One of the questions which parents ask us all the time is, ‘what do boarders get up to at the weekends?’ The short answer is, lots!
At the end of every term, our boarders come together to chat about the sorts of activities they’d love to do over the course of the following months, and from this conversation our ensuing weekend programme is born.
Saturday evening activities tend to remain local to Bloxham, for example, a trip to the cinema, out bowling, a social in our brilliant White Lion Café, a House Dance, or even a disco in the swimming pool! Sundays are when our main activities take place, with heaps of trips to various far-flung locales planned on a term-by-term basis. Some activities are so popular that they are requested again and again, such as outings to ice hockey matches, shopping in London, trampolining, or the Blenheim Christmas lights trail. The location of Bloxham is of real benefit here, as we are within easy reach of Birmingham, London, Oxford, and the Cotswolds.
Senior Housemaster Simon Thompson shares that one of the most important parts of the weekend programme is making sure pupils know they always have a choice. If they’ve had a very busy week and are feeling tired, they don’t have to go on the trips if they don’t want to, and can instead relax in house, just as they would do at home. This is certainly something the pupils very much appreciate; boarder Makayla shares, ‘I love the freedom that comes with boarding. You don’t always have to go out on the Saturday and Sunday trips if you don’t want to. Sometimes when I have had a long week, I love being able to just relax in Wilberforce and maybe put the TV on in the common room and watch a movie with my friends over some snacks. I can also get a head start on my prep or do some extra revision. I could go to the gym or swimming, or I love to practise piano in the music block.’
Not every week is busy or tiring for every person though, so we put a lot of time into making sure the trips we offer really are brilliant fun. One of the challenges which comes with planning the weekend programme is the diversity of ages and interests which characterise our pool of boarders, but our agenda reflects this range and provides something for everyone. From this term’s activities, Makayla is most looking forward to shopping in Bicester Village, Alfie is eager to go sledging, Azura is excited for the Birmingham Christmas Market and Nok can’t wait to go and see the rugby match between Northampton Saints and Exeter Chiefs.
Boarding gives our pupils the chance to experience many weekend activities which go beyond the curriculum, some of them cultural, some just about having fun with friends. Alfie shares, ‘boarding for me opens so many new opportunities that I would not normally end up experiencing and this is one of the reasons I chose to start boarding – to open new doors.’ Azura agrees, adding ‘I love boarding because it allows be to be independent and gives me the opportunity to form close bonds with my housemates.’ Nok’s favourite thing about boarding is the support he experiences within his house: ‘I love the caring nature of the staff in my boarding house. When I am not feeling great, I know who I can talk to. The house staff are always there for us to ensure we bring a smile to every lesson.’
Bloxham School offers a real community feel and a sense of belonging, which can help a pupil grow as a person and improve physical and emotional wellbeing, positively impacting academic outcomes. As we are a medium-sized school, every child is known and valued and strong relationships are formed – Louise Ladds, Deputy Head Pastoral