Abbotsleigh has a long and proud tradition of boarder students dating back to 1885, when the School was first opened by Marian Clarke. Today, we have approximately 130 boarders who come from country New South Wales, regional Sydney and numerous countries across the globe. Our boarders are an integral part of our community, providing diversity of character that adds to the rich tapestry that is Abbotsleigh.
Boarding at Abbotsleigh is a place where our girls develop independence as well as leadership, collaborative and communication skills that prepare them for life beyond school; it is also a place where girls form positive relationships and life-long friendships with girls from rural areas, other countries and cultures.
At the heart of our boarding community lies the significance of such positive and productive relationships. No one succeeds alone, we all need each other, and we all benefit from each other. We know the importance of team effort and value the contribution of all community members to the overall success of our girls.
Research shows that one of the most important factors in success at school is the feeling of belonging, a sense of connectedness. Our boarding community allows our girls to flourish. At Abbotsleigh, they feel connected and cared for, they can care for others and they feel intrinsically motivated to pursue their interests.
Work and play
Our boarders have after-school access to a range of facilities, including the library and assistance from our boarding tutors while they are working on their homework, course work or assignments. Study each evening is extremely important, and the girls have structured prep time where parents can be confident that their daughter will be able to work productively.
Weekends offer girls a variety of fun and interesting activities at the School as well as all over Sydney. We work hard to tailor a program suited to our girls’ needs and desires.
Abbotsleigh girls achieve outstanding academic results; however, the benefits of boarding are not just academic, they are about encouraging and inspiring girls to develop as young women of fine character.
Ultimately our aim is to deliver a deeper learning that educates and empowers the ‘whole girl’ so she can lead a purposeful life, thrive and make a positive impact on the world of today and tomorrow.