What our boarders say
We don't have a long journey to school in the morning and breakfast is fun too. We have lots of activities to choose from in the evenings, my favourites are Art, Cookery, Astronomy and Dance.
I like boarding at Chilton because my friends are here and it is like having a sleepover. We have a lie in at the weekend. I look forward to seeing my family at half term but on the weekends I am in school I enjoy the trips to Laser Quest and adventure parks. We go to the cinema or ten pin bowling, which I am quite good at! My favourite activities are Rock Workshop and Woodcraft.
My room is really cosy. I share with friends from my class and we have photographs and posters on our wall. I bring my own duvet and things from home, so it is a bit like going to stay at my gran's house in the summer.
What the inspectors say
Young people receive excellent support from staff. This comes from the staff having in-depth knowledge of the young people they are working with. Young people are very positive about the staff who care for them, saying they are very caring, fun to spend time with and always make time for them - Ofsted
The relationship between the staff and young people is excellent and is a real strength of the school. Staff know the young people they care for very well and are committed to providing them with a nurturing and positive experience - Ofsted
Overseas Boarders
The boarding family is at the heart of Chilton. One third of our pupils are boarders and our House Parents and teaching staff make a huge contribution to the success of boarding life at the school. We pride ourselves on the family ethos and atmosphere at Chilton Cantelo, where children feel happy and safe in this beautiful environment.
Our boarding family comprises about 115 children from Year 3 through to Year 11 and from September 2012 the family will extend to include our new Sixth Form boarders. We have children who board from local, national and international backgrounds, most are from British families living in the UK and abroad and 16% are foreign nationals from Hong Kong, Korea, Spain, Canada and Germany.
Children who are joining their boarding house for the first time will be looked after by a fellow boarder. Houseparents are on hand at the end of the school day to meet with form teachers and catch up with any news or concerns. They provide warm, friendly support to the children as they get ready for supper and their evening activities.
Bedrooms are cosy and are shared with a group of friends. Some houses have double and single rooms too. Sixth Form students have single rooms. Duvet covers, photographs and posters all contribute to the homely atmosphere and may be brought from home.
Each house has a common room with space to relax, enjoy a game or watch a DVD
The boarding family enjoy a broad range of activities and freedom around our beautiful grounds. Being together fosters special bonds and friendships in a warm community. Weekends are a busy time for boarders with trips to activity centres, cinema, theme and water parks as well as a wealth of activities here at School.
It is important that your child is mature enough to understand the reasons for boarding and that they feel part of the decision process. Children adapt quickly to the boarding way of life and there are some indicators which highlight whether your child will particularly enjoy boarding:
• Enjoyment of sleepovers and spending more time independently with friends
• Joining clubs and activities outside of the school environment
• The whole family is positive about the boarding lifestyle
Boarding children grow in confidence as they take greater responsibility for their day-to-day lives. They become more independent as they progress through the school and are more organised. Living in a community also encourages them to understand that their actions impinge on others and they learn to be considerate of others and respect different opinions.
Boarding life is busy and usually very cheerful. There are of course moments for every boarder when things may not be going so well and they miss home. The boarding and teaching staff have great experience of this and will help children to feel better quickly. The boarders themselves are quick to spot any changes in behaviour and help their friends. It is important for children to understand that life has its ups and downs and that this is quite normal and something with which they can cope.
Many boarding families comment that time together in the holidays is more special - true family time. Boarding parents can work hard in the knowledge that their children are cared for, happy and busy at school.
