Page 36 - Seaford Sixth Form Experience 2024

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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.
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.
Sara Vernon
Houseparent of Yr 13
Boarding House
Heden Court (Girls)
Dr Nick Pothecary
Houseparent of Yr 13
Boarding House
Heden Hall (Boys)
“I’ve been a weekly boarder since I
joined in Year 12 and I love it. It feels
homely and we have a lot of fun in
the evenings after prep is done.”
Sienna Ellman-Baker