Preparation and arrival
What to do before you start…
We look forward to welcoming you into your boarding house at Kimbolton. Below are a few things to do before you arrive.
- Read this handbook.
- Read and sign the ICT Policy.
- Read and sign the Health Centre information.
- Check through the packing list below.
- Make sure all valuables and clothes are labelled.
- Check that your parents have all contact numbers (located at the bottom of the handbook home page).
- Check that the school has the correct contact details for you, including Guardian details.
- Over 13s are advised to open a bank account. For younger students, money can be looked after by the Houseparents.
- Go through the Boarders’ Calendar and check House opening and closing dates and times at the start and end of term.
What to pack
please note
Each article must be clearly marked with initials and surname in full. (This includes keys, toiletry bag, toothbrush etc. as well as personal items such as watches and pens). Unnamed articles of lost property will be donated to charity.
Please do not bring: mini fridges, rice cookers, large sums of cash, candles, expensive jewellery, kettles or electric blankets.
Stationery and personal products: If you need to buy stationery or personal products during term time, you can purchase these from the school shop or, from the local Budgens in the village. If you have a last minute emergency you can always ask your House Matron, as she keeps some spare supplies in the house.
What to do when you first arrive…
All new boarders, parents and guardians are invited to join our induction day and will receive precise details from the Registrar. This occurs the day before the Autumn term starts and involves:
- A welcome registration where any outstanding forms are handed in and checked
- A lunch with your new Houseparents
- A Tour of the School, usually with the Head of House
- A visit to the Health Centre to meet the nurses and have medical forms checked
- An ICT meeting
- Time to meet the Matron and settle in to bedrooms and make them feel homely
- An afternoon tea hosted by the House parents and the resident House Tutor.
On the first evening in house there will be a House Meeting in which introductions are made and new boarders are paired up with a boarding buddy and essential house rules are talked through.
On a subsequent evening, once boarders have settled in a bit more, each new boarder will have a further meeting with the Houseparent during which the house rules are talked through in more detail and any questions can be asked. Each new boarder is also invited to attend an appointment at the Health Centre to talk over any medical needs with the nursing staff and to find out what support is available to them.
The first weekend always has a boarders’ social where both houses and staff join together to get to know each other through an activity and a BBQ. All boarders are strongly encouraged to attend this event.
Accommodation
Rooms vary from single rooms to shared dorms, and allocation will depend on the number and ages of the pupils boarding. All room allocations are published at the start of the September Term.
To make the rooms feel homely we recommend bringing personal items like posters for the walls and photos from home. There are pin boards provided, when these are full pupils should use White Tack to prevent damage to the walls. It is expected that you leave your room as you found it at the start of the year.
Any maintenance issues should be reported to the House Matron immediately and this will be recorded in the House Book and a ticket will be logged with the maintenance team where required.
Study facilities
There are communal study spaces in both boarding houses. Pupils in Third Form and below will be expected to complete their homework in these communal areas where there is a member of staff who will assist and support with homework.
Fourth Form and above all have desks in their rooms and will complete their homework there. The member of staff will check on each of the boarders throughout prep time and will be available to provide support as needed.
Personal belongings
The rooms are assigned to each pupil, usually for the year, and they are able to leave all of their personal belongings over the weekends and school holidays. However, they will be required to remove their possessions over the summer holidays.
Students who live overseas are permitted to leave a clearly labelled box or case, providing they seek prior permission from Matron or their Houseparent.
All boarders are responsible for their own personal belongings whilst in school and the boarding house. They should not bring valuable jewellery and other such items to school. For those items that are brought, including electrical items such as phones and iPads, it is advised that these are insured.
Large sums of cash should not be brought, if cash is needed, this should be given to the Houseparents for safe keeping.
Pupils who are found to have stolen the property of others risk being asked to leave the boarding house.
Security
The doors to the Boarding Houses are security coded and the codes are changed regularly. The codes must be memorised by the pupils and not given out in any circumstance.
Each pupil has a lockable cupboard within their rooms, and there is a safe in Matron’s room that may be used for specific items.
For security purposes the Kim House front door (on the high street) will be bolted after 7.00pm, therefore the rear door must be used. The large black gate into White House should also be kept closed at all times. Catches to restrain the opening windows have been fitted. No catches or restraints should be removed.
Any persons visiting the house are under staff supervision to prevent them gaining substantial unsupervised access to boarders or their accommodation. Boarders are permitted to have one guest each, they must sign in and remain in the common areas. Parents and Guardians are not allowed to access bedrooms unless escorted by a member of staff (with the exception of the first and last day of term).
Should there be an emergency there is an internal alarm system, which can be triggered by boarders or Duty Staff.
