Boarding at Bootham School
A Co-educational Boarding School, for Life
Although Bootham has separate girls’ and boys’ boarding houses, students share classes, meals and after-school activities. We find this to be of great benefit for developing interpersonal skills, confidence and open-mindedness, all of which prove invaluable for entering higher education and adult life.
At Bootham, we believe an exceptional education is about more than grades. With a more diverse learning environment, students are empowered to achieve their ambitions and find their voice, while learning to break down gender stereotypes from a young age.
At the end of a packed day’s learning, dining and socialising, our pupils have the comfort of retiring to their respective boys’ and girls’ boarding houses, where they can relax with roommates. These sanctuaries are furnished for relaxation, fun, safety and study, and help build the foundations for lifelong friendships.
To experience Bootham’s warm, tight-knit boarding community, just register to attend a school open day.
Boarding Ethos
The boarding ethos is guided by the Quaker testimonies of Equality, Peace, Simplicity, Stewardship and Truth.
Boarding at Bootham aims to be:
- A nurturing community where each person has the opportunity to develop physically, socially, intellectually and spiritually.
- An open community with honesty and trust.
- A safe community where disagreements are resolved peacefully.
- An inclusive community where no-one is discriminated against.
- A confident community where the unique contribution of each individual is celebrated.
- A thoughtful and forgiving community where we everyone takes responsibility for themselves and others.
Accommodation
The school has a girls’ boarding house and two boys’ boarding houses, each of which provides homely and comfortable accommodation in elegant Georgian buildings. Each has its own common room, kitchen facilities for making snacks, a student laundry and Wi-Fi.
An onsite health centre meets the needs of students who require medical attention, health education or simply a quiet place for rest and respite. GP surgery sessions are held in school on Tuesday and Friday mornings for students registered with the school doctor. Boarding students may wish to see the school doctor on a personal basis, which can be arranged through the Health Centre or by contacting the doctor’s surgery.
Boarding Options
Full Boarding and Weekly Boarding
Flexi Boarding
Students can also choose to board for two or three nights every week. Comments below are from the Independent Schools Inspectorate report on Bootham School, January 2022
“Throughout the school pupils of all ages are open and receptive to different cultures. They show a profound respect for each other which is underpinned by Quaker values.
Boarding, with its multi-cultural diversity where friendships from different ethnic backgrounds thrive, clearly embodies the respect that all pupils show towards each other.”
Occasional Boarding for Day Pupils
Subject to availability in the boarding houses, all students are welcome to come and try out boarding at Bootham. If your child is interested in staying with us, please email our Head of Houses (Rowntree – boarding for girls, Fox – boarding for boys Year 7-11, Evelyn – boarding for boys Year 12 & 13) who will get in touch as soon as possible. Please aim to leave at least a week between the request being submitted and the required boarding date. Each student is welcome to stay with us for two free nights per term, after which a charge of £35 will be added to the school bill for each additional night (up to 8 extra nights a term.) Their stay will include all meals, bedding and access to evening activities.
We look forward to welcoming your child to boarding at Bootham.
Studying in York
Additional Information
View additional information regarding Boarding at Bootham, including information on:
- Housing
- Activities
- Meals
- Guardians
- Travel arrangements