St Chris boarding offers a “home away from home” for students aged 11 to 18 years, who can choose to board on a full, weekly or flexi basis.
Boarding allows students to dedicate more time to their studies and the co-curricular activities that they enjoy most, together with their friends. With supervised prep time, access to extensive facilities across our 25-acre campus, in addition to a range of activities and trips, boarders are able to make the most of school life.
For those in year groups where coursework and exams are more central to their curriculum commitments, in particular Year 10 to 11 and also Sixth Form, boarding is particularly attractive, affording the maximum possible time for additional prep and revision without the worry of commuting.
We find that boarders develop a distinct capacity for tolerance, self-sufficiency and independence that serve them well in later life. They learn through experience the important relationship between rights and responsibilities, and the balance between individuality and being part of a community.
Our boarding house, Arundale, is located at the heart of the 25-acre campus, overlooking the sports fields and gardens, and close to all facilities and activities.
Each student has their own comfortable single bedroom, with shared modern bathrooms and social areas, including sitting rooms, television and games rooms, and a kitchen to make hot drinks and snacks.
Students’ bedrooms are grouped together according to age, with younger boarders in the older part of Arundale, and Sixth Formers in a more recent extension with their own social areas which they can use separately if they wish to.
Arundale is looked after by house parents Chris and Cecilia Drayton, who have been with us for almost 20 years and whose three children attended St Chris. The house parents are supported by resident tutors Joe Sapsford and Emma Bennett-Jones, plus gap students Lili Gossare and Paula Ruiz, who along with Chris also teach in the main school, providing a vital link between pastoral and academic areas.
Pretty, historic Letchworth is less than a ten-minute walk away from the school, with its own cinema, library, coffee shops, independent stores and beautiful green parks. It’s hard to believe the town is so centrally linked to airports and the national rail network with direct trains to London, Cambridge and beyond.
Full, Weekly or Flexi Boarding?
Full Boarding
The inclusive, accepting and globally aware ethos of St Chris is a natural partner for full boarding, and we have a long tradition of welcoming full boarders from the UK and international boarders from a wide range of countries, cultures and faiths.
With care and support from a highly experienced pastoral and academic team, we offer international students an authentic experience of life in a British school and indeed the wider community. International students can join any year group, dependent on the availability of places. Most of our international students share the aim of studying for A levels and going on to a British university.
We also offer full boarding to British students whose parents live or are posted abroad, or whose work commitments may include weekends. In certain situations, we also offer boarding for children of these families from the age of 10 years, for example for children of FCO staff.
The close proximity of St Chris to airports Gatwick (1.5 hours), Heathrow (1 hour), Stansted (50 minutes) and Luton (30 minutes) is a huge bonus to international families, as well as Letchworth being on the national rail network with direct links to Kings Cross and St Pancras in London.
The Admissions team at St Chris understand the challenge for families to find the most suitable school from many miles away, often without the luxury of being able to visit in person. We work closely with parents and agents to ensure an open, transparent and supportive enquiry and application process for everyone involved, especially the child. Where families cannot visit us, we have permanent online open events on this website, and can offer discussions with Admissions staff, testing and interviews via Zoom.
Parents and agents who are interested in discussing international or full boarding with our Admissions staff can find more information on our website about how to apply.
Weekly Boarding
Weekly boarding allows students to enjoy their busy school life without the usual time taken up by commuting. Students go home on a Friday afternoon and can opt to return as late as Monday morning, with weekends free for the whole family to relax and enjoy together.
For busy parents, weekly boarding enables families to free up more quality time together, with prep largely completed, and extra-curricular activities and sporting fixtures having taken place at school during the week. Naturally, more time becomes available for shared hobbies and activities, to visit friends and family or just to relax together at home.
With access to the national network railway at nearby Letchworth Garden City station, St Chris has direct links to London, Cambridge and beyond for pupils to travel home at the weekends.
Flexi Boarding
We offer flexi boarding to students who wish to spend up to three nights per week at school. These can be booked on a termly basis. Flexi boarding includes supervised prep, an evening meal and breakfast.
Life in Boarding at St Chris
An extended day enables boarders to make the most of life at St Chris, and all that it offers.
Boarders rise at 7.30am and breakfast is served in the dining room between 7.40am and 7.50am. Boarders then return to Arundale to prepare for the day before going up to the main school at 8.25am.
The school day varies for different year groups, but the basic framework remains the same: registration at 8.40am, followed by time with Companies (tutor groups) or Morning Talk (assembly); five lessons, one hour each in length; a half hour break in the morning, and an hour for lunch. The school day ends at 3.55pm.
At the end of the school day, boarders return to Arundale to sign-in and have a drink and a snack. Activities then begin, running until 5.30pm. Students in Year 9 and above may go into Letchworth with friends during this timeslot. Parents may also visit after the school day ends and take boarders out for a meal.
The evening meal is served in the dining room at 5.45pm, with vegetarian and meat options. Afterwards, boarders have a short period of free time before supervised prep begins at 6.30pm.
When prep ends at 7.30pm, boarders can continue with their work (particularly in more senior year groups), take part in evening activities, or relax in Arundale. Bedtime and lights out vary according the age of the boarders.
At the weekend, boarders are offered trips on a Saturday which have in recent times included art galleries and museums in London; historic attractions, punting and shopping in Cambridge; the Harry Potter Studio Tour; theme parks; ice skating and indoor skiing in Milton Keynes; go-karting, and trampoline centre Flip Out.
Sundays are quieter days, reserved for a late brunch followed by relaxing in Arundale, catching up with prep, perhaps going into Letchworth with friends or taking part in activities on campus. International and full boarders can of course visit friends and family on the weekends, as well.
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