Day in the Life

A day in the life of a Longfield girl – Year 9, Thursday

It’s Thursday, which means we don’t get our matron, Lindy’s calm “Good morning, girls” today. Instead, it’s Mr Lavery’s signature wake-up style: 90s music blasting through the corridors at 7am…

By 7:30am, we’re downstairs in the foyer, ready to walk to the Dining Room. Breakfast is one of my favourite parts of the day – there’s so much choice! I usually start with fresh fruit and yoghurt, then go for something hot like scrambled eggs or pancakes. Some pupils pile their plates with smoked salmon and bagels, and others make their way through the cereals and pastries. We can make ourselves tea or coffee too.

At 8:30am, we’re registered in the House Meeting, where Mr Lavery gives us notices for the day ahead, but really it’s just a nice chance to meet with all the girls in the morning and chat. We then hand in our phones for the day and head over to lessons for 9:00am.

At break, we go to the Dining Room for cookies and a hot drink. Because Thursday is a Games day, we can nip back to Longfield to get changed.

There are 3 lessons in the afternoon, then at 4.05pm we have activities until 5pm. This term I chose girls’ football – just to make sure I’m ready for Inter-house Football! At 5:00pm, we head back to Longfield, dump our things in our rooms, collect our phones and chill out before we go to the Dining Hall to tap in for tea.

Prep starts at 6:15pm. Everyone works quietly in their rooms, and we help each other out when we get stuck. It’s great because we have tutors who come round to help. It’s also good to have the older girls around to help us out; the different year groups in Longfield are all good friends.

After 8:00pm, the real fun begins. Evenings are the best – we usually head outside. On sunny evenings, Mr Lavery lights the fire pit, and we’ll have marshmallows. If we’re not outside, we’re in the kitchen or living room – cooking, watching Netflix, or just relaxing.

By 9:15pm, all of us are back in Longfield. As Year 9s, we hand our devices into the office at 9:15pm and we need to be in our rooms at 9.30pm. The Laverys come round to put our lights out at 9.45pm and we’re usually pretty tired by then.

Longfield’s like our second home. We have routines we need to follow, but really we’re one big family; there’s a lot of laughter, a lot of energy and always someone to talk to.

A day in the life of a Northumberland House Sixth Former

It’s Wednesday morning, and as usual, there’s a buzz in the corridor by 7am, although this morning we can have a lie-in if we want because breakfast starts at 8am. Some of the lads will go to the gym or sports hall beforehand, though.

Living above the Dining Room has its perks. At 8am, we’re just heading downstairs for breakfast, and it’s genuinely one of the best spreads you’ll find. Whether you’re into a full English or prefer something lighter, it’s all there: cereals, fresh fruit, pastries, smoked salmon and bagels, pancakes, eggs, yoghurts, and proper coffee. It’s a chilled way to start the day before the 9am House Meeting, where Mr Imms will reflect on the week, give us any notices, celebrate some of the boys’ successes and then give us some time to meet with our tutors.

After a morning of lessons, Wednesday afternoon is Games for Seniors, and then at 4.05pm it’s Inter-house Competitions. There’s every kind of competition you could think of: sports, quizzes, singing, Just Dance and even Cake Decorating – something for everyone, and we encourage all the boys to get involved. While there’s a real sense of camaraderie between us and the boys in York Boarding House because we share the same building, we’re also super competitive, especially when it comes to Inter-house competitions.

At 5.00pm, we’ve got a short window before dinner. Most of us chill in our rooms or catch up in the Common Room, maybe go for a quick gym session. At 5:30pm we tap in for tea – a solid hot meal with plenty of salad available for those that want it.

Supervised Prep runs from 6:15pm. It’s quiet, focused, and a good time to get work done. Staff are always nearby if we need help, and being surrounded by mates all working hard keeps you motivated.

Evenings from 8:00pm are when the atmosphere shifts. The energy picks up again: boys head out to the astro for a game of football, some take golf clubs out to the field, and the gym is usually packed. For those who want to stay in the House, there’s space to keep working, wind down with a film, or just hang out in the social areas.

By 10:15pm, things start to quieten down. As Sixth Formers, we have more independence, but we’re still expected to hand in our technology overnight. Some of us are still finishing essays or planning the next day, others are just enjoying the quiet.

Northumberland House feels like more than just a Boarding House – the boys are a team and a second family. There’s structure, but also space to grow, push yourself, and have a laugh. We’ve got each other, and we’ve got House pride. That’s what makes it special.