Boarding at St Hugh’s

A Home from Home...and So Much More

Boarding at St Hugh's is a place where childhood is celebrated.

Set in the heart of the beautiful village of Woodhall Spa, our Boarding House is much more than a place to stay, it is a vibrant home where children laugh, learn, grow and create lifelong memories together. Surrounded by woodland and green open spaces, yet firmly rooted in a welcoming local community, St Hugh's offers children the very best of prep school boarding in a safe and inspiring environment.

From the moment they arrive, every boarder becomes part of our extended family, enjoying the warmth, security and sense of belonging that make St Hugh's such a special place.

Whether pupils board full time or occasionally  to enjoy the flexibility of our popular flexi boarding programme, they quickly discover that boarding offers something truly unique: friendships that flourish beyond the classroom, exciting opportunities throughout the week and the confidence that comes from being part of a caring community.

For many families, boarding provides the perfect balance between busy family life and exceptional pastoral care. Some choose boarding to prepare their children for senior boarding school, while others value the consistency, routine and continuity that boarding brings throughout the school week. Whatever their journey, every child enjoys the same outstanding pastoral care, enriching experiences and genuine sense of belonging.

At the heart of boarding is Mrs Sarah Warwick-Smith and her family, who live in the Boarding House and create the genuine home-from-home atmosphere that parents so often comment upon. Together with our dedicated boarding team, they know every child as an individual, celebrating achievements, offering reassurance when needed and ensuring every boarder feels safe, valued and happy.

Life in boarding extends far beyond the classroom. Children come together for breakfast, tea and supper, complete prep in a supportive environment and enjoy a varied programme of evening activities that encourages them to try new things, develop independence and strengthen friendships. Whether baking in the kitchen, enjoying a movie night, taking part in sport, visiting the Kinema in the Woods or celebrating seasonal traditions, boarding is filled with opportunities to have fun, grow in confidence and create memories that last a lifetime.

Above all else, boarding at St Hugh's gives children the confidence to become independent, resilient and compassionate young people, ready for the exciting journey ahead.

Principles of Boarding

Everything we do in the Boarding House is guided by a simple belief: children thrive when they feel safe, happy and that they truly belong.  

Our boarding principles shape daily life and underpin the care we provide, ensuring every child feels valued while encouraging them to grow in confidence, independence and character.  

Through boarding at St Hugh's we aim to:

• Develop confidence, resilience and independence.
• Encourage kindness, empathy and respect for others.
• Foster a strong sense of belonging within a caring boarding community.
• Help children build lasting friendships.
• Encourage responsibility for themselves, their belongings and their environment.
• Develop organisation, healthy routines and life skills.
• Promote self-esteem and celebrate individual achievement.
• Prepare pupils for senior school boarding and life beyond St Hugh's.

Meet the Boarding House Team

Exceptional pastoral care lies at the heart of boarding at St Hugh's.  Our experienced and dedicated team creates a nurturing environment where every child feels safe, happy and supported.  By building strong relationships with each boarder, we ensure every child is encouraged to flourish academically, socially and emotionally.  

Mrs Warwick-Smith
Head of Boarding

Mrs Warwick-Smith oversees the operation of the Boarding House and is the main point of contact for boarding families.  She lives in the Boarding House with her husband and son, Grayson, creating the genuine family atmosphere that makes boarding at St Hugh's so special.  Alongside leading boarding, she also teaches Religious Education and Games.

Miss Green
Matron

Miss Green oversees the health and wellbeing of pupils across the school and plays an important role in supporting our boarders.

Miss Kilby
Resident Assistant

Miss Kilby supports the day-to-day running of the Boarding House and helps deliver our varied programme of evening activities.  She also works within the school's sports department.

Mr Tyler
Resident Assistant

Mr Tyler is part of the resident boarding team, supporting pupils throughout the week and helping to create the positive and welcoming atmosphere enjoyed by all our boarders.  He also works within the sports department.

Boarding House Activities

There is always something to look forward to in boarding.  

Our varied programme of weekly evening activities gives children the opportunity to relax, discover new interests, spend time with friends and enjoy experiences beyond the classroom.

Whether baking, cooking, crafting, taking part in team games, swimming, enjoying movie nights, visiting the Kinema in the Woods or celebrating seasonal events together, there is always something happening in the Boarding House. Every activity is carefully planned to encourage confidence, creativity, friendship and fun.

A full programme of activities is shared with families each term.

Boarding House documents

• Boarders' Guide
• Boarding Kit List
• Parents' Guide to Boarding

Feedback from Parents

We always love to receive feedback from the parents of our boarders. Here is just a small number of the comments we have recently received:

• “St Hugh’s Boarding House is without a doubt home from home which was very important to us.”
• “The atmosphere in the boarding is house is incredibly warm and welcoming. There are always activities each evening and the broad and well thought-out range on offer is pretty remarkable for a school the size of St Hugh’s."
• "The children are encouraged to look out for one another, which creates an incredibly happy home from home. We cannot praise it highly enough!”
• “The staff are both caring towards the children, and reassuring to parents that our children’s needs are being met."
• "My son absolutely loves boarding at St Hugh’s and I feel very lucky that he has had such a positive experience. I have seen his independence and confidence grow since he became a full boarder.”
• “St Hugh’s has been the perfect, happy, family environment for our son to learn the ways of boarding before going off to full board at his next school. I am so grateful that the school has fortified his confidence and independence whilst nurturing and ensuring that he is always happy.”
• “Boarding at St Hugh’s allows that extra time to focus on prep and also socialise with friends in a wide range of activities on an evening which, I must add, are super.”
• “Memories are certainly being captured here.”
• "Mrs Warwick-Smith is so kind, caring, thoughtful, considerate and bags of fun for the children."
• “Mrs W-S you are the BEST! Happiest kiddies I’ve ever seen!”