What are the most important questions when considering Prep school boarding for your child? Class sizes? Sporting provision? Extra-curricular activities? Significant, but in the context of boarding, I would suggest that the crucial question is this: Will my child fit in? Will they belong?
Belonging is such an innate human desire, feeling that you are welcome, that you are respected, that you can be yourself. Without a sense of belonging, then you probably stand little chance of thriving in the classroom or elsewhere…making the initial considerations futile. Belonging, and the confidence that this brings, give us the ability to recognise our weaknesses and to grow.
At The Downs Malvern, our boarders have a strong sense of community, and of belonging. It is their boarding house where they spend hours playing, chatting, having fun. Our community is underpinned by values of respect, tolerance and trust. Children have cupboards in which to keep things private, but these are rarely locked. We have children not only from the U.K., but from around the world: cultural and linguistic differences are respected and celebrated, making a socially rich and vibrant learning environment. Kindness and empathy are not only demonstrated by staff, but by the children towards each other. Our team of resident staff are highly experienced and passionate, providing opportunities for children to feel valued and nurtured. Staff live and laugh alongside the boarders: it is not a ‘them and us’ culture. It is very special.
One of the benefits of being a smaller school, and a smaller boarding house, is that everybody knows each other, and individuals are cared for with great attention to detail. Children are not lost in the crowd, and there is a balance across the week between structured activity and time to pause and revive. There is seamless connection between the day school and boarding. Flexi boarding is very popular among our local families, and our full boarders love welcoming friends into their dorms, enjoying their company in the evenings.
So, whether your child is academically driven or finds work challenging, is ambitious on the games field or has no desire to play for the A team, thrives in the creative curriculum or would rather be engrossed in a book, they will find a very warm welcome and a caring community in The Downs Boarding House. They will love it. They will belong.
‘Those who have a strong sense of love and belonging have the courage to be imperfect.’
Breré Brown
John Warlow, Head of Boarding at The Downs Malvern
