It can be very daunting to leave a home, which is perhaps on the other side of the world, and to go to a boarding school. However, our warm welcome, family based boarding houses and supportive staffing, mean that very soon, they feel integrated into a new and vibrant community. The international mix and comfortable accommodation make for a stimulating and hugely enjoyable boarding experience.
Our priority is to ensure that our pupils are happy and busy, and are able to fulfil their potential academically and socially. Strong pastoral care, high quality teaching and a great emphasis on extra-curricular activity make this a very special community in which to live and learn. A wide range of evening and weekend activities are provided for boarders, along with additional events and fun day trips.
We offer full time and weekly boarding options, and we aim to provide a ‘home-from-home’ for our boarding pupils, both in terms of comfort and atmosphere. In recent years, a substantial programme of investment has created exceptional boarding facilities, with all rooms en-suite.
Boarding is central to School’s life and it is one of our great strengths. Strong pastoral care, high quality teaching and a great emphasis on extra-curricular activity make this a very special community in which to live and learn.
St Lawrence has a wonderful strong sense of community, supported with outstanding pastoral care. We help and support our Boarders to value life in a boarding school environment, which means supporting each other as well as nurturing curiosity.
The truly unique thing about being at St Lawrence is that we develop independence, as well as teach our pupils the importance of community as they live and learn amongst like-minded friends. We value each pupil as an individual and ensure that they take advantage of all that we offer here at St Lawrence College.
Our campus is large and there is so much green space. Our boarders are able to discover the importance of growing up in a safe and secure environment. With outstanding pastoral care, we are able to reassure parents that our staff will support their child 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.
We have boarding from age 7 to 18 and you can find out more about each age on the pages below:
To get an overview of the boarding here you can view our boarding gallery, which will give you a small insight into boarding life here.
Kirby House welcomes boarders from 7 to 13 years old into its modern, spacious dormitories. The Junior Housemother looks after the youngest members of the boarding house, our boys and girls aged 7 to 11 years old.
We provide a home from home for our boarders, both in terms of comfort and atmosphere. Children thrive in the safe, supportive and calm environment.
We are proud to say that most visiting families comment that our boarding facilities are the finest they have ever seen! In recent years, we have invested in our boarding facilities and all rooms are en-suite. Pupils are encouraged to bring their own bedding from home, to help them feel more at ease.
We offer a wide range of evening and weekend activities as well as additional events and fun day trips over the weekend. We have a list of the activities below on this page:
Whilst primarily a full boarding school, we also offer weekly and flexi-boarding options for younger children.
Kirby House has a dedicated and caring pastoral and academic team of tutors who aim to bring out the best in every pupil.
The building boasts some of the best boarding accommodation in the country with 10 dormitories, each with five beds and en-suite facilities. There are six classrooms, a large atrium, an IT room, a virtual and traditional library, plus two spacious flats for resident staff. Kirby House is a very special place – visit us and see for yourself!
Kirby House welcomes boarders from 7 to 13 years old into its modern, spacious dormitories. The youngest members of the boarding house (Years 3 to 6) are looked after by the Junior Housemother, and the older children (Years 7 and 8) by the Kirby Housemaster. Children have plenty of space to call their own, and can personalise that space to make it feel just like home. Despite being bright, light and airy the dormitories are cosy and warm, providing a wonderful place of relaxation and rest.
A dedicated social area offers many opportunities for fun in the evenings and at weekends. Boarders also enjoy using the Sports Centre and Swimming Pool, along with regular trips into town. They are never short of friends, and mobile phone contact and regular ‘exeat’ weekends mean that parents never feel far away.
Boarding is central to School’s life and it is one of our great strengths. Strong pastoral care, high quality teaching and a great emphasis on extra-curricular activity make this a very special community in which to live and learn.
We recognise that our older pupils need more private space in which to live and work, so senior pupils are housed in 5-bed dorms, leading to double or single rooms as they get older. All rooms are en-suite. Plenty of secure storage space for possessions ensures that valuable personal items are kept safe. There are kitchens and tuck shops in each House so pupils can prepare snacks between meals, after sports matches and at weekends.
House Parents and their families live in accommodation within each Boarding House as well as a Resident Tutor. Members of staff are available at all times. The School also has an on-site Medical Centre run by qualified nursing staff who provide cover throughout term-time for all pupils.
All pupils have access to the College IT network and wireless internet access (with suitable controls) to keep in touch with family and friends back home.
At St Lawrence we have always had the same policy regarding Exeat weekends. Being a full boarding school with Saturday school it means that everyone is on campus 6 days out of 7 and boarding and day pupils are together. On an Exeat weekend it just means that Saturday lessons don’t happen. There are 5 exeat weekends during the year (September, November, January, March and May), and whilst boarders may go out to stay with family, guardians or friends, they are equally welcome to stay and enjoy a relaxing time in their boarding houses, with the option to visit local shops, restaurants and cinemas.
Boarders can stay at School over Exeat weekends or go home if they wish, the choice is theirs.
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