WELCOME FROM THE HOUSE PARENT
A very warm welcome. My name is Miss Wood, I am the House Parent of Sidney Cooper House where I live with my two children and our cheeky cats Luna and Mowgli.
I am also Head of KS1 and teach in Year 1 at the Junior School. Having taught children from Reception to Year 6 in previous posts, I have lots of experience with children of all ages. We want you to have lots of fun during your stay with us and want to give you lots of opportunities to grow and develop into the very best version of you.
We encourage everyone to continue to practise the school’s KORR values (Kindness, Openness, Respect, and Responsibility) and expect you to display these qualities around the boarding house. Kindness and respect for others and ourselves is at the heart of everything we do. We will also encourage everyone to be open and challenge themselves to try new activities and experiences. While being a nurturing and caring environment, we encourage you to learn to take responsibility for yourselves and your belongings with our guidance and support.
I hope that you will see Sidney Cooper House as your home while you are at school and a place where you feel safe, cared for and comfortable to be yourself.
Miss Wood
House Parent, Sidney Cooper House
SIDNEY COOPER BOARDING HOUSE
Kent College Junior School offers a uniquely special boarding experience for children from all around the world. The children will be looked after in a family environment with their own individualised plan to ensure that they are happy, safe and challenged during their time with us at Prep School.
Sidney Cooper House is nestled away at the top of our historic building, looking over our stunning grounds. The beautiful outdoor area allows for the children to spend time in nature, playing with their boarding family. Flying on the zip wire, performing their own plays on our outdoor stage, swimming in the pool, bonfires, cricket matches, football are some of the activities they can enjoy. The young boarders also have access to the wider school facilities out of hours and will often be found in the Sports Hall, playing dodgeball, making clay models or painting in the Art Studio or getting in some valuable music practise in the Rehearsal Room.
The happiness and welfare of each and every one of our boarders is the most important to us. The children are nurtured and supported with excellent pastoral care from our dedicated team of boarding staff.
We pride ourselves on being a nurturing family unit; our small size allows us to really get to know the children well and support and encourage them to reach their full potential and develop lifelong skills that will stand them in good stead for years to come.
YOUR HOME FROM HOME
Kent College has a long history of welcoming boarding pupils from abroad, as well as from British families resident in the UK or working overseas. Around a third of pupils at Kent College are boarders, and there are over 40 countries represented in our boarding community. Our boarding students bring great richness and diversity to life at Kent College, as well as helping all of our pupils to understand and respect different cultural traditions.
We ensure that boarders are fully integrated into all aspects of school life – academic, social, musical, sporting and across the wide range of co-curricular activities on offer. Our friendly and comfortable boarding houses truly become a ‘home away from home’, and many lifelong friendships are formed in our boarding community.
LOCATION AND TRANSPORT
The school’s location overlooking the beautiful cathedral city of Canterbury mean that boarders at Kent College have the best of both worlds – a healthy, safe environment close to beautiful countryside, and to the city’s excellent facilities. Canterbury is also within easy access of Gatwick, Heathrow, London City and Stansted airports, the Channel Tunnel and Dover ferry, and has frequent high-speed trains to London.
We strongly encourage all prospective boarding pupils and their parents to come and visit us to meet our welcoming boarding staff, and see the houses for themselves. To arrange a visit call +44 (0)1227 763231 or email us.
STAYING IN TOUCH AND KEEPING BUSY
Parents are encouraged to play a full part no matter the distance and children can stay in touch with their families in the evenings and weekends through their email addresses or via their own mobile phones. Alternatively, duty boarding staff always have a mobile phone which children can use to contact their families if needs be or through google meet video sessions. We are here to accommodate you by whatever means suits you best.
Children thrive in a caring, challenging community and with the variety of activities, trips and outings available after school and at weekends there will be plenty to keep students occupied. Boarding offers so many benefits for children to develop their social skills and lasting friendships as well as preparing them for the crucial skills they will need for their next steps as they start Senior School.
Whether they are with us for one night a week or seven, we will do our utmost to ensure that your children feel happy and build their self-confidence and independence in this home from home environment.
BOARDERS' DAILY SCHEDULE
As well as a busy and productive schoolday, we have a diverse programme of activities and outings at the weekend from trips to the cinema or walks on the beach to ice skating at the Natural History Museum or visits to the theatre.
Weekday Routine
Breakfast: | 7:50am |
School Hours: | 8:40am-6:00pm |
Supper: | 6:20pm |
Activities: | 6:45-7:45pm |
Bedtime: | 8:15pm (onwards according to age) |
Weekend Routine
Saturday | |
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Breakfast: | 8:30am |
Morning: | Sport or School Farm |
Lunch: | 12:15pm |
Afternoon: | Sport/Activity or an outing |
Supper: | 5:30pm |
Evening: | Activities e.g. movie night/swimming party |
Sunday | |
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Breakfast: | 8:30am |
Morning: | Visit or outing off-site Lunch on the outing or at the Senior School |
Lunch: | 12:15pm |
Afternoon: | Outing off-site |
Supper: | 5:30pm |
Evening: | Activities/preparation for Monday |