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69,979 young people attend boarding school in the UK according to the Independent Schools Council’s (ISC) annual survey on its 1,326 UK member schools¹ – but will it offer the stable, caring and safe environment you want for your child? Is academic rigour complemented by a broad range of arts and humanities options -  music, drama, sport – as well an exciting selection of extra-curricular activities?

Marina Gardiner Legge, headmistress at Heathfield School, the Ascot-based independent secondary boarding and day school for girls aged 11-18, shares the concerns of parents who want to make the right decision for their child which is why each year her school – rated Excellent by the Independent Schools Inspectorate –runs an annual summer camp programme.

The UK’s only ‘all girls’ programme, its Summer School and Camp offers girls the opportunity to experience boarding school and living away from home within Heathfield’s safe and beautiful tree-lined grounds and to enjoy its excellent modern facilities.

“Inspirational women is one of our themes this year”, Marina said. “Here at Heathfield we are very passionate about inspiring today’s girls and tomorrow’s young women to try things and believe they can do anything and everything. Attendees will get the chance to mix with girls from around Britain and the world, learn to live with and understand the ways and views of others, learn independence, build their confidence, self esteem and most importantly try new things.”

The school’s programmes include a range of creative and engaging activities including art, craft, photography and cookery as well as field, water and racquet sports in a location the girls love and where great friendships flourish. Attendees also participate in whole-school events such as quizzes, treasure hunts, discos, a film night and Scottish and English country dancing. Shows and exhibitions are also put on by the girls, giving parents who live nearby the chance to see what their daughter is doing and participate in her summer fun. Activities for Summer Campers age 7 to 15 vary from week to week and courses range from 2 to 4 weeks in duration.

Heathfield’s small and established programmes, which it has run for over 20 years, are hosted by a team of qualified teachers, specialist coaches and enthusiastic young activities staff that get to know the girls and their families and provide a personal service. The staff to student ratio is 1:6 and a school nurse and housemothers are on duty 24/7 to provide first class pastoral care and ensure their welfare, safety and security. Helpers – former Summer Campers – form part of the team and help welcome girls and look after them throughout their stay.

Commenting on the camp, Helen Madaras, Director of Summer Courses, said, “Heathfield set up its own international Summer School in 1976. In the early 90s it was decided to add a Day Camp so that local girls could make use of the facilities and the expertise of all our activities staff.  A few years later a girl from Ascot called Gemma - yes, I really do remember her name! -  said she would love to try being a boarder as she would never get the chance in her day school and so we added boarding for British girls and named it Summer Camp”

1 ISC Consensus and Annual Report 2018 -  https://www.isc.co.uk/media/4890/isc_census_2018_report.pdf

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