Our School

Boarding

A home away from home

Our School

Boarding

A home away from home

For 100 years, Scotch College Adelaide has hosted boarders from regional and rural Australia. What this century of experience has taught us is that each family is unique, and that a personal approach enables each child to be happy and supported to pursue their passions and achieve their potential.

Guided by this overarching ethos, Scotch College has been a home away from home for hundreds of boarders across multiple generations and one of the world’s best boarding experiences. Located in the Adelaide foothills, the extensive grounds and open spaces form a bridge between the city and the bush.

The underpinning principles we use to shape our Rosevear boarding program begin with cultivating a family environment that is safe and where each child is known and nurtured. Boarders enter into a home where strong values of respect, inclusion and wellbeing are lived among a diverse community, created with international families, that reflect a normal, cultural, society.

Scotch offers an educational journey that is incomparable, where effort is valued, and passions discovered. Students find their voice, independence and unrealised potential in readiness for their future, facilitated by a wellbeing framework that supports emotional intelligence, confidence and decision making.

A Place to Belong

We believe it’s all about belonging. We understand that the growth and development experienced by adolescents is enhanced and more positive when accompanied by meaningful relationships. Our comprehensive wellbeing and academic staffing model allows both aspects of our communal learning environment to be well supported, with any matters arising managed in an inclusive and thoughtful manner.

We challenge students to be their best selves. We understand our boarding parents want their child to be exposed to experiences and opportunities where they are challenged to prosper and grow, so we work with parents in a partnership to provide the highest level of support for each student’s journey through secondary education. We foster life skills needed for future success through our extensive offering. Students may grow their personal wellbeing; experience a broad range of social, sporting and cultural activities; and are supported to give their best effort and achieve in their studies.

Academically our personalised, individual approach supports learning inside and outside the classroom, with a focus on teaching the whole child – the aim of a Scotch education is not simply to get students across the line to a university place, but to offer whole of life preparation. Students are offered an extensive co-curricular program and access to friendly staff who know their subject and how your child learns best. This holistic focus creates a learning environment that facilitates exceptional academic achievement.

Our Programs

All boarders are provided with numerous opportunities to develop their life skills. Our Healthy Bodies Program is held weekday mornings and afternoons and includes running, gym, walking, yoga, and swimming.

Most days, boarders engage with the strong co-curricular activities offered by the school in the sports, performing arts, oratory, new arts, Science, Technology, Engineering, Mathmatics (STEM) and entrepreneurship programs. On weekends, activities are offered which range from go karting, horse riding, bowling, laser skirmish, paintballing, socials with other schools and adventure rooms just to name a few.

Throughout the year other activities that lead to qualifications useful for the pursuit of part time employment include first aid, sports coaching accreditations, sports umpiring accreditations, Responsible Service of Alcohol, Defensive Driving and Boat Licence courses. Some boarders choose to pursue part time employment. We aim to replicate the opportunities that a typical Adelaide teenager may have available to them.

Boarders’ High Tea finishes off the year with a formal dinner for boarders and their parents. Haggis is piped to the Chapel followed by a beautiful dinner as the Year 12’s are farewelled and many fun stories are shared about the boarding year that has been.

Strong Support Systems

Boarding families can expect a staffing philosophy that is exemplary, cross generational, diverse and equipped to work with teenagers and their daily challenges.

Our staffing model ensures the highest level of care for all boarders. Our Leadership Team includes a Head of Boys Boarding and a Head of Girls Boarding along with their Deputies, and our Boarding Administrators.

They are supported by our House Parent and a team of talented Wellbeing House Assistants and Academic Tutors.

Students are well-known and make strong connections with significant adults who support them in their personal development and life education.

With dedicated academic staff (all of whom have tertiary qualifications, or are undertaking tertiary studies), homework time in the evenings is productive and well supported.

Boarders from Years 7 to 11 go to classrooms supervised by Wellbeing and Academic Tutors who can help whenever required. Study expectations are more flexible for Year 12 students, who may choose to study in the Senior Common Room, Campus Library or their own rooms.

We are committed to co-parenting and involve parents and guardians in important conversations around the development of their child.

We foster shared values with our community through a weekly communication on ScotchLife, range of social functions, a Parent Boarding Support Group, parenting workshops, social media and frequent communication about our program and the individual needs of their child. The Boarding Leadership Team are accessible to parents at any time by phone and email.

Our family is strong and each member is encouraged to have a voice.

Orientation Programs

Our orientation program for students commences with a transition sleep over for new students prior to their arrival.

During the first term, we provide a structured Welcome to Rosevear program which addresses homesickness, builds relationships and fosters confidence for your child and their boarding identity.

“We chose Scotch College because it offers a true coeducational Boarding House. This was very important to us when our son and daughter were together at Scotch, allowing them to interact and support each other in the boarding house as they do in ‘real life’ at home. We were also keen to create connections with one school community throughout their time in Adelaide, both within boarding and the day school. From day one we were warmly welcomed into the Scotch way of life.

“The boarding staff are professional, warm and approachable, and have the wellbeing of our children at the centre of all they do. Within a thoughtful framework of trust, mutual respect and clear expectations, they offer just the right amount of support to equip our children with the skills and confidence for independent thinking and growth.”

Katie Moorhouse
Parent of Tom (’23) & Rosie (Year 10), Penola SA

A Focus on Food & Nutrition

Our food is prepared by our internationally trained chef, and is nutritious, varied and delicious. There is always a choice of dishes and ample provided for your growing teenager.

Breakfast, recess, lunch and dinner are served in the dining room in the historic Torrens Park House. Afternoon tea and supper are available in Rosevear along with a constant supply of snacks, tea, coffee and milk. Our students sometimes like to prepare their own food and they have equipment to do so in the common rooms. Our Dining Committee creates opportunity for student, parent and staff input to ensure meal times work.

A True Connection with Regional Australia

One of our key connections with our rural families is through the Scotch Farm and Agriculture program. Whilst many of our students understand the nature of farms and the agricultural industry, our program is designed to further develop student knowledge around the latest developments in Agri-technology and business. We utilise a strong scientific research and inquiry model, partnering with external industries and universities to ensure our program is contemporary and enables students to consider the wide range of careers beyond the farm gate that are evolving as the industry does. The farm itself is a great space for our students to hang out and when feeling a little overwhelmed by city life its place of comfort and reassurance.

Boarding at Scotch is available to students from Year 7 and caters for students from around the globe. Our strengths are co-education, diversity and opportunities to develop great people.

We extend a warm invitation to meet with us either through our rural visits program, at field days or when you are next in town on business. Our family is your family and we welcome you to join us as we step confidently into our next 100 years of being South Australia’s premier coeducational boarding school. We welcome you to be part of our Scotch family… it’s a great journey.