Jackson Ford (10/MA) (above right during evening prep in the Library) was no stranger to Newington when he unpacked his bag at Edmund Webb House as a Year 10 boarder in January this year.

“I’ve been at Newington since Year 4 but I started boarding this year just to save time on travel from Cronulla,” he said. “It was an hour on the train each morning and again after sport. It was a bit of a hassle.”

With Rowing and Rugby as his summer and winter sports respectively, Jackson found getting back home in the evening was at times making homework harder and started thinking about the boarding possibility while in Year 9.

Edmund Webb House currently caters for 50 boys from Years 9-12, and metropolitan boys make up a third of the intake. The youngest boys are already 14-15 years old and ready to benefit from the added organisational support on campus and mentoring from older boys who are leaders.

Jackson is a weekly boarder arriving Sunday nights and returning home each Friday, and for him the biggest difference is in this routine. “It is really structured which is good. In the Boarding House everything is always set in time and places, which is unusual compared to what I was doing at home. It’s more organised and helpful during the week—it’s a lot less drastic just getting up every morning at 6 AM. Homework is done and there are no excuses to put it off if you’re late.”

Other noticeable changes have been his academic results. He smiles indicating recent positive academic reports, although he is cautiously modest. “There’s been a fair improvement, especially in the overall marks because of my focus. The focus is, I think, what leads from the routine being so structured”.

For Jackson settling in was pretty easy as, “the boarders are…well…always what boys are like. You just chat to them, and it’s just a massive home, so it’s easy to settle in. Mr Oliphant and the teachers are really good.”

It is not as easy to define what that “good” is but Jackson knows that the family feel from the staff is supportive: “They’re understanding of what boys are like.”

So is boarding similar to what he anticipated? “It’s better. I thought it’s possible that I would be hanging out for the weekend every week, but no, it’s not like that.

“When I spoke to mum about boarding I was worried. I said I didn’t want it to be ‘stuck’ there. But it doesn’t feel like that. You’re always occupied. You’ve got stuff to do; you’ve got training, you go to the gym, and you’re with your mates so you just have a good time. It’s not like you’re stuck here during the week and hanging out to just get home.”

Jackson doesn’t feel that there is a noticeable difference between metropolitan, regional and overseas boarders.

“It doesn’t matter too much. I’m really close to a lot of the day boys because I’ve been a day boy myself, but I still get along with the boarders, no matter where they are from.”

As our current Year 9 boys move to Year 10 there are places available at Edmund Webb House. We are keen to offer these places internally to current Newington families before promoting these positions externally.

Please contact the Director of Admissions, Mrs Yvonne Kaloterakis, if you are interested in metropolitan weekly boarding for your son.