RGS Senior Newspaper

A strong focus on nurturing boarders is clear… Boarders are extremely positive about their residential experience. They thrive inwhat they describe as a family-like, friendly, ‘home away fromhome’ environment….Staff are extremely committed to providing and excellent rounded education. Ambitious and inspirational leadership allows boarders to achieve to the best of their ability Ofsted, 2019 B6 BOARDING RGS HIGHWYCOMBE B7 Boarding Boarding What is the total capacity of Fraser Youens Boarding House? 70 boys. What is the average number of boys in each year group? Approximately 10. What types of boarding are available to RGS students? Weekly and Full Boarding. What is the staff to pupil ratio? Generally about 1 to 10. What sort of accommodation is available to each year group? Years 7 to 10 sleep in a 3 or 4 man ‘dorm’, and Years 11 have a single or a double. All Sixth Formers enjoy their own accommodation. Are ‘taster sessions’ available, and if so, when? Induction occurs in July each year, with boarders visiting one evening - though not overnight - and then again for a whole school day. There is a further induction day in September. Who makes up the boarding community at RGS? Most of our boarders are actually quite local, coming fromwithin 15 to 20 miles of the School in Years 7 to 11. Some do of course come from London, and further afield, and there are overseas boarders fromYear 9 onwards. The Sixth Formers are much more varied, with some students coming from the north of England and around the world. Do boarders get a ‘buddy’ on arrival at Fraser Youens ? Yes! All Year 7 boys receive two ‘buddies’ when they start at Fraser Youens : a Year 8 student, and a Sixth Former , both of whom are there to support new boarders in their first fewweeks. All other year groups gain a buddy from their own year, plus a Sixth Former . Every boarder is also allocated a Personal Tutor . What sort of activities are offered during the year? In addition to the extensive programme of co-curricular activities open to all RGS boys, the boarding house offers numerous additional activities, including cookery, climbing, access to the gym and fitness suite, football, touch rugby, kwik cricket, board games, debates, handball, unihoc, dodgeball, tennis, end zone, capture the flag, basketball, badminton, modelling, quizzes, obstacle races, tug of war, swimming and exclusive access to the pool. Are boys permitted off campus, and if so, how andwhen? Strict rules apply about going off site. This is permissible, but only after a discussion with a duty member of staff. There are guidelines for different year groups and students. Older students are allowed into town with staff permission; younger students are permitted once a week to the local shop, about 200m off campus. They have to be in small groups and are not allowed off site on their own. Anyone out of school has to inform staff of their whereabouts, have a mobile phone on them and agree a time they will be back. What is the policy about use of phones, tablets and laptops? Students may bring in mobile phones fromYear 7 upwards; tablets, laptops and iPads tend to be used fromYear 8 onwards. We collect all of these at certain times after school, including bedtimes, to ensure that screen- time is restricted to an acceptable usage during the week. What access is there towifi, tv and common rooms? Wifi is available, but it is restricted during the school day. After school there is a ‘filtered’ wifi that is age-appropriate for different groups of boys. Boarders have access to their rooms, and to common rooms, at lunchtime and break times, and immediately after school. Again, age-appropriate tv is available in all of the Fraser Youens common rooms. Is the House open and staffed during the school day? Fraser Youens is open all day, and boarders may utilise the facilities at break times and at lunchtime. Year 13 students are allowed to study in the House when they don’t have lessons, but they must sign in with the house staff first. Whenmay boys change out of their uniform? Boarders are actively encouraged to wear their own clothes immediately after school! Are all meals eaten in the House, or may boys join friends in the main school dining hall? Meals are taken separately, but friends may be signed into the boarding house. With only 70 boys eating, boarders can have their lunch quickly and go back into school for their lunch break. And because there are only 70 boarders, our catering staff know all the boys by name, and they also know if students are missing any meals. If you’re desperate now to join FraserYouens , how andwhen do you sign up? Boarders may be accepted in any year group, if there is space. However, outside of Years 7 and 12 there is extremely limited availability, so registration at 11+ and 16+ is advised. LIFE IN FRASERYOUENS What, who, when, why and where? Answers to frequently asked questions, from those in the know...