Boarding
A second home on the ridge
Three hundred and eighty students board in six houses, each led by a housemaster or housemistress who lives on site with their family. Boarding is warm, structured and well supervised.
The houses
Six houses, one family
Every student, day or boarding, belongs to a house. Boarding houses are single sex, with junior and senior wings.
Heron
Boys, 64 boarders. Known for athletics and an unbeaten quiz team.
Kestrel
Girls, 66 boarders. Holders of the inter-house sports shield.
Ibis
Girls, 62 boarders. The loudest house at every debate final.
Falcon
Boys, 60 boarders. Home of the chamber choir's best tenors.
Egret
Girls, 64 boarders. Our newest house, opened in 2016.
Osprey
Boys, 64 boarders. Famous for the best kept garden on campus.
A boarder's day
Busy, predictable and never dull
Routine helps young people settle. Weekends are lighter, with outings, film nights, sport and a lie in until 7:30am on Saturdays.
- Rising bell, wash and dress
- Breakfast in the dining hall
- Assembly, then lessons until 2pm
- Lunch and a short siesta
- Clubs, sport and music practice
- Free time, laundry, calls home
- Supper
- Supervised prep in the house
- Lights out for juniors, 10pm for seniors
Care and facilities
Looked after, properly
Dormitories
Small rooms, not barracks
Juniors sleep six to a room, seniors four. Every room has a fan, mosquito nets, a lockable wardrobe and a reading light, all on the solar backed supply.
Food
Three meals and two snacks
Cooked on site by our own kitchen team, with a nutritionist approved menu. Fruit at every meal, and special diets on request.
Health
A sick bay with a resident nurse
Two qualified nurses, a visiting doctor twice a week and an arrangement with a nearby hospital. Parents are called for anything more than a headache.
A typical week
Sample menu
| Day | Breakfast | Lunch | Supper |
|---|---|---|---|
| Monday | Pap, akara and bread | Jollof rice, chicken and plantain | Yam porridge and vegetables |
| Tuesday | Tea, bread and eggs | Amala, ewedu and beef stew | Spaghetti and fish sauce |
| Wednesday | Oats and fruit | Fried rice, coleslaw and turkey | Beans, plantain and bread |
| Thursday | Custard and moin moin | Eba, egusi and fish | Rice and vegetable stew |
| Friday | Bread, eggs and tea | White rice, ofada sauce and egg | Pepper soup and agidi |
Visiting days and exeats
Parents visit on the first and third Sunday of each month, 1pm to 5pm. There is a half term break each term and two exeat weekends, from Friday 2pm to Sunday 6pm. Weekly boarders go home every Friday at 2pm and return by 7pm on Sunday.
Students can call home every evening from 5:30pm on the house phone. Personal phones are kept by the housemaster and handed out on Saturdays.
What to pack
- Six sets of school uniform, two sets of house wear
- Bedsheets, pillow cases and a light blanket
- Toiletries, a bucket and slippers
- A named lockable box for provisions
- A torch, a reading book and a Bible or Qur'an
Good to know
Boarding questions
Yes, at the start of any term if a place is available. Many day students try weekly boarding in SSS 3 for exam preparation.
Every new boarder has a senior buddy, and the housemistress or housemaster checks in daily for the first month. Most students settle within three weeks.
Bullying happens in every school, and we take it seriously. Students can report to any adult, the house captain or our anonymous box, and every report is followed up within a day.
Yes, a provisions box with dry snacks. Perishable food is not allowed in the dormitories.
Spend a night in boarding
Prospective boarders can join a house for a taster night on Fridays in term time. Ask the admissions office to arrange it.