Why community comes first
Community & Belonging
A boarding house only works if it feels like a community. Belonging is what turns a daily routine into a home, helps a homesick student through the first weeks, and gives every young person the confidence to take risks and grow. So we deliberately build our community, every single week.
The weekly house meeting
Once a week the whole house comes together. It is where we share news and plans, celebrate what has gone well, talk openly about anything that needs sorting, and give students a real voice in how the house is run. It is a small habit with a big effect: everyone is heard, and everyone helps shape the place they live in.
And a ninth, Wellbeing – mindfulness and relaxation – closing the loop between body, mind and belonging.
A community that reflects the world
Our boarding house brings together students from many different countries, cultures and backgrounds — and this diversity is not incidental, it is one of our greatest strengths. Living alongside peers from around the world teaches students something no classroom can: how to listen across difference, how to find common ground, and how to feel at home even when everyone around them grew up differently. Younger students learn from older ones, quieter students find their voice, and every nationality brings something to share — a dish, a story, a tradition, a perspective.
Marking what matters
Throughout the year, the house comes together to celebrate the moments that matter — birthdays, national holidays, festive traditions from different cultures, and the small milestones of boarding life. These celebrations are never just events; they are reminders that every student's background is seen, valued and welcomed. A Diwali evening, a Christmas dinner, a Lunar New Year celebration — each one turns the boarding house into a place where no one has to leave their culture at the door.
Skills that last a lifetime
What students gain here goes far beyond the boarding years. Living in a close, diverse community builds emotional intelligence, adaptability and genuine cross-cultural confidence — qualities that universities and employers consistently look for, and that shape how our students move through the world long after they leave EIS. Community, in this sense, is not just where our students live. It is part of how they grow.
Discover the people and structures behind our community on our Pastoral Care & Wellbeing page.
Belonging, backed by care
A strong community doesn't happen by chance — it is held together by the people who look after it. Behind every house meeting, every Community Hour and every shared celebration stands a dedicated pastoral team, making sure that no student ever feels like just another face in the house. Because true belonging isn't only about shared activities; it's about knowing that someone is paying attention, every single day.