sons are representing the school or not, or to join them for Chapel on Sunday mornings. Visits or leave out on birthdays or other special occasions are of course in order. All boys have access to the telephone, their own email address, and will normally be expected to write a proper letter home on Sundays.
Weekends in school are well-supervised, busy and fun. Popular activities include 'hutting': the building of camps in the woods, and `cooking' : frying potatoes on camp-fires. With several staff on duty - one of whom will organise an outing each Sunday - there is always plenty going on to suit all tastes.
Prospective boarders are very welcome to come and spend a night or two at Woodcote, perhaps in the term before they are due to start. This can often coincide with organising uniform, all of which is available at our own School Shop, but more importantly it will give them the chance to ask their own questions, see how things work and to experience the unique, friendly, family atmosphere for which Woodcote is justifiably proud to be renowned.
'Abroad Boys' at Woodcote.
About 10% of Woodcote boys live abroad, being either from expatriate or foreign families, and the unique, friendly, family atmosphere for which we are renowned makes schooling a long way from home much more palatable.
As well as Mr Nick and his wife and family, the large number of pastoral staff and experienced teachers, many of whom live on site, all take particular pride in such boys' happiness and welfare.
The boy's day is a busy one, with a full programme of lessons, activities and sport, but there is plenty of opportunity for extra help with English for foreign boys - much of this will be from the mainstream staff and is included in the fees. It never ceases to amaze us how much progress a boy can make with his English, even if his time at Woodcote is limited to just a term or a year. If a boy is going to continue his education in the UK after Woodcote, Mr Nick is very happy to take personal charge of making arrangements with a suitable senior school.