House System

The boarding Houses - Poole House and School House for boys and Pimlico House for girls - provide a friendly, relaxed, and comfortable atmosphere where overseas boarders can really feel at home.

All boarders have bedrooms where they can relax, read, listen to music, chat, do prep (homework), and sleep. Each bedroom has a bed, desk, wardrobe, cabinet, pin board for display, and a sink. Details of any equipment needed can be found in our welcome pack.

Most of our overseas boarders are, of necessity, full boarders, staying at school seven nights per week. We have a significant number of weekly boarders (who spend Monday to Friday at school) and part-time boarders who spend some (but not all) weekdays at school. Many of our full boarders live overseas and have a guardian living in the UK who can act as a first point of contact with the School when necessary and with whom students can spend the holidays when the School is closed.

Most full boarders stay at school seven nights per week, although they can stay with their guardians at weekends if they wish (and if the guardians live close enough to make this possible). Boarders are also allowed to visit their friends who live locally and stay with them, an experience which is greatly valued by many of our overseas pupils. Excursions to places of interest, both locally and further afield, are regularly organised at weekends.

Durham City - and all its shops and amenities - is only five minutes' walk away from the boarding Houses. This fact sets us apart from some other boarding schools and is greatly appreciated by all our pupils, especially full-time boarders. Subject to specific safeguards and limitations, they are normally allowed access to the town in the evenings and on weekends.

You can find more information about boarding here and the Houses here.

"Our guide's engaging manner, politeness, sense of humour and informative commenting said much about the school and ensured that our visit was both positive and worthwhile."
Mrs Garner, Open Morning visitor