Meet a Selwyn House boarder

For Lucy (12 years-old), being a boarder at Selwyn House School is so much better than she imagined. She does more activities, completes her homework every day (which she says she probably wouldn’t if she was at home) and has boarding friends who are just like sisters

Home for Lucy, if she is not at Selwyn House, is near Darfield, with her mother, father and older brother.

“If I was at home I would probably mess around, but here we sit down after school, have afternoon tea together, then go off to the cybrary to do my homework. Tutors help us so I’m sure I am doing better at school than I would if I was at home.”

Lucy loves it that as a boarder she can use the school facilities, she can run around in the playground and “one of the best things about boarding is that we even have our own dog called Murphy. We play with him in the playground and take him for walks”.

The school facilities also include the indoor swimming pool, which Lucy says is great for a refreshing dip after dinner.

Lucy started boarding at Selwyn House School at the beginning of Year 6 (nearly two years ago). She found it difficult at first as she missed her family, but it didn’t take long before she settled in.

“Everyone is in the same situation, so if you need a hug lots of people can give you one. The tutors, who some are former Selwyn House boarding girls, chat to us and help us through any homesickness. I can call home when I need to. It doesn’t take long before you realise how lucky we are to be in this situation.”

Boarding is flexible so Lucy can visit authorised friend’s home after school. On a Tuesday she goes to Petra’s home for dinner, “I feel like I’m part of their family too”.

“I’m really lucky, I have lots of families to watch out for me, I have mum and dad who I see in the weekends, the boarding house, then Petra’s home too.  I feel very wanted and lucky.”