Boarding Life

Our boarding staff team nurtures strong relationships with our students and offer guidance and support across every area of development – academic, social, physical and emotional – to ensure each student has everything they need to assist them in their day-to-day life in Melbourne. 

Tim Gallop, our Head of Boarding, has been leading our residential community since 1997 and is passionate about providing a safe and happy boarding experience while challenging and guiding students to discover their full potential in all aspects of their school life.  

Tim is supported by the Assistant Head of Boarding, diverse and experienced boarding staff (many of whom are teachers at the School) and House coordinators.

Many of our boarding staff are teachers at the School and can provide academic assistance. This includes promoting academic progress, providing a point of contact between home and school, and giving academic support in their specialist areas.  

Classroom teachers often visit the boarding houses to offer after-hours tutoring and to provide additional support with critical tasks such as VCE preparation.  

Students are required to take part in scheduled study (homework) periods each weekday. For more details, see A Day in the Life of a Boarder.

Good communication between staff and families is the key to providing a supportive and successful learning environment for students, and there are many ways we enable this at Caulfield Grammar School. 

• Orientation

We provide a live-in orientation program where new boarders and their families are invited to join us for 24 hours before the start of the school year. This is a wonderful way for new families to experience first-hand the warmth and welcome of Morcom House and to help new students transition to boarding life. 

• Staying Connected Online

Families are kept updated on School and boarding house activities, including student leave permissions, through our specialised online boarding portal (REACH). CaulfieldLife is our purpose-built community platform that provides a place for our students, families and employees across all our campuses to connect, share news and information, and access School resources.

• Parents and Friends Group

Caulfield Grammar School has an active and inclusive Parents and Friends Groups with a nominated Boarding Chapter that organises social and information events throughout the school year. It’s a wonderful way of meeting and networking with other boarding families and the wider School community. A highlight annual event is the Mother’s Day Eve family dinner in May, which attracts more than 200 participants.

Our accommodation offers a range of configurations – predominantly singles, doubles and three-bed rooms – to complement the learning program. All Year 12 students are allocated individual rooms.

Boarding accommodation houses have spacious and comfortable common recreational areas, as well as designated study areas. 

All meals are prepared on the premises. Three hot meals are provided daily, with lunch being accompanied by a smorgasbord and sandwiches. Light morning tea, afternoon tea and supper are also provided. Tea, coffee, Milo, cordial and fresh fruit are available at all other times.  

The menu, developed by the Head of Catering at Caulfield Grammar School, comprises a monthly menu of healthy options that cover all the key food groups. Variations for students with individual medical needs are catered for and student feedback and suggestions for menu options are welcome. 

We have a 24/7 onsite Health Centre with registered nurses during the week and on Saturday mornings, and qualified first-aid practitioners onsite on Saturday afternoons and Sunday during the school term. 

Boarders have frequent access to the School’s extensive sporting facilities, which includes a gym, weights room, oval, basketball and tennis courts, and indoor pool.  

There are also a myriad of co-curricular activities and groups and clubs in which to explore interests such as performing arts, House music, theatre, dance, photography, debating, film making, chess and rock climbing – all while experiencing the unique location, community and culture of one of Australia’s most livable cities.  

For students who love the outdoors, programs like the Duke of Edinburgh scheme offer opportunities to enjoy additional adventures such as hiking, skiing, horse riding, kayaking and more. 

The House system is an integral part of our School experience. All boarders are members of Morcom House and are encouraged to participate in friendly House events that build a strong spirit of camaraderie and community across year levels and between boarders and non-boarders. This is one of the many ways that we ensure boarders have a wider network of friends within the School community. Go Team Tangerine! 

A key part of boarding life is striking a balance between rules and self-responsibility. We have rules that we expect students to respect, but we also believe they need to learn independence to stand them in good stead for life, and to have accountability for their own behaviour.  

To this end, we offer boarders the flexibility to leave the School grounds with appropriate permissions. Types of leave vary in both duration and distance and are subject to approval. Caulfield Grammar School’s specialised online system gives parents visibility to monitor their child’s request for leave, allowing for open communication between students, their families and School administration.