Authorised Leave

On our doorstep

King's boarders are lucky to be situated right in the centre of a safe and vibrant town with a High Street of shops, coffee shops and historic places to visit. Our house rules are firm but fair and we expect our boarders to observe them as they would a parent's house rules at home. Should a boarder not follow the Rules, then they can expect appropriate sanctions and withdrawal of privileges at home. 

Within 5 min walking distance of the boarding houses, we have coffee shops, small grocery shops, and several restaurants including Italian, American, French, British, Japanese and Thai cuisines. There are also several barber shops, charity shops, the UK's biggest used book store, a vinyl shop, a comic book store and many other interesting independent shops. 

Free time

Free time during the school day (8:20 am to 4:15 pm) is covered by the School Rules. Other free time is determined by the timetable of the boarding house day. We encourage boarders to use this time in a constructive manner, whilst appreciating that everyone needs time for quiet relaxation.

When a Sixth Form Pupil goes out (in accordance with the rules), they must be back in the House by 9 pm or arrange an alternative, appropriate sleeping arrangement which has been approved by their Head of House prior to their departure.

Leave Requests

Pupils and/or parents/guardians are allowed to make a ‘leave request’ for a pupil to leave the boarding house for a day visit, overnight stay or weekend visit, but must do so at least 48 hours before the intended time of departure. The leave request must be submitted via the Reach online platform, which will then send out confirmation emails to the parent/guardian, the host and the head of the house. All three parties must agree before the leave request will be approved. Please see our Reach page for more information on this. 

Where can't I go?

School Rules do not permit boarders to visit public houses, pubs, or bars, or drink alcohol. Pupils in years 7 to Remove (year 9) should only leave the House vicinity with a Senior pupil. Removes should be with at least one other pupil. During the School Day pupils are not allowed to return to the House, as the boarding staff are academic staff and busy with other tasks at that time. 

Guardians

Our international students benefit from UK-based Education Guardians, who provide essential support, guidance, and care. Responsibilities include ensuring timely arrival and departure, assisting with banking and communication needs, overseeing holiday arrangements, and maintaining close communication with the school regarding academic and extracurricular progress. Please familiarize yourself with the School’s Guardianship policy.