Looking for a boys’ boarding school in Perth? Wesley College is an award-winning option.
Choosing boarding is a significant decision for any family. A common concern is whether a student will feel supported, known and settled while living away from home. At Wesley, the Boarding House is designed to provide a caring, structured environment where students grow in confidence, independence and responsibility, while remaining closely connected to everyday College life.
The Boarding House is home to students from Years 7 to 12 on the South Perth campus, allowing local, regional, and international boarders to live together in a close-knit residential setting, forming friendships that often last well beyond their time at Wesley.
Daily life in boarding is shaped by clear, predictable routines. These routines provide structure, particularly for students adjusting to life away from home. Expectations are consistent and age-appropriate, encouraging independence while reinforcing a strong sense of belonging within both the Boarding House and the wider College.
Pastoral care sits at the centre of the boarding experience. Dedicated boarding staff provide consistent supervision and take the time to know each student well. Families are supported through regular communication, helping maintain continuity of care. Students are encouraged to build respectful, positive relationships with staff and peers, contributing to a calm and supportive environment.
Lifelong friendships start in Wesley’s Boarding House.
Life in Boarding
A typical day begins in the Boarding House, with students getting organised and sharing breakfast before heading directly into classes on campus. After school, students return to the Boarding House to reset, attend sport or activities, and spend time together before dinner. Evenings include supervised homework sessions, called Prep, where students study in a structured environment with staff and tutors available to provide guidance and support as needed.
Meals are an important part of daily life. A dedicated on-site kitchen provides balanced, nutritious meals prepared by Wesley’s chefs, with vegetarian and special dietary needs catered for. Snacks and fruit are available throughout the day and evening, contributing to a comfortable, home-like atmosphere.
Boarders are actively involved in the broader life of the College. Participation in sport, co-curricular activities and service helps build friendships, confidence and connection, reinforcing a balanced boarding experience.
Students enjoy private rooms in Wesley’s Boarding House.
Get Ahead With Wesley’s Headstart Program
For students new to Wesley, we offer a free, online program delivered by Wesley boarding staff, called Headstart. It is a holistic program built around the needs of students transitioning to Boarding, with online web meetings that help future boarders discuss friendship, homesickness, use of technology, resilience and courage. It is supported by online work in Mathematics and English, providing valuable data that is used by the boarders’ teachers when they begin.
Everything You Need to Know about Boarding at Wesley
A typical dorm room
Our Boarding Program
The Wesley College Boarding House caters for boys in Years 7 – 12.
Nominally, the Year 7 cohort start with around 20 students with more boarders joining the program over the Middle and Senior School years. The Year 12 group will usually graduate with over 30 boarding students. This equates to a Boarding community of around 160 people.
There is a Year Level Co-ordinator for each year group. They are supported in the general running of the Boarding House by resident supervisors (RODs).
These members of staff either reside within the Boarding House itself or in homes on school property, creating a unique community within the College.
Head of Boarding, Mr Rod Steer, checks in with some senior boarders.
Our Activities Program
The boarding program at Wesley College includes activities and opportunities to keep students engaged and active throughout the year.
The Boarding House has a dedicated Recreational Officer who organises and coordinates the weekend’s activities. Further to this, the Year Level Co-ordinators organise activities for their groups to develop a collaborative culture.
The strength of Wesley’s program is the team’s willingness to invest in their group of students. Their desire to create memorable experiences for the boarders is truly special. They have been known to throw events ranging from pancake nights to group rides around the Swan River area on a sunny afternoon.
Our leave management system allows the boys to take leave to a variety of places. For the Senior boarders, this includes Cottesloe Beach once they have completed a surf awareness course in the latter part of Year 10.
With the City, the stunning South Perth foreshore area, a skate park and the shops of Angelo Street on our doorstep, there’s no shortage of places to go!
Students checking in on each other.
Our Emphasis on Boarding Relationships and Wellbeing
Each year group has a dedicated staff member who looks after all aspects of the boarder’s wellbeing in their care.
The school’s psychology department supports the student and the Year Level Co-ordinator (YCo). Students can attend sessions with counsellors as needed and are often called upon by the YCo to provide advice and guidance on the pastoral care of a boarder who may need additional support.
There is also a graduated Leadership program within the boarding house. At each year level, boarders are given opportunities to explore leadership and develop their own leadership style.
The program begins in Year 7 where the concept of living in a community and playing a role is visited. Each year, a distinct theme and leadership area are introduced and developed with the boarders. This culminates not only in the Prefect positions within the Year 12 group but also in opportunities within the College and Wesley’s sporting teams.
The Boarding House at Wesley College
Our Boarding House
The Wesley Boarding House is a specially-designed building on the school grounds that holds up to 160 boarders.
Being located on the school campus, it gives boarders quick access to all of the College’s facilities, while also offering safety and security.
The Boarding House underwent massive renovations back in 2016. This saw our two separate Boarding Houses amalgamate into one, as well as the introduction of more modern facilities for the boys to enjoy.
Each child is given their own room within the house, while the updated modern breakout spaces added during the renovations, provide a space to support the students’ learning and wellbeing.
Academic Opportunities for Boarders
To assist boarders in their academic pursuits, boarders undertake nightly Prep sessions, during which Boarding staff are on hand to support their learning.
For the Middle School boarders, a chunk of this support is centred around organisation and IT skills. For Senior School boarders, the program focuses more on direct support for specific subjects and ATAR exam prep.
Mr Rod Steer, Head of Boarding
Our Boarding House Staff
At Wesley boarding, there is a well-structured pastoral support network in place for the boarders.
The Head of Boarding oversees the Boarding House, with support from the Assistant Head of Boarding. Together, they guide the Year Level Co-ordinators (YCo) in the pastoral work with their boarders.
These staff are the communication point for all information regarding each boarder and they work closely with each boarder in their year group, Â parents and the College to ensure that the child is on the right track with all aspects of their schooling and that they are happy in their boarding life.
Within the Boarding House, we also have a team of staff who assist with daily operations and supervision of the house. This team plays a vital role in talking with the boarders and providing key feedback to the YCos.
Many of these supervisory staff are university students who are in the process of studying teaching or have just graduated with their certifications. 95% of our Boarding staff live on campus, which helps create the unique community we have within the Wesley Boarding.
Benefits of Boarding
Being a boarder is an advantage. The extra help with your studies, the extra pastoral support, the access to the College’s facilities, and the camaraderie of living within a tight community mean that boarders have the chance to thrive.
Being surrounded by like-minded people with great diversity enables students to graduate not only having achieved their best, but also having experienced a holistic education. Many of the friendships started in the Boarding House go on to last a lifetime.
Book a Tour of our Boarding School
If you’re interested in finding out more about our Boarding program, we offer school visits throughout the year. Simply click the link below to book your place.
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