Ofsted has awarded the Oak House boarding facility at Huish an ‘Outstanding’ rating.
The inspectors commented “The happy and welcoming atmosphere created by staff radiates throughout the boarding provision. Students very much like staying here and have formed long-standing positive relationships with each other. Students respect and care for one another, valuing each other’s differences and positively celebrating diversity. Students said that staying in the boarding house is like being part of one big family”.
The student accommodation is located on South Road, just along from the main campus. It has 53 bedrooms with ensuite bathrooms and a range of communal areas. It is home to full-time and flexi-boarders aged 16-19 from both the UK and abroad. The state sixth-form college provides free education to UK students and anyone meeting the ESFA funding criteria. It is one of only a handful of state sixth-form colleges in England with boarding available.
A boarder’s parent shared “It was the first time for my son living away from home, the house parents helped make that transition as gentle as possible for both my son and myself. If it weren’t for the boarding facilities my son would not have been able to attend the College and benefit hugely from the Cricket programme which has helped him move forward with the County team”.
Sixth-form boarding is popular with those who need to travel a long distance to reach a top-quality college and is more affordable than independent school boarding with tuition fees. Huish has a longstanding reputation for excellent results, a wide range of course options, extensive EnRICH programmes and state-of-the-art facilities, Oak House means a wider community can access a great education.
Huish created a purpose-built boarding facility to allow their students to experience independent living in preparation for university and employment. During their stay they are supported by House Parents, the Oak House team and College support teams. Evening EnRICH activities and weekend trips help the students establish bonds and create a strong boarding community.
The Ofsted report noted “Students particularly like that staff treat them with respect and as young adults rather than children. They also appreciate that staff are open to their views and ideas for further development of the college”.
“A dedicated and experienced safeguarding team is available throughout the day and night, providing guidance and support when there are worries about students. This team understands the vulnerabilities facing children and young adults who live away from home”.
“The wellbeing service is a strength of the college provision. The wellbeing team works successfully to empower, enable and support the students to develop self-awareness and self-management skills”.
Parents, Claire and Marc Baker shared “We are eternally grateful to the Huish staff for their exceptional care and unwavering commitment to our children’s wellbeing. We wholeheartedly recommend Oak House to any parent who seeks an enriching environment for their ‘soon to be adult’. You will be so glad you made the choice!”.
Huish is a member of the Boarding Schools Association (BSA) State Boarding Forum.
