Boarding  


Comfortable     v   Caring    v     Welcoming
  

Statement of Principles and Practice

The pastoral care of all pupils at the New Eccles Hall School is of paramount importance.  The school aims to provide a caring environment and its care principles are underpinned by the National Minimum Standards for Boarding Schools (latest edition September 2010).

We pride ourselves on an environment which promotes independence and caring for others.  All documentation and policies with regard to cyber-bullying, bullying, safeguarding, rewards and sanctions are written with this environment in mind. 

Principle

All pupils at the New Eccles Hall School, irrespective of social or cultural background, race, religion, age, gender or nationality have the right to a safe environment.  All members of the community can expect to be treated with tolerance, courtesy and respect.

Aims

·         To ensure the safety and general welfare of our pupils and create an environment where they will be healthy and happy.

·         To provide living areas that are comfortable and that allow for ample privacy.

·         To provide and promote a boarding environment that encourages pupils to be tolerant. 

·         To provide and promote an environment where pupils feel free to ‘speak up’ about concerns such as bullying.

·         To help develop pupils’ sense of personal responsibility, ability to be a ‘team-player’ and respect for the boarding community as a whole.

·         To provide an environment in which pupils reach their potential whether academic or otherwise and to celebrate their successes throughout the community.

Practices

The New Eccles Hall School has four boarding houses.  Senior boys, Junior boys and girls (on separate floors), Senior girls and Sixth Form boys.  The Senior boys’ house is located near the main school reception and the remaining houses are in and around our Main Hall.

Boarding houses are staffed by a team of Housemasters, Housemistresses, House Tutors and residential Matrons.  In addition, the boarding houses have Gap Year students to assist with activities in the evenings. 

Boarding at The New Eccles Hall School is the responsibility of the Headmaster with the assistance of the Deputy Head, Boarding and Pastoral Care.

The Junior Boarding House caters for pupils from the age of nine years.  Boys move to the Senior Boys’ House at the age of thirteen or fourteen and girls move to more independent accommodation at the same age.

Matrons

In addition to published surgery times, one of the school’s residential matrons is on call at all times.  All medication (including homeopathic remedies) is administered by one of the matrons exclusively.  In addition to the medical roles of our matrons, they also fulfil a pastoral role alongside the House Parents and House Tutors.  Communication with House staff as to the well-being of pupils can be expected to be excellent at all times.  Communication with parents on matters of physical well-being is also undertaken by the matrons.

Medical

Medical issues are the responsibility of the Matrons.  All boarding pupils are registered with the school’s GP who visits weekly.  Controlled drugs are kept under lock and key and the school does not currently have any pupils who are required to self-medicate.  Provision is made in the Sick Bay for pupils who are not well enough to attend school and the matrons inform house staff accordingly.

Staffing

Staff supervision is provided in all areas of the boarding environment in the evenings.  With the exception of sixth form pupils, boarding houses are not used during the school day.  Staffing rotas are published at the beginning of each term and all staff are fully aware of procedures pertaining to medical emergency or fire.  Senior staff are contactable at all times.  Boarding staff begin the evening duty at 7 or 7.15pm at which time there is a formal roll call and ‘hand over’ of pupil responsibility.

Each house has a ‘duty file’ in order to record absences and pupil incidences.  These files reside in the Staff Room during the normal school day and are used to record incidences amongst  day pupils as well.

Privacy

Many pupils have rooms to themselves in all areas of the school’s boarding environment.  This is subject to availability however and it is expected that some pupils will share rooms.  Many pupils prefer to share and this is indicative of the school’s boarding ethos.  Staff treat pupils’ private areas with respect and lavatory and shower areas are monitored on a discreet basis.  Female staff do not enter the dormitory areas of boys in the Senior boys’ house and the reverse is the case in the Senior girl’s accommodation.  All staff accommodation is out of bounds to pupils at all times.

Complaints

Pupils are briefed at the start of every half term about their rights and who they should speak to if they are concerned.  Boarding pupils have an additional ‘avenue’ for adult support (as well as Class and Personal Tutors) with their Boarding House staff team.  All allegations of bullying are treated extremely seriously and are reported to the Headmaster or one of his Deputies.  Pupils are also made aware of the telephone numbers for Childline and the school’s Independent Listener.

If you have a question that is not answered here, please email it to seniorhouse@neweccleshall.com.  Also let us know your age and we'll have your question answered by someone in your year group.

Mr R Thornton

Deputy Head – Boarding and Pastoral Care