Education | ED06 | Summer 2019

Dulwich Prep Cranbrook
Kate Montgomery, Senior Housemistress
Amatron is a ‘Super Mum’, being a boarder each day what they are doing
mum to the boarders in her charge, and where to go. Each boarding house
organising and preparing all the things a has its own noise and smell, something
mum does, but on a much larger scale. to adjust to... but it all comes with time.
You wake the boarders at 7am with a All children will get there in the end,
smile (and occasionally a song!) and carry some just take longer to settle than
on until after all the boarders are in bed. others. My best example is a boy who
I came to the career after studying cried every morning while his parents
Child Care & Management, then I were living aboard, but when he returned
joined a prep school from there. after Christmas he just stopped crying.
A matron needs to have stamina, By then I had another new boy and
so you can just keep going and work he started crying every morning... so
outside the normal nine to five. You need I asked the first boy to look after him
patience, and lots of it, laughter and an and, after a week of chatting as to how
ear to listen to concerns. When boarders things would improve, I had two very
think they are getting up to mischief, you happy boarders who both went on to
might as well be wearing a T shirt saying Tonbridge as full boarders. I still see
“been there, seen that before” on it… them and we joke about it now.
Parents of new boarders should
What kids get from boarding is
prepare their kids by always talking amazing experience in managing
about boarding in a positive way, never oneself. You can always spot the boarder
saying “well if you don’t like it, you can on a residential trip, they are neat,
come home”. Help them learn practical organised, know to get up, get dressed,
tasks, such as how to change a bed, shower, make their bed etc. There is
clean their shoes, pack an overnight an air about a child who can cope and
bag and make lists of things to do. manage day-to-day life without a parent
Then make packing for boarding standing by. Parents have such busy
fun. Choose a day to shop together for lives now, so it is helpful if a child can
boarding essentials, such bedding, towels, deal with simple day-to-day concerns.
toiletries, underwear, pyjamas, casual Boarders are encouraged to help
clothes and stationery and get the child during mealtimes in the dining
to help with name taping all items. room, wash up the items they
For many kids who are starting, a use in the boarding house and
problem is not knowing where to be at to keep their dorms tidy.
the right time. Schools can be a large Above all they learn to think about
place and it’s so easy to get lost when it others and be part of a wider boarding
appears that everyone else knows where family. This helps hugely with their
to go and what to do. Matrons can be confidence and the way they interact with
in the background gently reminding a other people for the rest of their lives.
This page: Matrons
preparing the dorms
and a knitting lesson
Freddie,
A termly boarder in Year 7
I started in Year 4, when I was 8.
I gradually built up my boarding
experience from one night per
week, to two nights and so on, over
a course of a year, so it only took
me a short while to settle and did
not miss my parents too much.
My parents emailed me often so
I felt in touch with my family. I
also loved receiving letters – when
you are boarding it’s very exciting
to receive post, and sometimes
the letters contained treats!
The matrons were brilliant when
I started and really helped me feel at
home. I feel I can ask the matrons
anything. They are always jolly.
I love the nice cosy dorms,
the huge variety of food and
all the activities we do each
night. I loved learning to knit.
I also enjoy looking after and
helping the younger boarders
who are just starting out.
There is a wonderful boarding
community in the school. There
are lots of games in the house
to play with friends on winter
evenings, a pool table, table
football table and table tennis.
I am going to be a full boarder
at my senior school and feel
my boarding at Dulwich will
stand me in good stead.
Dulwich Prep Cranbrook,
Kent 01580 712179
dulwichprepcranbrook.org
surrey-homes.co.uk
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