Overseas Boarding
Most of our overseas boarders are, of necessity, full boarders - that is to say they stay at school seven nights per week. Although we currently offer weekly boarding to boys and girls from age 11-13, full boarding is offered only from the age of 13 (Year 9).
Most (but not all) 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 where you can go and spend the half-term holiday (when the School is closed). The School policy is that guardians should live within one hour’s distance from the School. Guardians are normally responsible for collecting/returning pupils to/from the airport/railway station. Guardians are requested to keep the School informed of their contact details and whereabouts.
Most full boarders stay at school seven nights per week, although they can stay with their guardians at weekends if they wish (and if they live close enough to make this practicable). They 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 boarders. Excursions to places of interest, both locally and further afield, are regularly organised at weekends.
We also 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.
The two boarding Houses - Poole House for boys and Pimlico House for girls - provide a friendly, relaxed and comfortable atmosphere where overseas boarders can really feel 'at home'. Most full boarders share a room with one other pupil, often a day pupil so that the full boarder has the room to himself/herself in the evenings.
Durham City (and all its shops and amenities) is only five minutes’ walk away from the boarding Houses - a fact that sets us apart from some other boarding schools and that is greatly appreciated by all our pupils, but especially by all full-time boarders. Subject to specific safeguards and limitations, they are normally allowed access to the town at weekends.
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Testimonials
"My time in Poole House has really made Durham School perfect for me. It's just like part of a big family and singles the school out as being something quite special compared to other schools."
Matthew Wilson