A Multicultural Life! In our boarding houses, we proudly showcase a truly multicultural lifestyle. Students from Asia, Africa, Europe — and even our one Australian! — live together as a united community. This mix teaches tolerance, open- mindedness, and the tricky art of agreeing on what to eat when everyone’s taste buds are completely different. This weekend offered a perfect example of our multicultural life in action. Two Christian students chose to be christened at the local church near Clyde House, while two others observed Ramadan, attending the local mosque to celebrate Iftar—the moment when a long fast finally ends. We also celebrated Chinese New Year, with some of our Chinese students taking their boarding friends to Chinatown to share the festivities and enjoy traditional food—a fascinating experience for everyone. These moments are a reminder that different traditions can coexist respectfully and meaningfully. The only time I’ve seen any negative nationalism in boarding was following the football world cup on TV. Things can get heated when it comes to football! —but even that was soon forgotten, probably lost amid someone yelling at the referee or spilling their popcorn. In our boarding house, disagreements rarely last long, while respect, friendship, and shared experiences endure. Living in a multicultural boarding house is more than just sharing a room or a meal. It’s about learning from one another, navigating different perspectives, and appreciating the small differences. In short, it is a global experience under one roof. Our 'Get Ready for Uni' Programme Our boarding programme, “Get Ready for Uni,” is aimed at Year 12 and Year 13 students, equipping them with practical, day-to-day skills they’ll need when they leave home and head to university—skills they’ll need because at uni, you are on your own. Students learn to clean their room, iron a shirt, use a washing machine and tumble dryer to wash their own clothes, shop for food, understand pricing, and cook a basic meal. They even have access to air fryers and other cooking equipment, making their culinary experiments fun and realistic. Our houseparents truly live up to their title: caring mentors preparing students for the future. Who would have thought ironing a shirt could be such fun? Some of our Chinese students were perplexed by the new “language” of washing symbols on clothes labels. Even more surprising for them—and a few others—was discovering the fluff trap in a tumble dryer! Our guiding principle is gradual freedom throughout Years 12 and 13. Students gain independence through experiences such as traveling unaccompanied to London, using public transport, or joining a local gym as a regular member of the community—not just as part of the school. They make real choices under the attentive guidance of our boarding team, always in collaboration with parents, with regular updates at every step, and with safety as our first priority. By the time our boarders leave, they aren’t just ready for university—they are ready for life.
