Creating great boarding spaces

• Date: November 14, 2025
• Time: 10:30 – 15:30
• Cost: BSA Member Rate: £175, BSA Affiliate Member Delegate Fee: £250, Non-member Rate: £350*
• Audience: 
• Platform: Zoom (online) – seminar

Course outline:

This interactive seminar will explore current trends and best practices in boarding house design, offering valuable insights into how schools can enhance their residential provision in a practical and cost-effective way. Whether you are planning a full refurbishment or seeking small improvements, this session will help position your boarding environment in line with sector expectations and pupil needs.

Led by BSA Director David Walker, the seminar will examine what makes a boarding house truly effective – from layout and decoration to furnishings and student experience. Drawing on real-world examples, the session will provide inspiration from across the sector, offering a chance to reflect on your current facilities and identify areas for improvement.

Key topics:

• The role of the physical environment in wellbeing, recruitment, and retention
• Room-by-room review, including entrances and welcome zones; corridors, walls, and noticeboards; social spaces and communal areas; bedrooms and bathrooms
• Creative, budget-friendly suggestions for enhancing existing spaces
• Cost-effective suppliers and reliable products suited to boarding schools.

Learning outcomes:

• Greater awareness of sector-wide boarding facilities trends, standards, and expectations
• Practical ideas for upgrading boarding houses with minimal investment
• An improved ability to assess your own school’s provision and identify key areas for development
• Access to recommended suppliers for good value furnishings, materials, and equipment.

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