Your home away from home
In recent years the College has offered boarding accommodation for students across two locations – St. Ebbes and Pensons Gardens – staffed by house parents with breakfast and dinner provided seven days a week.
Due to an increase in students requesting accommodation, the College has secured 15 rooms at Between Towns Court for students aged 18+ that is staffed by house parents with breakfast provided seven days a week.
Host family accommodation is also available to all students. Some students are ready for fully independent living, some are looking for something close to a university student experience; others prefer a family environment. It is important that all students feel comfortable, happy and ‘at home’ in their accommodation and every effort is made to match the right student to the right environment.
Boarding Houses (for ages 15-18)
St Ebbe’s
St. Ebbe’s is made up of 50 en-suite bedrooms and is a five-minute walk from the College. Each bedroom is fully furnished with a single bed, desk and chair, wardrobe and bedside table.
- Single study bedrooms
- Private bathroom
- Laundry facilities
- Secure, electronic access
- Separate boys/girls accommodation
- Communal common room/kitchen areas
- 4-7 minute walk from college
- Breakfast and evening meal provided
Pensons Gardens
Pensons Gardens is made up of 31 en-suite bedrooms and is a ten-minute walk from the College. Each bedroom is fully furnished with a single bed, desk and chair, wardrobe and bedside table.
- Single study bedrooms
- Private bathroom
- Laundry facilities
- Secure, electronic access
- Separate boys/girls accommodation
- Communal common room/kitchen areas
- 12-15 minute walk from college
- Breakfast and evening meal provided
The St. Ebbe’s and Pensons Gardens boarding houses each provide:
- Supervision, support and care from house parents
- Access to and support from the College Matron
- Single, furnished bedroom with a private bathroom
- Laundry facilities
- Secure, electronic access
- Separate boys/girls accommodation
- Communal common room/kitchen areas
- Breakfast and evening meals seven days a week
- Communal space
The boarding houses are cleaned daily in the common areas and the students’ bedrooms are cleaned fortnightly. Clean bed sheets are provided weekly. There are also laundry facilities for the students to use: house parents will help the students with this until they feel confident in doing it themselves.
Security is a priority for us, and the boarding houses have CCTV cameras outside the front door and are staffed 24/7 by house parents. The house parents are highly trained in pastoral care and get to know the students very quickly, which aids the support and care they provide.
The regular and frequent communication between the College’s Senior Tutors and the house parents is excellent and provides everyone with an holistic picture of each student in our care. Each morning the boarding staff email the College with the student checks, which tell us which students have had breakfast or have left for College. Students that are unwell are identified and follow-up correspondence takes place throughout the day. At night, curfew checks also take place, and any students who are late are contacted
Accommodation for students aged 18+
Between Towns Court
The College’s facility within Between Towns Court is made up of 13 en-suite bedrooms and is a ten-minute bus journey from the College.
The accommodation at Between Towns Court provides:
- Supervision, support and care from house parents
- Access to and support from the College Matron
- Single, furnished bedroom with a private bathroom
- Laundry facilities
- Secure, electronic access
- Separate boys/girls accommodation
- Communal common room/kitchen areas
- Breakfast seven days a week
- Communal space
- Bus pass for the academic year
The rooms at Between Towns Court are cleaned weekly in the common areas and the students’ bedrooms. Clean bed sheets are provided weekly. There are also laundry facilities for the students to use: house parents will help the students with this until they feel confident in doing it themselves.
Between Towns Court has CCTV cameras and the College’s boarding staff, who live in the same building as the students, get to know the students very quickly, which aids the support and care they provide.
The regular and frequent communication between the College’s Senior Tutors and the house parents is excellent and provides everyone with an holistic picture of each student in our care. Each morning the house parents email the College with the student checks, which tell us which students have had breakfast or have left for College. Students that are unwell are identified and follow-up correspondence takes place throughout the day. At night, curfew checks also take place, and any students who are late are contacted immediately by the house parents to ensure their safe return.
Important note: to live in the College’s facility within Between Towns Court you must not book accommodation directly with Between Towns Court but do so via the College.
Host Families (for ages 16+)
Stay with an approved family of your choice
A further option is for students to stay with one of our approved host families. Students have a single study bedroom, with their breakfast and evening meal provided. Some homes also offer kitchen access for students who wish to make their own snacks. Host family accommodation in Oxford is limited, so you will need to discuss your requirements as soon as possible with the Accommodation and Welfare Officer.
Close contact is maintained with host families, most of whom have been housing our students for a number of years. All accommodation new to the College is carefully inspected and checked with the police before being recommended. Home-stays are usually a single bus journey away on a direct route that should take no more than 20 minutes – occasionally a little longer at peak times. Oxford has a regular and safe bus service that runs late into the evening.
Support
The identification of the most appropriate accommodation for a student begins at the admissions interview. In addition, all students are offered on-going help with any problem relating to their accommodation: College staff will work together to make sure any issues are dealt with quickly and effectively.
If you would like to know more about our support services, weare happy to answer any questions you may have. Call us today on 01865 793333 or email us at info@oxfordsixthformcollege.com.
Accreditations
