Our comfortable boarding establishment is home to approximately 80 boarders. It’s our goal to make every boy feel comfortable, accepted and nurtured. One of the great strengths of Cordwalles’ boarding programme is the quality and depth of the relationships built between the school, staff, families and boys. With a team of support bridging both the Boarding House and day school, the boys are provided with a safe space to build character through courage.
A House Manageress with first aid and vast nursing experience is in residence and available 24 hours a day. She hands out daily medication and is there for support if boys need comfort and a gentle ear. A qualified Nursing Sister is available in the afternoons.
Senior boys are dormitory captains in junior dormitories, offering leadership, support and guidance.
Big Brothers (Boarder Masters) and Big Sisters (Interns) mentor a group of 5 or 6 boys. They enjoy a ‘family’ supper every Monday evening in the dining room and get together twice a term for a special function.
A counselling psychologist, Dr Rob Pluke, meets with the boys and the boarding staff during the year to discuss relevant issues.
We are an Anglican school; we also provide spiritual guidance in the Boarding House. The boys have a chapel service on a Sunday before dinner and can often be found reading their Bibles at night before lights out.
We value the input of our parents and staff. This helps to make the Boarding House the success that it is. In this light, we gladly accept constructive suggestions or criticisms to improve the quality of your son’s stay with us.
Communication forms the cornerstone of our success in running the Boarding House effectively. The main source of communication between Mr de Jager and Boarder parents is via the Cordwalles School App.
Every Friday, the Housemaster sends a short message titled “From the Housemaster’s Desk”, informing parents about the week ahead and important events.
Boys are allowed to use their cell phones on Tuesday and Thursday evenings between 18h15–18h45. When not in use, all cell phones are kept in a cell phone safe under lock and key by the Housemaster.
Should parents or boarders prefer to use e-mail facilities for communication with each other, these are available.
A great deal of effort has been made to ensure that all boys at Cordwalles, boarders and day scholars, receive all the assistance they require during the school day.
Class teachers supervise boys while doing their homework in their register classes from 14h00–14h30 on Mondays, Tuesdays and Thursdays. There is also a reading and study period on these days from 19h00–19h30 in the boarding house. This study period helps boys prepare for the week’s continuous assessment.
There is no written homework in the evenings, except when work is not finished from the class homework session.
Specialist teachers are also available to assist pupils who need extra assistance.
Our boys are provided with a safe space to build character through courage.
Our boys are provided with a safe space to build character through courage.