J'AIME June 2021

E D U CAT I O N
Imagine if school felt like a sleepover
EDUCATION DILEMMA? FLEXI-BOARDING COULD BE THE ANSWER
Parents who want their children to stay children
for longer will no doubt see the benefits of a school
offering wide-open spaces, climbing trees and
communing with nature in lesson time as well as
during playtime. With space at a premium in many
urban and suburban schools, a daily car ride into the
beautiful countryside that our region has to offer may
be an attractive prospect but may mean travelling
further afield than you initially thought practical.
The modern face of boarding means that settling
on that ideal balance could be within reach. Flexible
boarding options provide children with access to
everything a vibrant school community has to offer
coupled with the flexibility to have quality family
time.
So, what does ‘flexi boarding’ mean?
Flexi boarding places the child and their family in
the driving seat, so they can choose when they spend
nights at school.
For many children embarking on boarding for the
first time, it enables them to book individual nights
(comparable to a sleepover) to enjoy all the benefits
of a vibrant boarding community, such as additional
extra-curricular activities and spending more time
with their friends! It is also designed to fit in with
parents’ work commitments or indeed the many
other pressures of everyday life.
What does the modern face of boarding look
like?
Headmaster of Repton Prep, Rob Relton,
emphasises the importance of creating a caring,
warm environment where children feel happy and at
ease in the company of their friends.
He explains: “Repton Prep’s houseparents and their
families live with the boarders in each house, creating
a strong sense of family. The closeness of the
boarding community and the enormous emphasis
placed on caring for the emotional, physical and
mental wellbeing of each of our boarders ensures
every child thrives.”
Repton Prep has a reputation for valuing the
innocence of childhood, so that pupils feel confident
and supported throughout their school journey.
Preferential class sizes – meaning children are placed
in a class size suited to their pace and capabilities –
nurture their strengths and qualities in order to help
them develop in other areas and allow them to reach
their full potential.
Mr Relton adds: “The Repton Prep community is
a supportive, purposeful and unbounded group of
young people – so much so that pupils often enrol
for day schooling and quickly swap to boarding so
that they can make the most of all the incredible
opportunities on offer.”
That comes as no surprise when you discover that
the school is nestled in 55 acres of countryside, with
its own den-building wood, lake for watersports,
astroturf pitches, swimming pool, sports hall,
tennis courts, theatre, not to mention dogs that are
delighted to enjoy regular walks with gaggles of
enthusiastic children.
To find out more about Repton Prep contact
registrar Ellie Jones on 01283 707112 or visit
reptonprep.org.uk
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