Day Pupils
The majority of girls and boys at Durham School are day pupils, although we still retain a strong boarding element, a fact that is reflected in our school day (8.30 a.m. until 6.00 p.m.). Day pupils enjoy facilities and a school programme that are second to none in the North East.
The “Day” Houses
There are day pupils in each of our five Houses, although three of them (Caffinites, MacLeod and School) are “day only” Houses. The number of day places in Poole and Pimlico is very limited and, when allocating these, preference is normally given to those who intend to board at some time in the future and those who already have a strong connection with the House (for example, a brother or a sister).
The same benefits as boarders
Day pupils at Durham School share most of the benefits enjoyed by our boarders, the only significant difference being that they do not stay overnight. The “day” Houses are also separate geographical localities within the School, where day pupils can work quietly in studies, relax and enjoy the leisure facilities and make themselves a snack if they wish. Hence they too regard their House as a “home from home” and develop a strong sense of belonging and loyalty.
Pastoral Care
The pastoral care of our day pupils is just as important to us as that of our boarders and each of the day Houses has a strong team of staff to oversee their progress and welfare. Each has a Senior Housemaster or Housemistress in overall charge and a Junior Housemaster or Housemistress in charge of Years 7 and 8. Since the boys’ Houses are currently larger in number than the girls’ Houses, they also have an Assistant Housemaster who looks after the pupils in Years 9-11. Each Year group has its own House tutor who delivers the PHSE programme and oversees the pupils’ academic progress.
“Casual” Boarding
What is particularly useful for our day pupils and their parents is that they can normally stay on at school after the end of the school day for a later pick-up and even stay overnight should the need arise. This needs to be arranged in advance with the Headmaster’s office but is one of the many unique benefits of being a day pupil at Durham School.
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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
