Boarding

76% of the 1260 pupils at Millfield are boarders and they are housed in 18 boarding houses. 15 of these houses are now on the campus and the other three are boys' houses just a short bus ride away. On average a boys' house will house 60 and a girls' house 54. Sorry to disappoint you but, yes, the houses are single-sex!

Every house has houseparents, who are most likely to be a married couple who teach here and will quite possibly have a family - so you may get some baby-sitting opportunities! The houseparents will be assisted by live-in assistant houseparents who will again be Millfield teachers.

Houseparents don't want to try to be your parents but they do have a very high-responsibility position of being charged with your welfare, so it often helps to try to co-operate with them. They can also be very useful for getting you out of trouble so you might want to remember that before getting yourself on the wrong side of them!

If you're a sixth-former at Millfield in one of the new Boarding Houses, your room will be equipped with en-suite capsule imported from France. They have a shower, a wash-basin and toilet and have no fear of the shower not being big enough - it has been tested by the largest rugby-playing member of staff! Not everyone wants to be in one of the new houses though - some people prefer to live in one of the refurbished houses or one of the more traditional, country houses off-site.

If you have never been a boarder before then it will take time to adjust, but don't worry because there will be a lot of people in the same position and plenty of people to help you get through the first few chaotic weeks. Once you've settled in, found some friends and become involved in everything that Millfield has to offer, you'll be fine! Our advice is to get involved in as much as possible, that way you'll meet people with similar interests and also make your time pass very quickly.

Boarding and day houses are grouped together for inter-house competitions. There is much 'house passion' as most people are proud to be in the house they are in. Most major house competitions will attract a good crowd who will chant the name of their house and sing their songs! I suppose it's just a bit of Millfield tradition!