“The provision for helping children achieve well and enjoy what they do is outstanding. Boarders benefit from being provided with a good range of activities, both on site and through accessing external provision. Common rooms provide a range of activities and are well equipped with televisions, games consuls and stereo systems.”
ofsted
Within the Star Hill boarding houses there are areas for socialising, watching TV, playing pool and table tennis, board games, watching films on a giant cinema screen, working quietly in study rooms or on computers.
During the summer boarders also have use of the College gardens which are also used for barbecues, music concerts featuring student bands and social events. Local cinema and shopping trips to Bluewater Shopping Centre are weekly evening activities.
Boarders may choose to spend their evenings with friends, reading, relaxing or watching television. We do not impose supervised prep time and encourage students to manage their own homework load. There is always plenty to do, both on weekday evenings and over the weekends.
Every year students organise their own formal end of year party- the theme in 2011 was The Beautiful and the Damned – an F.Scott Fitzgerald inspired 1920s celebration.
The on site all weather sports pitch is also available for students to use and there are a range of sporting activities on offer including football, climbing, golf, salsa, zumba, ice-skating and basketball. The College gym is equipped with cardio vascular equipment and free weights and available for boarders to use in the evenings.
At weekly Student Council meetings we find out what trips students would like to do and co ordinate our programme based on their feedback. We have, in the past, had a variety of suggestions, most recently including paintballing and weekend walking trips to Brecon in Wales. Read Thai student Nontawit Cheewaruangroj’s review of this trip here.
Trips and activities enjoyed by the boarding community this year include ‘Go Ape’ at Leeds Castle for a day of team building adventure in a lush, green forest.
There was a healthy dollop of breathtaking scenery; blended with a smattering of tree-top high wires, tricky crossings (using ladders, walkways, bridges and tunnels made of wood, rope and super-strong wire) and wind-in-your-face zip wires!
In this picture A level residential student Tom Parker from Derbyshire is featured with Gary Castle, the Boarding Team Supervisor.
The College hosts talent shows where students and staff alike are encouraged to come along and sing, dance, tell jokes and play instruments. The year begins with the welcome barbecue and ends with the summer festival where a diverse line up of musicians, singers and bands perform. Read a review of this year’s concert here. Many boarders take instrumental music lessons which the College organises through Kent Music School.
The College offers an exciting programme of evening theatre trips in London, averaging one every few weeks! A small section of last year’s trips are featured above.
RIC boarders have become accomplished at getting to Victoria or St Pancras just in time for the last train to Rochester after a night of musical theatre, high drama or operatic excess.
A group of boarders began 2010 with a Saturday scavanger hunt around London’s Southbank. Accomplice: London saw our students sent on a mission, aided by clues and mysterious cast members, strewn throughout various locations such as streetcorners, pubs, out of the way shops and iconic locations.
“Boarders are given ample opportunities to contribute to the operation of the boarding provision. Student council meetings are held on a weekly basis and boarders give numerous examples of their ideas being actively implemented.”