We offer modern, family-friendly boarding for around 350 students
Our boarding community is the size of many whole boarding schools, and our well-appointed boarding houses are imaginatively managed.
Our Houses
Six boarding houses cater for pupils from ages 13 to 18: Aisher House, Johnsons and School House for boys, and New House, Park Grange and Sennocke House for girls. The International Centre and the Girls' International House cater for Sixth Form students. Our boarding provision begins with Year 9, therefore we do not offer boarding for Lower School pupils (Years 7 and 8).
Housemasters and Housemistresses share with their team of assistants, resident and non-resident tutors and house matrons the duties and responsibilities of caring for the children, some of whom may be away from home for the first time.
Boarding can provide an excellent transition from home to independence and maturity; the Sixth Form boarding houses, in particular, enable boys and girls to enjoy the benefits of boarding at an important stage in their school careers, and to prepare for life at university.
Boarding pupils felt that the boarding community leads by example and influences significantly the high levels of integration, cultural tolerance and understanding seen throughout the school. Inspectors agree.
ISI Report 2017
Weekends and trips
A calendar of events allows students to enjoy as much, or as little, organised activity as they choose.
Boarding at Sevenoaks is fun, comfortable and busy. We run sporting, cultural and social activities every weekend.
The only compulsory weekend during the school year is the very first one in the Michaelmas term, where we run a full programme of activities for boarders and it is really important that they are all here to get to know one another.
On any other weekend, boarders are free to go home after their school commitments are complete on Saturday, and provided all the necessary parental permissions have been received. However, the majority of our boarders choose to stay. Families are welcome to visit.
After a busy week, Sunday is a chance to relax and catch up. Breakfast is replaced by brunch, which is provided from 10:30 to 12:00, and is an extremely popular meal. A trip runs every Sunday, which might be climbing or mountain biking, or possibly a cinema trip or laser quest. New trips are suggested by the boarders' council, and the list changes regularly to accommodate their wishes. Of course London is just 30 minutes away by train, and as long as parents have given their permission, Sixth Form boarders are allowed to spend the day there.
In addition to these routine trips, and access to the full programme of whole school trips and activities, there are a number of special events for boarders. These might include International Evenings, Valentine dinners, inter-house football, basketball and our 'Boarders' Olympics', inter-house quizzes, tutor group dinners, theatre trips and overnight camping trips, to name just a few.
It's hard to find a more liberal, progressive and culturally diverse boarding school in the UK. At Sevenoaks, you feel respected and admired for who you are.
Upper Sixth student
