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If you're starting boarding school or considering it, you might be wondering if you can go home on weekends. For many students, the chance to visit home offers a much-needed break from school life, a chance to reconnect with family, and time to relax in a familiar environment. Whether or not you can go home on weekends depends on your school's policies, as well as your personal circumstances and preferences. Understanding how weekend leave works and how it might impact your experience can help you make the most of your time at boarding school.

Do All Boarding Schools Allow Weekend Leave?

Not all boarding schools operate the same way when it comes to weekend leave. Here are some common approaches:

• Weekly boarding: Some schools are specifically designed for weekly boarders, meaning students stay at school during the week and go home every weekend.
• Flexible leave: Many schools allow students to go home on weekends if they wish, though this might need to be arranged in advance.
• Full boarding: For students at full-boarding schools, staying at school over the weekend is often the norm, but occasional visits home may still be possible.

It's important to check with your school to understand their specific policies, as this will help you plan your time and set expectations.

Why Schools Have Different Policies

The weekend leave policies at boarding schools are often designed with several factors in mind:

• Supporting independence: Staying at school on weekends helps some students develop independence and build stronger connections with their peers.
• Encouraging community: Weekend activities and events are often planned to bring boarders together, which can create a sense of belonging.
• Minimising disruption: For international or long-distance students, regular trips home might not be practical, so schools may prioritise consistency by encouraging everyone to stay.

These policies are generally designed to ensure that boarding school life is enjoyable, balanced, and supportive for all students.

The Real-Life Impact on Students

For teenagers, the opportunity to go home on weekends, or the lack of it, can have a significant impact on their experience at boarding school. Here are some ways it might affect you:

• Managing homesickness: Regular visits home can help ease feelings of homesickness, especially during your first term.
• Balancing school and family: Weekend trips allow you to maintain close connections with your family while still experiencing the independence of boarding life.
• Social opportunities: Staying at school on weekends can help you form stronger friendships with other boarders and take part in activities you might miss if you leave.
• Rest and recovery: Going home provides a chance to relax in a familiar space, which can be helpful after a busy week at school.

The best option will depend on your personal preferences, family situation, and how you feel about boarding school life.

Practical Strategies for Navigating Weekend Leave

Whether you plan to go home every weekend or only occasionally, there are ways to manage your time and make the most of the experience. Here are some practical tips:

1. Check Your School's Policy

Before making plans, make sure you understand your school's rules about weekend leave. Some schools require advance notice or permission from parents, so it's important to stay organised.

2. Communicate with Your Family

Discuss your plans with your family and agree on a schedule that works for everyone. If you're feeling unsure, be honest about your feelings so they can support you.

3. Balance Home and School Life

If you're going home regularly, make sure you're still engaging with school life during the week. Similarly, if you stay at school on weekends, try to make time to call or video chat with your family.

4. Plan Your Weekends

Whether you're staying at school or going home, plan how you'll spend your weekends. If you're at home, use the time to relax, catch up with family, or work on personal projects. If you're at school, take advantage of activities, outings, or time to rest.

5. Stay Organised

Keep track of deadlines, homework, and other responsibilities so you can balance weekend trips with your academic and extracurricular commitments. Planning ahead will help you avoid feeling overwhelmed.

6. Make the Most of Weekend Activities

If you're staying at school, take part in weekend events or clubs. These activities are a great way to bond with other students and try something new.

7. Be Open to Change

Your feelings about weekend leave might change over time. For example, you might want to go home more often during your first term but feel more comfortable staying at school as you settle in. Be flexible and adjust your plans as needed.

How to Handle Homesickness

If you can't go home as often as you'd like, homesickness can be a challenge. Here are some tips for coping:

• Stay connected: Regularly call, text, or video chat with your family and friends to maintain a sense of connection.
• Create a home-like space: Personalise your dorm room with photos, decorations, or keepsakes that remind you of home.
• Keep busy: Staying involved in school activities can help distract you from feelings of homesickness and make boarding life more enjoyable.
• Talk to someone: If you're struggling, reach out to a teacher, houseparent, or school counsellor for support.

Supporting Friends Who Stay at School

If you regularly go home on weekends, remember that some of your friends might not have the same option. Here's how you can support them:

• Include them in your plans: If you're staying in touch with family, invite your friend to join a video call or share stories about home.
• Be understanding: Recognise that staying at school can be tough, especially for students who are far from home or feeling homesick.
• Stay connected during the week: Make an effort to spend time together during school days so they know you value their friendship.

Final Thoughts

Whether or not you can go home on weekends at boarding school depends on your school's policies and personal preferences. For some students, regular trips home provide comfort and connection to family, while others prefer to stay at school and immerse themselves in the boarding experience. By understanding the rules, communicating with your family, and making the most of your weekends, whether at home or school, you can create a balance that works for you. Remember, it's okay to adjust your approach as you settle into boarding school life and discover what feels right for you.

How are you feeling?

It is really important that when we need help, we feel able to ask for it. This could be speaking to a parent, a close friend, a teacher or someone else you trust. Sometimes it can be really hard to share our feelings with other people but if we are feeling low or don't know where to turn, sharing with others is really important. Teachers will always take you seriously and listen to your problems in confidence if you approach them for help. Likewise, parents, siblings or friends will help you if you reach out to them.

If you feel like you can't speak to anyone you know, there are people and organisations that can help support you:

• Childline - Call them on 0800 1111 any time of the day or night, every day of the week
• NSPCC - Call them on 0808 800 5000 between 10am and 4pm Monday to Friday or email them on help@NSPCC.org.uk
• The Samaritans – Call them on 116 123 any time of the day or night, every day of the week
• SANE – Call 0300 304 7000 for support (4:30pm - 10:30pm every day)
• Mind – Call 0300 123 3393 (9:00am - 6:00pm Monday to Friday)

*Sometimes we will use real life examples in our articles to aid understanding. When we do, names and ages will be changed.