Boarding is a vital and thriving element at Monmouth School, contributing much to every day life at the School. Great thought is put into every aspect of its provision to ensure that each boy will look back on his time with us as being amongst the happiest and most fulfilling of his life. We believe we have much to offer each and every child in our care. Whether it is the calm structure of prep time, the varied weekend activity programme or the chance to develop lifelong friendships, sporting, musical or artistic skills, boarding can make the difference. The maturity and skills learnt through boarding can smooth the transition to university life and adulthood.

There are five boarding houses at Monmouth School: St James for boys from 11 to 13; Chapel , School, New and Weirhead for senior boys from 13 to 18. In St James a beautiful listed Georgian building, the boys share up to six to a room in a warm, cosy and relaxed atmosphere, very much a home from home. There are experienced House Parents who are totally dedicated to that age group and able to help and advise on all aspects of school life to ensure new boarders get off to a flying start. The Housemaster and his wife are very friendly and easily accessible so that every child in their care knows he can turn to them as and when needed.   From 13, the boys progress to their senior houses, where as they mature, they are encouraged to develop their interests and build on their individual strengths. The boys share rooms, moving on to their own study bedrooms in the Sixth Form, where they have their own space and greater privacy. By creating a greater sense of independence in the Sixth Form, we hope to prepare each boy for life beyond school. We try to balance carefully the need to ensure a safe, secure environment with the need to learn to take responsibility for oneself and others in the outside world.

Overseeing all aspects of boarding at the School are Senior Housemasters, who are also full members of the teaching staff, and thus fully integrated in school life. Through the house staff and input from the boys themselves, boarding and all it encompasses is continually fine-tuned and an atmosphere of mutual care and respect for the school community is maintained and enhanced. Each boy is assigned a house tutor who maintains regular weekly contacts with his tutees to discuss academic and personal matters, while housemasters and their wives provide further support. In addition, there are Staff Counsellors, a Chaplain, Nurses, a School Doctor and an independent Child Psychotherapist available for help and advice if needed. "Being away from home has made me far more confident and independent. It is a good preparation for university life and how to cope on your own"

It is taking care of the smaller details that can help to create the family feel. The Caterers go to great lengths to make school food interesting and nutritious and have received a national award for the high standards of their cooking. Sunday 'brunch' is popular with the boys helping to create more of a relaxed feel at weekends and the themed Mexican and Indian evenings are universally popular with boarders.

The boarding structure is also extremely flexible to match today's family life. We try wherever possible to accommodate each boy's needs, so that whilst full boarders are fully catered for, it is possible to go home at weekends and even temporary boarding is on offer, subject to availability. With this flexibility, the numbers in School at weekends enables the houses to run more along family lines and offer a full programme of activities, which include regular cinema trips, caving, cycling, canoeing, riding, grass-skiing and many others. At the beginning of every term, each boarder receives an updated list of the full term's programme for after-school and weekend activities, most of which are conducted jointly with our sister school, Haberdashers'Monmouth School for Girls. Ideas from boys are always welcome and the trips are very well supported. In fact, some boarders stay in for the more popular events!

The School is a Christian foundation but operates non-denominationally. Boys are expected to attend Chapel on Sunday, and arrangements can be made for boys wishing to attend other places of worship. The School Chaplain also instructs boys for Confirmation and is on hand to offer help and guidance on spiritual matters.

"I have boarded since I was 11 and took part in pot-holing and canoeing expeditions and Design and Technology workshops. Now I am in the first XV, CCF and about to sit my A levels. There is no way I would have found the time to fit all this in if I had not been a boarder."

Keeping parents involved in their son's boarding experience is another key element contributing to its overall success. Members of staff are easily contactable to discuss any concerns parents may have and each boy has his own e-mail address and access to phones. Parents and children need never feel cut off from one another. The School works closely with those parents who live abroad, to ensure all travel arrangements run as smoothly as possible. For further information on Boarding at Monmouth School, please contact the Admissions Secretary, who would be delighted to arrange a visit to meet the house staff and boys. We also offer taster-weekends for those who would like to get a feel for boarding.