Welcome to Boarding
Kimbolton House (boys)
Kimbolton House (or “Kim House”) is at the School end of the High Street, opposite Oliver’s, the local shop. There is access to the house from the High Street and around the back near the Health Centre.
Houseparents: The Gilbert family
Mr Gilbert has been at Kimbolton for twenty-one years and brings extensive experience in pastoral care and school life to his role as Housemaster of Kim House. During his time at the school, he has served as Director of Sport, Head of Sixth Form, and more recently as Head of PE, Middles Tutor and Head of Cricket. He has also been fortunate to take part in a wide range of residential experiences, including Duke of Edinburgh expeditions and several overseas sports tours.
Mrs Gilbert has taught at Kimbolton for over sixteen years. In addition to teaching PE and Games, she is an Ingrams tutor and Head of Swimming, Athletics and Cross Country. She has been involved in many of the same residential opportunities, as well as supporting the junior ski trip for several years. Together, Mr and Mrs Gilbert have three grown-up daughters: Jenny (23), who works as a Nursery Teacher; Emily (22), a graduate of Chichester University in Outdoor and Adventurous Education; and Lottie (20), who is a Team Leader at the Kimbolton swimming pool. As a family, they enjoy spending time outdoors—walking, camping and taking part in water-based activities. They are keen competitors in various sports and enjoy baking, nature and family adventures.
Meet the House staff
The Resident House Tutor:
Stuart Downhill (Geography Teacher).
Auxiliary Housemaster: TBC
Resident Duty Staff: Our Tutors are on duty most afternoons and evenings and are always interested in getting to know the boarders and to hear about what has happened at school or over the weekend. Mr Whiteley (Geography), Mr Whatling (Biology) and Mr Earwicker (Sport).
Domestic staff: Our Matron makes sure everyone is organised, has everything they need and, feel welcome and looked after in the house. There are also cleaners, who you’ll get to know around the house.
White House (girls)
White House is at the far end of the High Street, opposite St Andrew’s Church. Access is through the large black gate, which will be open and the start and end of term but is normally kept closed, with the smaller door available for access.
Houseparents: The Hadden family
Mrs Hadden has been at the School for 25 years. She teaches Geography, PSHE, Games and do CCF. She is also a Deputy DSL and Head of Boarding.. Previously Resident House Tutor, Housemistress of Balyes, and the CCF’s Contingent Commander.
Mr Hadden likes to get involved with boarders’ activities, especially if they involve a BBQ! They have two children, Charlie and James.
Charlie is 19 and and doing a degree apprenticeship in Surveying as well as being a retained Firefighter in the village. James is in the 5th Form and 15. They also have a “Patterjack” dog called Monty and a “Parson Terrier” called Pip who love the attention he gets from the girls in White House and is always available for walks.
The Hadden family like being outdoors, walking in the beautiful local countryside, spending time with family and splitting their holiday time between Norfolk and France.
Meet the House staff
The Resident House Tutor: TBC
Resident Duty Staff: We have several staff from the Senior School who do duties in White House who are always willing to help or lend an ear throughout the week.
Domestic Staff: Louise Bower is our wonderful Matron. She is in the House throughout the day and knows how everything works. She will take you to the doctors if you are ill and looks after your washing and wellbeing. She is also a great person to talk to about your day when you come in after school. We also have three cleaners who you will soon get to know.
House locations
🟣 White House (girls)
🟢 Kimbolton House (boys)
Welfare
Pupil support is provided through pastoral teams in the boarding houses, the nurses and counsellors at the Health Centre and, spiritual guidance can be sort from the school Chaplain. The Designated Safeguarding Lead is: Mrs Garratt. All other designated safeguarding persons can be found here.
There are Matrons, Houseparents and Duty Staff in the boarding house throughout the day and in the evenings. They can often be found in Matron’s room or the common room, and are always happy to help and have a chat.
Facilities
Both Houses have a kitchen and common rooms, with a variety of entertainment on offer. It is your responsibility to respect those rooms and the equipment within them.
Boarders also have access to the school grounds at all appropriate times, to enjoy a walk or run or just some time to sit an enjoy the space. Sports facilities including the sports hall, gym, swimming pool and tennis courts are also available at designated times over the evenings and weekends.
Statement of boarding principles and practice at Kimbolton School
It is our belief that we have a responsibility to produce a safe, healthy environment where those pupils who board feel that they have a good alternative and complement to being at home. Parents and carers should feel confident that we are providing a happy and healthy home from home. One of our chief aims is to allow the boarding pupils to feel that they are part of an enlarged family with the enjoyment and responsibility that it brings. The wellbeing of our boarders is our priority.
Living in a community brings with it a need to develop social awareness and consideration for others and therefore it is necessary that certain ground rules are observed. These rules are simple and made clear to all pupils.
We are keen to ensure that:
- we achieve consistency,
- we employ ‘reasonableness’ and appropriateness in given situations.
Senior pupils have both responsibilities and privileges. Bullying is not tolerated in any form, whether physical or mental. It is important for pupils to understand this so that older pupils can be encouraged to support and show concern for the welfare of younger pupils.
A copy of the Boarders’ Handbook is given to pupils as they start, and pupils are reminded of the key points in the House meeting and other communications. If rules are broken, any consequence is decided upon by the House Staff who will discuss the offence with the boarder and then decide upon the appropriate consequence. Consequences will be fair and relevant to the misdemeanour and usually take the form of some sort of community chore or withdrawal of privileges.
It is important that each pupil who boards knows and understands that there is someone to whom they may turn in times of difficulty or distress. Boarders should feel that they have a voice and that they can approach any member of staff with their worries or complaints. The Houses are always staffed at the times when boarders are likely to be around.
In short, we aim to produce a healthy and safe environment in which wellbeing is underpinned by family values, inclusivity and a sense of respect for others.
