Camaraderie and family spirit are fostered in each house. The individual’s unique strengths and dignity are fiercely protected and life skills like self-management and independence are fostered through the rules, “parenting” and mentoring systems. Newcomers find themselves quickly embraced in the welcoming environment through loving, approachable, prayerful and experienced “mothering” and “fathering” that houseparents provide. All Boarders are required to attend in-house Bible studies. There is ample opportunity to mix socially during the school day, free time and at school events.
Boys have three boarding houses – Oak, Baobab and Marple – each catering for 55 boys from Form 1 to Form 6. Each house has a housemaster, two assistant housemasters and dormitory prefects who are responsible for overseeing the well-being and daily routine of boarders.
Girls are accommodated in three boarding houses: Brooke, Blueroof and Budleigh. Each house is home to roughly 40 girls from Form 1 to Form 6 and is overseen by a resident housemother who is assisted by a Head of House and floor prefects. All girls have rooms equipped with built-in cupboards and desks.
Each of the six houses has a comfortable common room equipped with recreational necessities, channel-controlled DSTV and space in which to relax, socialise and “chill out”. Other home comforts are kitchenette facilities such as microwaves, fridges, urns, and toasters All the houses are serviced with regards to daily cleaning and machine-washable laundry on a weekly basis. There are controlled-access Internet and email facilities and telephones in all of the houses. Pupils are not allowed phones, cd players and ipods/mp3 players.
Meals are served in the College dining hall and a mid-morning snack is served at school.
Our boarding experience is more than just living with your friends, it is a whole new family. House life is at the heart of your son’s Firm Foundation journey: pupil mental, emotional and spiritual health are our priority. Relationships form the basis of our dynamic modern living systems.
Housemasters, matrons and in-house tutors form the core of a “second family.” Your children have left home and entered another. Our chaplaincy structures lead the way. Professional staff are present, visible and play a role in their day-to-day life with an emphasis on relationships and support where all members of “the House” matter.
Firm Foundation boarding has three houses but they all come together to eat, learn, play and pray!