TAS is a fully co-educational boarding and day school, with all our boarders living on our beautiful main school campus. Our boarding houses accommodate students from locations across the country and across the world, with boarding offered from Year 6 to Year 12. Boarders currently represent half of our student population in these middle and senior school years. Since the school's founding in 1894 boarding has been at the heart of the school and integral to all that we do at TAS. Our beautiful campus and excellent facilities provide the perfect environment for boarders to access all the opportunities on offer.
Choose Your Own Adventure
From waking up until lights out, the life of a boarder is an active and fulfilling one designed to help them flourish and inspire excellence. Guided by a highly experienced team of Heads of House and boarding staff, students are supported in their journey of growing independence, confidence, self awareness and resilience.
103
Boarding girls
123
Boarding boys
226
Total boarding students
Boarding at The Armidale School is shaped by genuine connection, where students form lasting friendships and feel a true sense of belonging. Our houses are welcoming communities—places where every boarder is known, supported, and able to call TAS their home away from home.
Students are encouraged to show courage as they embrace new experiences, build relationships, and celebrate each other’s differences. Living together also nurtures commitment: to personal growth, to shared responsibilities, and to contributing positively to house life.
Guided by our vision of Excellence inspired by character, TAS boarding develops young people who are capable, kind, and confident—ready to make a meaningful impact beyond school.
- Mr David Drain, Director of Boarding
Boarding Academic Program
One of the great strengths of boarding is the structure and routine that exists around the academic program for boarders. For many students, this provides the framework and discipline they need. There is a deliberate approach to study to ensure all students focus on academic work during the week when all boarders attend evening ‘prep’. Here they are supported by academic and residential staff when needed. Specialised academic tutor sessions can be accessed by all students in the Learning Hub each night.
Recognising that our youngest boarders are often coming from a variety of previous school experiences and expectations, the Junior Boarding academic program focuses on key skill development and refining. Two nights a week the boarders are tutored in small groups, with Literacy and Numeracy being the main focus through activities that have been developed in consultation with the subject's Head of Department.
Pastoral Care in the Houses
The TAS boarding community is a vibrant and connected one consisting of students, parents and staff. Heads of Houses are central to the provision of pastoral care, academic support and supervision. They are supported by residential staff who are rostered for duty in the boarding houses, managing the routines supervision of homework and recreation time.
The TAS Medical Centre has a registered nurse on call 24 hours each day. Visiting doctors work closely with the school as needed and appointments in town at the surgery are also possible, this includes any medical appointments, including dental. Our full time Counsellor, a registered psychologist is also on hand to oversee student concerns and she is very ably assisted by her registered therapy dog, Pippa.
Flexible Leave… the best of both worlds
Facilitating the right balance between spending time with friends in boarding, playing sport on weekends with teams and enjoying precious time with family is an important feature of TAS boarding. We don’t have set weekends assigned for leave but rather arrangements can be made as required with every Head of House.
What’s most important… Food!
We understand that high quality, nutritious food is important in keeping boarders happy and healthy! TAS boarders enjoy a wide variety of foods prepared by our treasured in-house kitchen team. The meals are created with nutritionally dense meals in mind to ensure our boarders thrive on top quality food. Roasts, curries, nachos and stir fries accompany a range of salads and vegetable dishes. Hot and cold breakfasts are available, as is afternoon tea in the boarding houses following school.
Aside from the great food, meal times in the stunning TAS Dining Hall provide a daily opportunity for boarders and day students from across the school to come together, all in the one place. This creates that family atmosphere for our students as another point of connection between Houses, all just a short walk away for them.
Weekend Activities
Our weekends at TAS can be very busy with regular sporting fixtures and many matches scheduled around the region and beyond. Our students who engage with musical and creative arts endeavours have the opportunity to hone their skills through our music department and bespoke creative arts space in Hoskins.
Students can also enjoy our 25 hectare campus boasting an indoor heated pool and facilities for any number of sports. Being outdoors seems to be a natural inclination for our students and the use of bikes and skateboards around campus are a regular feature.
We also provide ‘town leave’ on Fridays to Sundays to explore Armidale with their friends, as well as opportunities within the Boarders Recreation Program.
Technology in the Boarding House
Managing our students’ access to technology and ultimately cultivating healthy self regulation is an important aspect of their education. We recognise the wonders of technology and the advantages it brings in many aspects of life, but we also know that a responsible approach to technology requires education and discipline around access. Set times exist in Houses when students are allowed their technology and all laptops and phones are handed in at night for all boarders other than Year 12.
For our Year 8 boarders and younger, following parent consultation and industry research, since 2025 we now have a smart-phone free environment to help support real interactions with their peers and protect them from the challenges of the online world in a practical manner.
Boarders Recreation Program
Our Boarders Recreation Program is centred around the three principles of Relaxation, Engagement with the Community, and Cultivating new skills. The activities are scheduled in consultation with a Boarders' Recreation Committee, made up of students representing each boarding house at TAS.
There is a strong focus on recurring weekly activities, such as fitness sessions specifically for girls and boys, as well as taking part in community events such as Armidale Parkrun. In addition, each weekend offers a variety of unique opportunities, from lawn bowls to the cinema, as well as day trips to nearby towns and the coast. Each activity is a chance for students from all years to connect with each other through shared experiences, forging friendships, fostering well being and creative memories for a lifetime.
Director of Boarding
Responsible for the oversight and management of all TAS boarding houses, the Director of Boarding provides an additional layer of support for Heads of House, parents and students, and is a member of the School Executive team.
More information on boarding can be found in the Boarding Handbook.