Boys from Abroad
A constant ratio of about 10% of Woodcote boys live abroad, coming from either Service, expatriate or foreign families. Woodcote ensures a warm welcome to these boys who may be boarding and living in the UK for the first time.
Woodcote offers boys a secure and friendly environment and continuity of care. As well as Mr Knight and his family, a number of pastoral staff and experienced teachers live on site and this makes for a stable and happy family atmosphere.
The welfare of all Woodcote boys is important to us but we are mindful of the unique needs of ‘Abroad’ boys. Extra help with English is available. Much of this is provided by our dedicated mainstream staff and is included in our school fees. Boys can make excellent progress in English in a short space of time through a combination of individual tuition, literacy games and time spent with English classmates.
In addition to a week’s Half Term holiday there are two Exeat weekends each term running from Friday midday to Monday evening. If boys are unable to return home or do not have family friends at hand, the school makes arrangements for them to stay with one of their classmates.
‘Abroad’ boys are allowed mobile phones (kept with the Headmaster) for use in the evenings and at weekends and there are also three landlines in the school. All boys have their own email address and, like their British boarding friends, they will be expected to write a letter home once a week.
The school understands that some families from abroad may require special support. We will organise reliable transport to and from airports and boys can leave uniform and kit at school during the holidays. When the time comes for an ‘Abroad’ boy to leave Woodcote, the Headmaster and his team will use their experience to make recommendations and then arrangements for entry to senior school.
