Boarding FAQs

The decision over whether to board is one that a family should make together. As a modern boarding school we are extremely experienced in helping you to understand contemporary boarding and how it fits with modern family life. Staff at Cranleigh are always happy to answer any questions you or your parents may have, however detailed, as we recognise that the decision to board is an important one.

Yes, in the Sixth Form all boarders will have their own room, and are strongly encouraged to add posters and decorative elements to make it their individual space.

In each House we have a very strong and dedicated pastoral staff. Each House has two residential staff and two matrons. As well as this all of our teaching staff are house tutors and they are assigned responsibility for individual students – so there is plenty of day-to-day support from staff.

After dinner and social time, prep takes place in the boarding houses, with staff and Sixth Form prefects supporting and mentoring prep. Once prep is completed many school and house activities take place before bedtime. This varies day by day and can include simple food treat nights, playing games, TV watching, or playing sports to more ‘organised’ activities such as trips to the cinema, trampoline park or a restaurant.

Yes! All of our students have a school iPad with a School email account and we find this is the way many of our students keep in regular contact with family and friends. Mobile phones are permitted in Sixth Form but their use will have some restrictions, as we want you to have as few distractions to school life as possible.

Yes! We have many parents and grandparents coming to concerts, plays, or school matches during the week and we encourage this. Many parents pop into the house to drop off supplies and take students out for a pizza or a coffee in the week and we’re happy to welcome them into the community. We want all of our parents to feel like they are part of the Cranleigh family.

Yes! Most students come home after matches on Saturdays and return to have a relaxing weekend. Students can then return on a Sunday evening at 9pm or Monday morning at 7.45am.

No! We do not set weekend homework, as we believe that the weekends are times for families to spend quality time together. All laundering is completed at school in the week as well. Weekends are for quality family time.