February 25th 2023
Boarding at Moulsford is a very important part of school life, and adds huge value to the Moulsford community. Jake and Chantal Albon took over the running of the Boarding House in September 2022, following Jaimie and Sally Noble who ran a very happy ship for six years. As with many areas of school life, Moulsford boarding has evolved over the past ten years, and the current model reflects modern family living. In 2013, the Moulsford boarders were predominantly boarding four nights a week from Monday to Friday. While we still have weekly boarders in 2023, the significant majority of boys now flexi-board for two nights a week, either Monday and Tuesday, or Wednesday and Thursday. This has the advantage of allowing more boys the opportunity to board – while we have thirty-five beds, we have the capacity for fifty+ flexi-boarders.
The Moulsford Boarding Champion is awarded each week to a boy who has demonstrated kindness, teamwork, respect, positivity and friendship, with these values summing up the culture and ethos of our Boarding House. There is so much going on after hours, and team activities such as Boarders’ Masterchef, always a highlight of the year, reinforce these values. The boarding tutor groups have now completed Round 1 of this very exciting competition, and all thoroughly enjoyed sampling their creations.
Virtually all Moulsford boarders have previously been day children with us, and are choosing to board at Moulsford, either in preparation for their senior school, or because of the many benefits that the boarding experience offers. Boarding at Moulsford has a very strong family feel, and most boys tend to start boarding from Year 5 or 6 upwards. We are looking forward to the Spring 'trial boarding night' next Friday 3rd March, which is now fully booked. However, there will be plenty more opportunities for those boys in Years 5 to 7 who would like to experience a night in the Boarding House, as we normally run one trial night per term.
For parents and boys interested in Moulsford boarding, I would like to highlight the Boarding House Drinks and Tour on Thursday 9th March. This invitation is open to parents of boys currently in Years 4 to 7 to have a drink, meet current boarders and have a short tour of the Boarding House. Please click on this link for more information and to book a place.
In Year 5, parents start seriously contemplating senior schools for their sons, and at this stage it can be so difficult to know whether boarding is the right route. History suggests that roughly half of Moulsford boys will go on to board at their senior school in some form, either flexi, weekly or full, with a significant majority of Year 8 leavers graduating to schools where boarding of some form is an option. Moulsford boarding is there not only to give boys a fantastic experience while at Prep School, but also to keep options open for the exciting next stage which awaits beyond Moulsford.
