Boarding FAQs
We answer some of the most common questions we get asked about boarding and living at Stephen Perse Cambridge.
If you still have questions after reading this page, get in touch with our boarding team and we’ll be happy to help.
Who can board?
Full-time boarding is available to UK and International students aged 15 or over who are studying on our 1-year IGCSE course, or in our Sixth Form. As full boarders, students are with us for twenty-four hours a day, seven days a week. Our boarding campus is always staffed 24/7 and our knowledgeable, friendly and trained boarding house staff are always available.
Are students expected to do their own cleaning and laundry?
Our cleaners will thoroughly clean each student room and replace bed linen on a weekly basis. We ask that students keep their rooms tidy to help our cleaners to do their jobs.
Boarding has washing machines and dryers, so that students can manage their own laundry. Staff are on hand 24/7 and happy to offer guidance where needed.
What is the food provision?
Breakfast, lunch and evening meals are provided Monday to Friday - breakfast and evening meals are provided in the boarding dining room, and lunch is provided at the Senior School or Sixth Form. At the weekends breakfast, lunch and an evening meal are provided in boarding.
All food is prepared on-site by Stephen Perse Cambridge’s carefully chosen external catering provider. The food is wholesome and healthy, and we cater for most special dietary needs, from vegetarian to Halal. Our Catering Manager is always happy to listen to feedback and meal suggestions, so students have real input into their dining choices.
What is a boarder’s typical daily routine?
At the weekends: breakfast, lunch and evening meals are provided in the boarding dining room.
Monday to Friday
Welfare check: 07:15
Breakfast: 07:30-08:30
Welfare check: 18:00
Dinner: 18:00-19:00
Study: 19:00-21:00 (Not applicable on Fridays)
Welfare check and curfew: 22:00 (23:00 for Year 13 on Friday)
Saturday
Welfare check: 08:45
Breakfast: 09:00-10:00
Lunch: 13:00-14:00
Welfare check: 18:00
Dinner: 18:00-19:00
Welfare check and curfew: 22:00 (23:00 for Year 13 on Saturday)
Sunday
Welfare check: 08:45
Brunch: 11:00-13:00
Welfare check: 18:00
Dinner: 17:50-18:50
Welfare check: 22:00
Do international students need an educational guardian?
All international students, regardless of age, must have an educational guardian while studying with us. We fully expect guardians to play an important part in the student’s boarding life and they should communicate with the student’s tutor at the beginning of their course. Guardians are also expected to attend parents’ days, or arrange a representative to attend in their absence. Parents who have appointed a guardian who plays no part in the boarder’s life at school and does not make the effort to visit, will be asked to change the guardian to a more appropriate company, or individual.
To achieve these standards, we have adopted the AEGIS (the Association for the Education and Guardianship of International Pupils) Code of Practice as a standard for our guardians and ask those selected to confirm that they are either a member of AEGIS, or agree to abide the AEGIS Code of Practice and Guidelines. You can download a copy of these guidelines here.
What medical care is available?
Our boarders are all fully supported medically, and they have access to excellent medical care and counselling services if needed. All boarding house staff are fully trained first aiders.