B O A R D I N G

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St Margaret’s School

Welcome to St Margaret’s School

An everlasting experienceWelcome to St Margaret’s School, Hertfordshire. I am delighted that you are considering our beautiful school for your boarding needs. We are one of the oldest independent girls’ schools in the United Kingdom and I strongly believe this rich heritage, coupled with our significant boarding experience is key to our success.

Our boarding house is quite literally at the heart of our school, residing in the main building, with the most stunning views of our vast 60 acre rural estate. We have the added benefit of being located within the beautiful English countryside whilst being only 20 minutes from central London.

Boarding is a life-changing event for a girl as it shapes who she is and who she will become, as she grows from a girl into a young woman. Our boarders are integral to the St Margaret’s community and immerse seamlessly among our day pupils. Choosing a boarding school can often be an overwhelming process, for both a girl and her parents.

We believe that a strong partnership with parents and guardians is a key factor in ensuring girls are getting the best out of boarding and of an independent education. We regularly send parents updates and they can always see what their daughter is doing through our School blog.

We have tried to provide you with as much information as possible, in this brochure and throughout our website.

If you require anything else and would like a personal tour of our beautiful grounds and school, then please get in touch. We would love to show you around St Margaret’s.

Kind regards,

Rose Hardy

HeadmistressMA (Oxon) MEd FRSA

Benefits of BoardingThere are tremendous benefits to boarding, regardless of whether a girl day boards, flexi-boards or boards at St Margaret’s full time.

Sense of IndependenceBeing away from her family, for even a few nights of the week to the entire school year, gives a girl a sense of independence. While educational experience is important to personal and educational growth and development, boarding is a pre-cursor to life after school and what a girl can expect at University and beyond.

Meet Friends for Life This is the case whether a girl is a day or boarding pupil. However, the need for great friends is often highlighted in a boarding environment. These are the friends she will live with and eat all her meals with and the ones she will share her joys and tribulations of everyday school life with. We see these strong and deep friendships growing over years. Not only do pupils keep in touch with one another, we are proud to say many keep in touch with the School, even after twenty years!

Immerse Yourself into School Community One of the advantages of attending St Margaret’s, is not only the excellent education your daughter will benefit from, but also the numerous co-curricular activities she will be able to get involved with. Being part of a School House, learning a musical instrument, taking up a sport and horse riding are just some or all of the activities she will be able to make the time for and participate in, along with her studies.

Experience Varied Activities At St Margaret’s we have a responsibility to keep our boarders busy in their downtime. This means they have numerous opportunities to develop themselves and get involved in new hobbies, from horse riding and golf through to public speaking and origami. Every weekend, we plan optional activities for boarders, an example of the kinds of activities we do in one term alone, can be found in the ‘Boarding Activities’ section of this brochure.

Work Hard, Play HardBoarding at St Margaret’s comes with a built-in social life, one which often exceeds staying at home. With exciting trips planned every weekend, discos in our very large common room and packed after school activities, your daughter will have a full schedule. This lifestyle, apart from being thoroughly fun, develops a girls’ confidence because they have to interact with other children constantly, some of whom they would never have had the opportunity to meet if they were being schooled at home, in their own country.

Experience British cultureBritish customs and traditions are famous all over the world. When one thinks of the United Kingdom, they often think of people drinking tea, eating fish and chips and the Royal Family! Of course these things are iconic to the UK but there is so much else to see (and eat). We take our boarders on trips all around the country, to places such as Oxford, Stonehenge and of course London! Day girls are often invited to trips at the weekends as they are thoroughly popular with all the girls and it also gives day girls and boarders more chances to develop deeper friendships outside the classroom.

Learn English Fluently and ArticulatelyMany of our boarders originate from outside of the UK and a significant number from Europe and Asia where English is not their first language. At St Margaret’s we welcome this extraordinary diversity but also understand that girls need to be able to speak English to a certain standard, in order for them to succeed academically. We provide extra and bespoke tuition to those girls who need the assistance and find that by the time our overseas boarders leave us, they speak the English language beautifully and confidently.

Pastoral CareOur pastoral care is one of the central pillars upon which we have built our values and ethos. We aim to ensure that our pastoral system delivers real care and that pupils know to whom they can turn for the type of support they need. We strongly believe that effective pastoral care underpins all aspects of school life, and it is vital that a girl feels happy and comfortable in her environment if she is to succeed at school life.

At St Margaret’s, we think of pastoral care in two ways;

1. The care we take of the overall aspect of your daughter, during her time with us. It is medical provision, caring housemistresses, wholesome food, ensuring school work gets done to a high standard, arranging exciting activities during the weekends, encouraging participation in team sports and co-curricular activities.

2. That depth of care, often intangible and one which is more pertinent in a boarding environment, where a girl is away from her family home. It is the creation of a loving community around her, where she feels part of a family to which she can turn to, during the ups and downs of her school life. It is also teaching her not only from books, but also real life. Equipping her to learn to face the world with confidence, self-esteem and an understanding of how to treat others with respect and kindness.

“ It’s been a great pleasure living in this

loving and warm family” Crystal Poon

All boarding staff live on site and in the same building as the boarders. They are there to provide 24 hour care and assistance and also to ensure that boarders enjoy a community life to the full, with the right balance of study, relaxation and challenge.

A girls’ physical and mental well being is extremely important. We have a School nurse who is on site during school hours and a housemistress who is always on duty out of school hours, to respond to any medical matters. We also have a School counsellor who visits us twice a week, to talk to girls about issues they wish to raise privately. Alongside this, we have an in-house learning support officer specifically qualified in testing all our girls for learning difficulties and providing options to get the best out of them both academically and socially.

We also have a beautiful, aged chapel where all boarders are required to attend weekly services on Sundays. This is non-denominational and open to all faiths and beliefs. In fact, this is probably one of the most popular services we provide our boarders.

We ensure that girls work together to forge supportive relationships with other girls of all ages throughout the school. Our ‘Senior Sisters’ programme, School House system, Form tutors, Heads of Year and the pastoral team, together provide a pastoral support framework which is finely attuned to the needs of all our pupils.

Boarding OptionsIn today’s busy world many families find boarding a way of relieving pressure on family life by reducing time spent on endless commuting and ensuring that the time they spend together is quality time, with most of the school commitments having been met during the week. At St Margaret’s a variety of flexi-boarding options are available to girls between Year 7 to 13, as well as full boarding.

FLEXI-BOARDING OPTIONS

Day BoardingThis gives parents the option of dropping a pupil off in time for breakfast at 07:30 and collecting her after supper, in time for 20:00.

Occasional BoardingThis can be offered if we have a bed free in the accommodation appropriate to a pupil’s age. This can take the form of one or two nights a week on a regular basis, the odd night, or a week or two during the year. These options are all helpful when parents are away dealing with business or family matters, or when girls have particularly time consuming commitments at school such as play rehearsals. Many girls find a week in school provides the perfect opportunity to prepare for public examinations.

Weekly Boarding This means that a girl has her own bed in school which she can use for three to five nights a week, by arrangement. This is popular with students who would have a long journey into school and would like to break up the travelling during the week. It is also a great way of getting a taste of boarding life. Weekend stay and all excursions are available to weekly boarders for a supplementary charge.

With flexi-boarding options, students can get the most out of the educational and co-curricular opportunities during the week, but can return home to other friends and family at the end of the week. It is often excellent preparation prior to moving away to University.

Termly BoardingThis has all the benefits and opportunities of full boarding, tailored to European students who would like to come to St Margaret’s for a minimum period of one term. We find that many students from Western Europe have slightly different start and end dates to their term. When there is a large gap, there is an opportunity for girls to come and stay at St Margaret’s and immerse themselves in our community. They also take EAL courses and participate in all the activities and trips available to our regular boarders.

FULL BOARDING

This is round the clock care at all times except school holidays, Exeat weekends and the May bank holiday weekend. There is always the flexibility for girls to go home for occasional weekends to fit in with family events. Boarding also means lots of fun with extra activities and excursions included in the full boarding fee. The annual visit to Brighton has become a firm favourite, theatre trips and more casual outings to the cinema or the bowling alley are also popular.

AccommodationWe have one central boarding house at St Margaret’s, situated on top of our historic main building, overlooking our beautiful school grounds. The boarding house consists of seven living areas: Festing, Barrington, Simpson, Talbot, Elwyn, Davidson and Belgravia, split over three and a half levels which flow into each other and the different Year groups they cater to. The living areas are named after the clergymen who kindly donated money towards the upkeep of the school, almost two centuries ago.

Each room has a comfortable bed, desk, chair, lamp, wardrobe and drawers. Girls are encouraged to personalise their room with posters, plants, rugs and soft furnishings.

Food is an important part of boarding school life at an all-girls school. Active, growing girls require plenty of nutritious food and regular meals. At St Margaret’s, we use as much fresh food as possible and our menus are often created with seasonal and local produce. We are very conscious of additives, preservatives and excess salt and sugar in food that we serve and go as far as baking our own bread, making tomato ketchup, pressing apples from our orchard for fresh juice and culturing our own yogurt, all on-site!

At St Margaret’s we want our boarders to really enjoy their food. We recognise the importance of providing a quality menu with flexibility and choice which our pupils enjoy. A great deal of time is spent on menu planning and we are able to adapt to different menu styles and requests. We encourage our pupils to have their say about the food we offer and have a suggestion box which pupils can use. We also offer ‘make a menu’ meals where the students decide what the menu will be!

Breakfast at St Margaret’s offers a wide selection of cereals with toast and juices. A hot option is also available and pupils help themselves to their own particular choice. Hot chocolate and croissants, fresh from the oven, are a firm favourite!

Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday Saturday Sunday

Hot and Hearty Pan Fried Bacon and Scrambled

Eggs Tomatoes

Crusty Bread

Avocado & Pomegranate

ToastMixed Berries Smoothies

Poached Eggs

Roasted Peppers and Ham Frittata

TomatoesCrusty Bread

Croissant Fried Egg

Grilled Vegetables

Crusty Bread

Bacon and Egg Roll

MushroomsCrusty Rolls

Pain au Chocolate Poached Egg Cheesy Toast Crusty Bread

St Margaret’sBrunch

Everyday Toast and preserves will be available every day.Porridge ‘bolt ons’ Porridge will be available every day with a selection of toppings including Sultanas and Raisins, Banana Chips, Stewed Prunes,

Chocolate Chips and Honey.Break Cut Fruit Exotic Fruits Chocolate

BrownieBiscuits Cut Fruit

Boarders’ treat Pancakes Weekly Treat in Beckwith

Crisps

This week’s “Innovations”

All DaySuper Food

Salads

Breakfast Tomato Juice

Lunch for many of our boarders is the main meal of the day and we operate a buffet-style service. The menu is varied offering both traditional British favourites alongside international options. Pupils may choose from a hot meat or vegetarian dish with freshly cooked vegetables, jacket potato, a pasta dish, sandwiches or opt for a salad lunch from the extensive salad selection. A full salad bar is always on offer as an option or accompaniment. Fresh fruit is always available, as is a hot and cold dessert.

Supper at St Margaret’s is served at 18:30 in the dining room and is equally as substantial as our lunch offering. The menu, whilst being entirely different from lunchtime, follows the same self-serve counter service pattern.

There is always a fresh supply of homemade biscuits, fresh fruit and hot drinks in all of the student kitchens, when girls wish to enjoy a snack.

An example of a typical weekly boarders’ menu.

breakfast menu

Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday Saturday Sunday

Fresh Soup Red Lentil Broccoli Carrot & Coriander

Creamy Tomato White Bean & Lentil

Main Stop Roast Beef with Tomato Gravy

Super Food Bar Roast Pork with Lemon and

Thyme Gravy

Honey and Ginger Stir-Fry Pork

Battered Catch of the Day Lemon Wedge Tartar Sauce

Warm Chicken Caesar Salad

Veggie special Cheddar and Red Onion Frittata With Rocket

Super Food Bar Roasted Squash and red Pepper

Spaghetti

Homemade Falafel BurgersWith Watercress

Salad

Brie & spinach Stuffed croissant with Sweet potato

chips

Quorn Chicken Caesar Salad

On the side Crispy New Potato

CabbageCarrots

Super Food Bar Sauté PotatoesCorn on the Cob

Green Beans

Scented RiceBroccoli

Prawn Crackers

Chunky ChipsBaked BeansGarden Peas

Homemade Bread

Pasta Station with parmesan, basil oil & black pepper

Tomato & Basilor

Creamy Sauce

Tomato & Basilor

Avocado

Tomato & Basilor

Spinach and Onion

Tomato & Basilor

Creamy Mushroom

Tomato & Basilor

Three Cheese Sauce

Sandwiches Sandwiches Cheese BaguetteHam and Mustard

Bloomer

Chicken Baguette Salmon

Pumper-nickel

Cheese BaguetteTuna Ciabatta

Cheese Baguette Sausage and

Tomato Kethcup Ciabatta

Sausage Baguette

Cheese Bloomer

14:15Selection of homemade sandwiches

Salad Protein Tortilla and dips Chickpea Burgers Homemade Spicy Bhajis

Moroccan Flat Bread with Dips

BBQ wings

Dessert Vanilla Rice Pudding

Popcorn Strawberry Cheesecake

Rice Crispy Cake Lemon Mousse Cut Fruit Cake Platter

lunch menu

Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday Saturday Sunday

Selection of home baked breads, toppings & accompaniments

Soup Pea & Parsley Minestrone Minestrone Tuscan Bean Chicken NoodleMain Stop Giant Fish Finger

Wrap with Garlic Sauce

Crispy chickenwith Oriental Vegetables

Prawn & Leek Risotto

Chicken Skewers with

Parsley Sauce

Hot Deli Bar Bowl FoodBeef Curry with Mango Chutney

Baked Salmon with Lemon

Wedge and Aioli

Veggie special Homemade Margarita

Basil Oil Pizza

Southern Fried Tofu with

Mint Yoghurt

Falafels with Sweet Chilli

Sauce and Pitta Bread

Vegetable Skewers

Hot Deli Bar Chunky Sweet Potato and

Spinach Korma

Mushroom & Pea Risotto

On the side House Salad Peas

New Potatoes

Stir-Fry RiceGreen BeansFried Greens

Wilted GreensCarrot

Crispy Potatoes Pan Fried vegetablesSweetcorn

Hot Deli Bar Turmeric RicePoppadums

Raita

New potatoesGarden PeasGreen Beans

Dessert Fruit Salad Fruit Salad Fruit Salad Fruit Salad Fruit Salad Fruit Salad Lemon Pancakes

Fruit Seasonal fresh fruit served in peak condition, ripened & ready to eat.

dinner menu

At St Margaret’s we aim to offer activities which will broaden pupils’ experiences of boarding, by organising a full and diverse programme of cultural, social and recreational activities at the weekends. We believe that the weekend is a chance for girls to have the opportunity for some ‘downtime’, try something new, learn to manage their time and get to know the other girls whom they share the boarding house with.

Our goal is to provide a balance of trips around the UK, teach girls skills for life and provide a relaxing atmosphere within an environment that the girls consider their home. The weekends’ activities are open to all boarders and we often invite day girls to participate as we find this strengthens friendships outside of the boarding house. Our girls enjoy the trips tremendously and we try to post as many experiences on our School blog, (with lots of pictures).

An example of activities during a typical term:

Saturday 5th September Warwick CastleSunday 6th September Shopping in WatfordSaturday 12th September Chessington World of AdventuresSunday 13th September GolfSaturday 19th September Oxford TripSunday 20th September GolfFriday 25th September Story Telling SessionSaturday 26th September CinemaSunday 27th September GolfSaturday 3rd October ExeatSunday 4th October ExeatSaturday 10th October Victoria and Albert Museum (Shoes: Pleasure and Pain),

Shopping in central LondonSunday 11th October GolfSaturday 17th October Start of Half TermSunday 18th October End of Half TermFriday 6th November Story Telling SessionSaturday 7th November Hairspray (Wimbledon Theatre)Sunday 8th November GolfSaturday 14th November Ice SkatingSunday 15th November GolfSaturday 21st November Exeat Sunday 22nd November ExeatSaturday 28th November Bluewater - one of the largest shopping centres in EuropeSunday 29th November GolfSaturday 5th December Clothes Show LiveSunday 6th December GolfSaturday 12th December Home Weekend / Christmas PartySunday 13th December Golf

Merry Hill Road | Bushey | Hertfordshire WD23 1DT T: +44 (0)20 8416 4400 | F: +44 (0)20 8416 4401 | E: schooloffice@smbushey.com

www.stmargaretsbushey.co.uk