The TSS boarding community plays a significant and special role in the school community and in modern-day schooling.

Since 1901, TSS has been a home away from home for thousands of young men. The school proudly boasts the largest boarding facility in Queensland and one of the largest in the country, and it is fair to say that our boarders are the heartbeat of the school.

The Southport School houses boarders from as far away as Jamaica and as close as Surfers Paradise, however the vast majority hail from various regional centres across Queensland and remote country areas across Australia.

Dean of Boarding Dr Tony Watt is considered a leading voice across all aspects of boarding school life. Having completed his PhD thesis in the area, Tony’s passion is clearly evident, and he is constantly embracing and immersing himself in new pastoral and academic care programs to ensure the young men under his watch receive the very best care.

It’s the school’s vast geographical drawing power which sets the tone for the broader school community. There is no doubting, the schools’ boarders are passionate and loyal guardians of the school and its values. This is certainly on display during weekend sport, when our boarding community show up as a united vocal force to cheer home students representing the school.

Boarding students in Years 8, 9 and 10 have dormitory style accommodation with their own private study area while boys in Years 11 and 12 have their own private room for a quiet study environment. Over the past five years, all TSS Boarding Houses have been refurbished to provide maximum comfort and enjoyment.

Academically, boarders have a tailored evening program to ensure they are given the opportunity to reach their full potential. Students in Years 8 to 10 undertake teacher supervised study in classrooms every night after dinner. This progressive initiative has considerably increased the academic performance of our boarders who, along with day boys, also have access to one-on-one tutoring with TSS Old Boys who visit the campus in a paid capacity every afternoon.

Dedicated boarding staff, including Heads of House, Assistant Heads of House and House Matrons, provide family-like support to our boarders who never forget their years at TSS.

Our on-campus Health Centre is staffed by caring nurses 24/7, with doctors and allied health professionals on call, and regularly visiting the TSS Health Centre for planned appointments.

With our Headmaster, Deputy Masters, Dean of Boarding and Heads of House all living on campus, boarding is a truly special environment, home to more than 300 people, including TSS staff and their families. The magnificent looking TSS Dining Room is a place of great banter and support with its own fully-equipped industrial kitchen and dedicated chefs preparing nutritionally well-balanced meals.

Come weekends students embrace a large variety of activities, including trips to the Gold Coast Hinterland, popular fishing spots, the beach, theme parks, sporting matches, cinemas and much more.

At The Southport School, boarders also play a crucial role in the reputable House System, which is critical to campus life. The school has five Boarding Houses with students grouped vertically in accordance with their age groups. The only exception to this system is Rogers House which is the school’s junior boarding house for Year 7 students who are generally in their first year out of home.

The vertical House System enables students to mix not only with boys their own age but across all age groups, helping build long-lasting relationships with a loyal mix of boys. It also successfully promotes the formation of strong relationships between resident staff, the boys, and their parents for the entirety of their boarding years, ensuring they are comfortable and feel secure in what is their second home.

For further details regarding our boarding facilities and availability, please contact our Admissions Office on + 61 1300 877 269.