Work begins on new Junior Boarding House, Sedgwick 

As the new school term began this week, work also started on the conversion of Sedgwick, our new Junior boarding house. This is due to open early in 2024, for pupils in Year 6,7 and 8 and will be the first time that the School has offered boarding to those in the final year of Westonbirt Prep School. The prospect of a boarding experience for Year 6s is an exciting development in the School’s history, providing further opportunities for pupils to gain independence and a smooth transition to Senior school.  

The accompanying photo shows an old image of Sedgwick and some images of how it looks now, just as the builders start work. The announcement about the House, and publication of the images has already generated interest, at home and overseas and also amongst our former students. 

The building, located next to the Sports Centre, has most recently been used as staff residences but earlier in its lifetime has been used for boarding. It’s been fascinating to read comments from alumni, who talk of midnight feasts, sewing in the evening and how house parents created a very homely atmosphere for new arrivals, reading to them before bedtime. One commented on how dormitories were awarded sticky gold stars for tidy drawers and clean shoes, an incentive which made the pupils very competitive; and apparently one room was used just to store gym bags.

The School is looking forward to seeing how the work develops over the next few months and will continue to provide updates.