Overnight Stays

Whilst we are not a full boarding school, Holmwood House offers the opportunity to experience overnight stays and the benefits they bring.

We encourage all children in Years 4 to 9 to take advantage of the opportunity to stay one night a week and take part in our exciting overnight activities. Each term features themed fun nights for the whole year group, celebrating events such as Burns Night or dressing up for special evenings like Harry Potter or Superheroes Night. We also use these evenings to foster a love of the outdoors, offering activities such as orienteering, camping skills, and outdoor adventures.

The benefits of overnight stays

Encouraging independence

An overnight stay provides a fantastic opportunity for children to develop independence within a familiar setting. For those considering a senior boarding school in the future, it offers a valuable first experience—sharing the evening with friends while growing in confidence.
Overnight stays also help children learn to plan ahead, organise the equipment they need, and take responsibility for managing their own time.

Personal growth

Spending a night away from home encourages maturity, resilience, self-discipline, and adaptability. Children become more confident in facing challenges and solving problems independently. These stays also provide a chance to build broader social connections with pupils across different year groups.

A break from a long commute

For families living further away, an overnight stay can provide welcome relief from a lengthy daily journey—giving your child more time to rest and enjoy school life.

Access to facilities and activities

Pupils who stay overnight enjoy extended access to our excellent school facilities. They love spending time in the cookery room, sports hall, and swimming pool. A highlight of the year is our much-anticipated trip to the beach!

Handbooks

Guide to Overnight stays 2024-25 – Parents

Guide to overnight stays 2024-25 – Pupils

Welfare, Fees and Facilities

Welfare

The welfare of every child is paramount. The staff maintain close contact with parents and all pupils have access to telephones and email. There is a member of staff on duty at all times in the Surgery and parents are informed immediately if a child needs to stay in bed or visit a doctor.

Overnight staff can be contacted by: T: 01206 574305

E: boarding@holmwood.house

Bedrooms

Bedrooms are arranged so that children of the same age share, and notice is taken of friendship groups wherever possible. Children are encouraged to take pride in their room, both with its decoration and tidiness. Girls’ rooms are on the top floor and boys’ rooms are on the first floor of the main building.

Facilities

During evening activities, all of the school’s facilities are available (i.e. Library, Art Room, Computer Suite, Sports Hall, etc). The cookery room and swimming pool are also used as part of the activities, which are all supervised by the staff. Qualified staff are on hand whenever swimming is offered.