On the completion of a £2million project to refurbish its boarding facilities, Graham Able, Master of Dulwich College, describes the advantages for the boys – as well as their significant contribution to the ethos of the school

Boarding at Dulwich fulfils a variety of pupil and parent needs. Although our capacity for 104 boarders seems almost insignificant compared to the 1430 boys at the college, the boarders have traditionally contributed more to our ethos than their numbers alone would suggest. Whereas our minimum age of entry for day-boys is seven, we only take boarders from the age of 11 for purely practical reasons of available space.

Our boarders tend to fall into three categories. First we have those whose parents are reasonably local but with a busy weekday schedule which makes weekly boarding an attractive proposition. As we are mainly a London day school, we do not have Saturday morning lessons and the ability of weekly boarders to return home on a Friday evening and come back into college on a Monday morning is greatly appreciated. This also makes weekly boarding an attractive option for some boys whose journeys to the college would otherwise be unduly long.

Our second category of boarder comprises those who live overseas or whose parents have moved to another part of the United Kingdom. These enjoy full boarding facilities at the college and constitute approximately half of our 11 to 16 boarding house, The Orchard. The relatively small number enables the house staff to arrange outings for them most weekends, and the ready availability of suitable attractions in the London area makes for variety in these excursions. It is our view that boys boarding in London should make full use of the opportunities to visit museums, galleries and places of historic interest, but it is also our view that such excursions within this age group should be organised and accompanied by members of the college staff. The train service from West Dulwich, just 12 minutes from Victoria, makes central London easily accessible.

The final category of boarding at the college contains a small number of boys who are boarding for a short period for family circumstances of a temporary nature. This can vary from a week to a year depending on the reasons for the temporary boarding need. We have very few places for this type of boarding, but the turnover is such that it benefits several boys in any one academic year. It also guarantees that temporary disruptions to the family life need not interrupt the schooling of the boys concerned.

Life in our two sixth form boarding house is deliberately seen as a bridge between the careful supervision of The Orchard and the freedom boys will experience at university. Following a major rebuilding refurbishment programme completed last year, every boy on Blew and Ivyholme, as our senior houses are named, has a purpose-built individual study-bedroom with en suite bathroom facilities. This accommodation is considerably better than most will enjoy at university. Whereas boys in The Orchard have much of their weekend organised for them, the upper school boarders enjoy greater freedom to visit museums, art galleries and cinemas on their own. A trust system is in operation, and it is each boy’s responsibility to sign out and indicate to his Housemaster his whereabouts. As long as the boys respect this trust and are back in the house at the right time – and in the right state! – then they have the freedom to follow their own interests and gain the advantages of being in London. Many of the expeditions are arranged jointly amongst groups of friends and the freedom given is greatly appreciated and only very infrequently abused.

Our number of boarders in the two A Level years is considerably greater than lower down the college. This is for two reasons. Most importantly, we have traditionally recruited boys from all round the world into our upper school and this gives us an input into sixth form boarding of some 30 pupils a year. At the same time, there are always a few boys who, having been members of our day community for a number of years, decide they wish to board on either a weekly or full basis during their A Level studies.

All three houses have good internet facilities and electronic devices are increasingly the preferred method of communication for the boys – if not for the parents. The letter home, a weekly chore in my own boarding school days, has been totally replaced by mobile phones and email.

Undoubtedly the boarding houses give additional opportunities for the boys to enjoy the facilities of the school. For those who do not have such facilities at home, boarding also gives boys the options both for quiet study and, conversely, for socialising with others of the same age. Because there is no journey to undertake at each end of the school day, boarders have more time and energy available than nearly all their day counterparts. 

Boarding is not the right way forward for everyone, but it gives many opportunities that, for reasons of geography or parental commitments, they could not enjoy otherwise. At Dulwich, boarders certainly have a great sense of being part of a very special small community within, what I hope, is an equally special larger one.

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