Page 12 - Walton House Handbook

WALTON

BOARDING

LIFE

concerned may be suspended from school. For overseas school for afterschool sporting, academic, co-curricular or
boarders, they may be required to serve a period of social commitments with considerable ease. If boys need
suspension with their UK guardian. If the behaviour does not to travel to or from house outside these times, for example
improve they may be removed from the House or School if they return to school late from a sports fixture, there are
permanently. This will only take place as a last resort and a number of school-approved taxi firms they can use. The
after a meeting with the Head. school bears the cost of any such essential travel. Minibuses
are also provided each evening for boys who wish to go
THE HOUSE AND GROUNDS into campus for an evening activity after prep as well as on
We are fortunate to live in a beautiful house with fabulous Sundays for visits to campus or town.
facilities, but it was not designed to be a boarding house.
This gives it some endearing quirks, such as the variety in THE COUNTRY CLUB
size and layout of the bedrooms. In Years 10 and 11 boys will The Country Club is a common room on campus available
be accommodated in two-or three-man dorms. In the Sixth for use by all country house boarders at break times and
Form boys will be accommodated in two-man dorms or after school. There is a full time member of staff on duty.
single rooms. Each boy has a bed, desk with lockable drawer The Club has study and relaxation areas, recreational
and chair, bedside table, lamp, wardrobe and laundry basket. facilities and snacks. It provides the boys with a great place
There are also pin boards so boys can decorate their rooms to work or socialise during the school day. It is located near
with posters and photos if they wish to. Room allocations to the pick up point for the house transport.
will change each term, so that by the end of the year the
boys will have shared a room with a number of their year TRIPS
group. There will be occasional trips or events during the evenings
or on Sundays, and these are great opportunities for
The boys are free to play in the garden and make use of the developing the strong friendships which exist within the
various facilities in the common room, gym and kitchen house. Sometimes these will be whole house activities, at
whenever they wish during their free time. They can also other times they may be optional, or arranged by year or
use the golf course or go for runs around the playing fields. tutor group, or by orderlies teams. The cost for house trips
During most evening there will be games of football or will be taken from the house account or put onto the school
cricket happening in the garden. Having access to all of this bill. If a significant cost is likely to be incurred parents will be
space is one of the real joys and privileges of life at Walton. asked for approval in advance.
FOOD STUDENT VOICE AND LEADERSHIP
The boys have their evening meals in house five times a It is very important to us that the boys have an input into
week. On Fridays and Saturdays they eat in school. The how the house is run. The House Council meets every half
Walton chef provides a fabulous range of meals and can term and contains representatives from each year group.
cater to any specific dietary requirements. House suppers There is also a food committee which meets with the chef
provide a great opportunity for boys and staff to catch up on every term. In addition, there is a suggestion box in the
the day’s events and to enjoy each other’s company. They house which can be used to submit ideas for improvements
are one of the main reasons why the sense of community or to raise concerns anonymously.
in country houses at Millfield is so strong. Snacks are also
available after school and in the evenings in the boys’ Students are provided with various leadership opportunities.
kitchen. On Saturday nights boys are allowed to order take- The most important of these is the post of house prefect.
aways if they would like to, at the discretion of the member Upper Sixth students can apply for this position and a job
of staff on duty. On Sundays we eat a late brunch in house, description is available. An election is held each term to
and an evening meal. In the winter this is a traditional choose our Head of House. The Head of House has various
Sunday roast, but in warmer weather we have barbeques responsibilities at Walton and also represents us to the wider
instead. Millfield is a nut-free school so due to policy, any school community.
food containing nuts are not permitted onsite.
ORDERLIES AND THE BUDDY SYSTEM
TRANSPORT All members of the house will be assigned to an orderlies
The boys travel to school each morning by coach. In the team and, when on duty, will be responsible for assisting
evening they return to house either by coach or on the staff in ensuring the smooth running of the house. Each team
half-hourly mini-bus shuttle which runs until 7pm. This will be overseen by a House Prefect, and they will also act as
system ensures that the boys are able to get in and out of the ‘buddy’ of any new students in that team. They will help
the house staff to ensure new boarders are well supported
during the early stages of their time at Walton. The boys can
12 HOUSE HANDBOOK also raise any concerns with their team leader at any time.