Page 38 - Seaford Sixth Form Experience 2019

Sara Reynolds
Houseparent of Yr 13 Boarding House Heden Court (Girls)
What is the most important thing about your roles as Houseparents?
Houseparents become a very significant person in the life of boarding students, whatever their age. As such, Houseparents take that privilege very seriously. As Houseparents in Heden we would echo the words of all the school’s Boarding Houseparents when we say that the most important aspect is to create a safe, happy, homely environment that supports and encourages personal and academic development and achievement.
Being a Houseparent involves being the best parent you can be to every child, whether that is guiding their academic studies, helping them solve their problems, or supporting them on the sports field. We aim to be present for the highs and lows and allow our Year 13 boarders to leave Heden as fully rounded young people.
Dr Nick Pothecary
Houseparent of Yr 13 Boarding House Heden Hall (Boys)
What do you enjoy about being a Houseparent?
The enormous satisfaction when the students attain a place at their university of choice or succeed in entering their chosen field of study is hugely enjoyable. Moreover, satisfaction comes when a teenager reaches their potential in whatever part of life is important to them, be that captaining a sports team, singing a solo, achieving a Duke of Edinburgh award, or even baking their first cake. All positive things reap positive rewards for us as Houseparents.
How do you go about being a Houseparent?
One needs to be able to allow students the freedom to be themselves whilst maintaining clear and consistent boundaries. When a student reaches the Sixth Form they have to be allowed to have opinions, feelings and thoughts that prove to them that they are more in charge of their own destiny and our job is to guide them towards making the best choices. Those choices may be academic or pastoral and students are encouraged to sample as much as is reasonable of what the school has on offer.
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