Nick Holloway, Head at Swanbourne House School, has welcomed Bethan Barnard as the new Head of Boarding and explains more about the benefits of flexi-boarding for day pupils:
Firstly, I’m delighted to announce the appointment of Bethan Barnard as our new Head of Boarding. With her extensive experience, energy and deep passion for creating a home-away- from-home environment, Bethan is set to bring a fresh perspective to Swanbourne’s boarding offering.
Bethan’s story is steeped in the tradition of boarding life, having grown up in a military family and attended boarding school from the age of 10. Her career has taken her through roles at schools including Monkton Combe Prep, Cheltenham College Prep and most recently, Bishop’s Stortford College, where she ran the prep boarding house. Her combination of professional expertise and personal insight makes her incredibly well suited to enriching the boarding experience at Swanbourne House.
For those unfamiliar with Swanbourne House, we’re a co- educational, independent day and boarding prep school set in the stunning Buckinghamshire countryside, just outside Milton Keynes and near Winslow. As part of The Stowe Group, we share a vision of excellence in education, and our partnership with Stowe has brought myriad benefits to our school community – including a newly refurbished boarding house that I believe is among the best in the country.
The boarding house at Swanbourne House is designed to feel like a second home. From cosy sitting rooms and a snug to a family kitchen and spaces for relaxation and play, we’ve created an environment where children feel safe, supported and inspired to be themselves.
But boarding at Swanbourne isn’t an all-or-nothing commitment. We offer flexi-boarding, where children can stay one, two or three nights a week. This option has proven increasingly popular with busy families, providing a practical solution to modern sched- ules while also enriching children’s school experience with unique opportunities to grow, socialise and develop independence.
For day pupils, flexi-boarding offers a taste of boarding life – joining friends for evening activities, sharing meals and enjoying the camaraderie of dorm life. It allows children to experience the best of both worlds: the comfort of home combined with the adventure and independence of boarding. For parents, it’s also a flexible way to manage busy weeks.
At Swanbourne House, our pupils thrive in a vibrant community that balances academic rigour with creativity, outdoor learning and an array of co-curricular activities. Boarding, even on a part- time basis, enhances this experience by helping build on things learnt in the school day – such as teamwork and self-confidence – qualities that will serve them well in school and beyond.
Whether your child is a day pupil or boarder, or simply dips a toe into boarding life, we’re here to offer an experience that inspires, supports and prepares them for the future. For more information or to arrange a visit, please don’t hesitate to get in touch. We’d love to welcome you for a visit.
Swanbourne families receive a 10% discount on the boarding fees or 5% discount on the day fees at Stowe if their child chooses it as their senior school.
For more information on admissions at Swanbourne House, email admissions@swanbourne.org or visit www.swanbourne.org
