Boarding at QMHA supportive and warm family environment

QMH provides a safe, nurturing environment in which our youngest pupils build their early relationships

QMH is a perfectly supported stepping stone to the dynamic pace of middle school – where they continue their exceptional educational and pastoral journeys. Headed by house parents who, along with a dedicated and kind team of boarding staff, provide exceptional support and care. The happiness and welfare of every boarder is at the heart of all they do.

Life for boarders at King Edward’s is richly diverse

Each and every pupil enjoys a wealth of social and learning opportunities. Our lively community of full-time boarders enjoy a full and exciting activities programme on offer each evening and weekend. Full-time boarders live at School seven days a week throughout the term, apart from exeat weekends. Each term has two exeat weekends when boarders leave for home at 16:00 on Friday and return the following Sunday evening, allowing time to be spent with parents and guardians during term time.

Weekend activities

Throughout the weekend, our full-time boarders have a broad range of fun and educational activities to choose from, both arranged by house and larger trips for all pupils, including Go Karting, ice skating, trips to local attractions, attending local or national sporting events, day trips to London and house-based entertainment with BBQs, pizza or film nights. Inter-house activities and competitions are keenly contested.

Last term our boarders enjoyed Ice Discos, Fright Night at Thorpe Park, Go Karting, Climbing and Christmas Shopping at Bluewater along with enriching trips to Observatory Science Centre, Herstmonceux, The National Theatre, Westminster Abbey and East London Mosque, Houses of Parliament, and a trip to France.

Throughout the weekend, our dedicated in-house team are on hand to help with supporting studies, ensuring that our boarders are up to date with their prep and music practice and are prepared for the week ahead.

Weekly boarding

In many ways weekly boarding offers the best of both worlds and is popular with families from London, as well as those who are just a little too far for a daily commute or for those pupils who want to enjoy a fully immersive boarding experience during the week. This experience allows the flexibility for pupils to return home on Friday afternoon, or on Saturday after school fixtures or activities, and return on Sunday evening or Monday morning. Weekly boarders are fully involved in house and co-curricular activities during the week and can also enjoy a relaxed weekend with their families.

Flexi-boarding and occasional boarding

Our flexible options provide opportunities allows for a more flexible pattern, typically where our families arrange a regular pattern of week-night boarding to fit with busy family schedules or to enjoy the opportunity for pupils to stay with us should parents need to travel during term time. Our house teams are ready and able to accommodate individual and changing requirements and ensure that pupils are fully supported and at home in our houses, whether they live in them for one or seven nights a week.

Exciting, tasty and healthy food – nurturing strong, healthy bodies and minds

Balanced, healthy eating is at the very heart of our approach to catering at King Edward’s. We understand the importance of nurturing healthy bodies and healthy minds and we actively encourage a good nutritional choices and a active lifestyle. We take great pride in the food we provide, making sure that every day, individual nutritional needs are met through a superb variety of creative, freshly cooked and delicious options.

Ensuring our community comes together and connects, our staff and pupils eat together in our Dining Hall, a time prepare for a busy day ahead, take a break between activities or unwind at the end of a busy day of learning and achieving.

Our catering is provided by Chartwells, a company experienced in providing children with a balanced diet, to provide sustained energy for pupils involved in a busy school day as well as celebrating the best of British seasonal produce. Chartwells provides bespoke catering to King Edward’s featuring tailored menus for the school community together with our vibrant cafe, Piccadilly, situated in the heart of our learning environment.

The Piccadilly Café is open to all pupils, staff, parents and visitors and is located at the main entrance of the School. It offers café style snacks and hot and cold drinks and is a place where our whole community can meet to relax in a calm, modern space.

In addition, our Houses all have their own kitchens where pupils can make themselves snacks, hot drinks, and where a bowl of fruit and a conversation over a kitchen table is always on offer.

Healthy bodies. Healthy minds. Healthy, happy humans.