Eton Rowing Courses


This page aims to provide information of particular value to parents about the Rowing Courses, including details of staffing arrangements, supervision and care of students both on and off the water, the consideration given to matters of safety, and other more general issues such as ways of contacting your children during the Courses, and possibilities for visiting etc. Please note that the parents of students accepted will be sent a letter nearer the time of the Courses giving more detail than is possible here on arrival arrangements, clothing lists, directions to Eton etc.

STAFFING
The members of staff on the Rowing Courses include approximately 20 instructors employed as either Coaches or Course Assistants for the 3 week period, the majority of whom are not members of Eton's term-time staff. The team ranges in age from 20 to 60 and consists of similar numbers of male and female instructors, drawn from experienced coaches from clubs and schools, and university students currently rowing for their university. Some of the coaches are actively competing on a regular basis, and others have performed at the highest levels of the sport in the past. All Coaches hold qualifications obtained from the Amateur Rowing Association.
The Course Director is John Carver, an Old Etonian who was President of the winning Cambridge University Boat Race crew in 1996 and stroked the Eton VIII that won the Princess Elizabeth Challenge Cup at Henley Royal Regatta in 1990. He joined the staff of the Rowing Courses in the summer of 1995 and was appointed Course Director in 2002. Although based in Eton for the Courses themselves, he spends the rest of the year in Oxfordshire where he teaches at Cothill House School.

SUPERVISION / STUDENT DISCIPLINE
The care and supervision of students are given the highest importance throughout the Courses. With approximately 75 students and 20 members of staff resident each week, a staff : pupil ratio of at least 1:4 is achieved for the majority of activities undertaken. Prior to the start of the Courses, all staff are thoroughly briefed on the nature and requirements of their duties, and many come with considerable experience of full-time teaching and supervision in a boarding environment already.

Almost all students spend a thoroughly enjoyable week at Eton, and since 2005 no less than 98% of all participants have said they'd like to return the following year - a good indicator by any yardstick! For the Courses to run successfully it is essential that all students follow the discipline guidelines outlined in the Course Rules booklet, a copy of which is sent to all participants prior to the Courses, together with a declaration to be signed and returned as proof that students have read and understood the contents. It shoudl be noted in particular that the consumption or usage of cigarettes, alcohol, drugs or illegal substances of any kind is absolutely forbidden at all times, and their possession alone will be enough to ensure the offending student's immediate return home.

Supervision Of Daytime Activities Classroom and organized games activities are also supervised, but the students are given free time every afternoon to go to the outdoor pool or tennis courts, to shop in the Eton High Street or to relax quietly in their own house. Those given permission by the House Supervisor or Course Director may go into Windsor at this time, although only in a minimum group size of three. All students are required to attend the three main meals during the day, and must sign in for supper so that everyone can be accounted for before the evening outing.

Supervision In the Houses After the evening outing, students may either stay in the houses to watch TV, or go along to the Social Room. In either case, everyone must sign in with the members of staff on duty when making their final return to the houses, and certainly before 10.30pm at the very latest. Lights-out times vary depending on the student age group, but all lights must be out by 11pm at the latest, after which the duty staff resident in the house patrol the corridors until all students have settled down - with 3 rowing outings each day the need for a full night's sleep cannot be overstated! Checks are also undertaken by staff in the houses every morning to ensure all students are awake and ready for the morning outings. A House Supervisor in each house is on call 24 hrs/day to ensure the safety and well-being of the students in their care. He or she will have a minimum of five other live-in members of the teaching/ coaching staff also on hand to help with supervisory duties in the house. A resident Eton "Dame" is also on site to assist the House Supervisor with the smooth running of each house. On the first afternoon of each Course the House Supervisors will be based in the houses to welcome parents and students as they arrive, so this would be the best time to ask any specific questions that parents might have about accommodation arrangements etc.

Supervision Of Rowing Activities All water-based activities are undertaken by groups of 9 or 10 students of similar ability. Every group falls under the supervision of a qualified Coach and Course Assistant for the week, to ensure that all outings are completed safely, with equal coaching and instruction given to all participants. At the end of the week the Coach will write a report for the parents of each student in his or her group.


SAFETY
Matters of safety are taken very seriously on the Rowing Courses, and in recent years considerable efforts have been made to minimize the risks involved in our activities, without unreasonably compromising the students' enjoyment of their time at Eton. A formal Risk Assessment has been undertaken in line with ARA guidelines, and every effort has been made to cover the courses for all eventualities. Matters of safety are outlined in detail to all staff prior to the students' arrival, and each course itself starts with a welcome and safety briefing on the first afternoon, at which all key points of safety are covered.

The Course Director reserves the right to change the plans, to modify activities or to cancel an activity or rowing outing if conditions are deemed to be hazardous or inappropriate, or should he have any other reason to do so. The Course Director also reserves the right to send home any student whose behaviour is a danger to others or themselves.

For the safety of water-based activities, Eton College and Amateur Rowing Association water safety guidelines are followed. This includes a swimming test for all students before any rowing takes place, and a capsize demonstration for all beginners on the first evening. All Coaches are ARA qualified or members of Eton College staff, and many come with First Aid, Lifesaving and/or RYA qualifications.

The Rowing Courses are covered by Eton College Insurance, and all qualified coaches are covered by ARA insurance as part of their ARA membership. Emergency procedures are in place and all staff are provided with a list of emergency contact details

MEDICAL SUPPORT
General All students must submit a completed medical form as part of the registration process for the Courses. The content of these forms is processed by the Course Nurse and used to ensure that all Coaches and Course Assistants are made aware beforehand of any medical conditions, asthma, allergies, and injuries specific to students in their care, so that the necessary precautions can be taken to avoid any problems. Where necessary a student's parents will be contacted prior to the Courses, to ensure any potential problem is clearly understood.

Course Nurse We are fortunate to have access to a Course Nurse who is on call 24 hrs/day throughout the Courses. The Nurse introduces herself to all students on the first day of the week, and offers advice on avoiding sunstroke, dehydration, blisters etc during the Course. In the event of any injury or medical problem, students are briefed in the first instance to speak to their Coach or House Supervisor, who can then contact the Course Nurse for advice. An on-site surgery is open every day after lunch for those students who need to visit the Nurse, and depending on the severity of any ailment or injury, a student may be excused from rowing activities, and/or referred to a local GP in Eton for further treatment. Any student excused from rowing and asked to remain in the houses will always be accompanied by a member of staff. In the event of any serious injury or illness during the Courses, parents will of course be notified as soon as possible.


SECURITY
General Security The buildings and facilities of Eton College are spread far and wide throughout the town, and the town itself is easily accessible to the general public. Many improvements have been made in recent years to protect the security of the College's residents and their belongings. The entrances to the houses used on the Rowing Courses are closed at all times and only accessible by means of a security code that is given to all students upon arrival, and which must not be given to any outsiders. Boys are not allowed in the girls' house at any time, and the same is true of girls in the boys' house.

Money and Valuables All students are given keys to their rooms that must be left in a secure area of the house before they leave the building (in order to prevent keys being taken to the boathouses, and perhaps lost in the river etc). Students are responsible for their own money and possessions, and are therefore advised to keep their rooms locked whenever unoccupied. However, House Supervisors will look after passports and other valuables if requested to do so. About £25 of pocket money in total should be ample for the week; this will cover minor refreshments after outings, and leave a little over for other personal spending. All sports facilities (swimming, tennis, squash, etc) are free, and there should be no other expenses unless an optional trip to the cinema (costing approx £5) is planned during the week, as sometimes happens on a Wednesday evening after the trip to Queens Eyot.

Fire Procedures A poster in every room outlines the procedures to be followed in the event of a fire. A fire practice is staged on the first evening of each Course to ensure all of the students are completely familiar with these procedures.

CONTACTING THE COURSE OFFICE
For all enquiries before the Courses start, please contact Phil Highy (Summer Courses Coordinator) on 01753 67 1219, or at p.highy@etoncollege.org.uk

For all enquiries after the start of the Courses (see dates here) please contact the Course Office which will usually be manned from 9.30-1pm and from 2-3.30pm; the number is 01753 671137. Outside these hours please leave a message on the answerphone. In an emergency, please call the Course Director on 07815 907 435 or the Porters Lodge on 01753 801 577. Please note that these numbers are for use in an emergency situation only.


CONTACTING YOUR SON / DAUGHTER
It is not easy to bring a student to a phone; Eton is a very large campus, and he or she may well be up to half a mile away when you ring. If your child does not come to Eton with a mobile phone, the best way for you to contact them is to ring Course Office (01753 671137) and leave a message for your son or daughter to ring you from the boarding house itself in the evening. There are cardphones in both boarding houses, and phonecards will be available for purchase from the Post Office in Eton's High Street.

Letters should be sent to: c/o Mr P.Highy, Eton Rowing Courses, Eton College, Windsor, SL4 6DW. They should not be sent to the individual houses, nor to the Office; in both cases a delay may result.

VISITING YOUR SON / DAUGHTER DURING THE COURSES
Parents wishing to visit during the Courses are welcome at any time, but should first contact the Course Office (01753 671137). Eton has four boathouses spread out over a large area, and the timings of the outings do change slightly on a day-to-day basis, so parents arriving unannounced may well be unable to find us. Please note that the Procession of Boats is considered to be the most enjoyable spectacle to watch on the Courses, hence its place in the timetable at the end of the week, staged as the final event before the students return home.


GETTING TO ETON
General On the first day students are requested first of all to check in at the Course Office in Eton between 2.15-4pm, from where they will be accompanied (with their parents) to their houses. The Courses begin with a very important swimming test and safety briefing from 4pm onwards so students should make every effort to arrive before this time at the very latest.

For a map of general approaches to Eton, please click here (http://www.etoncollege.com/approaches/approaches_1024.htm)

For a map of directions to the Course Office (in Birley Schools) once in Eton please click here

STUDENTS ARRIVING FROM OVERSEAS
Any students coming from overseas must arrive at Eton before 4pm at the very latest on the first day (Sunday) of each Course. This means that flights should be booked to arrive at Heathrow no later than 3pm, or at Gatwick no later than 1pm. Return flights for departing students should be arranged for the Saturday afternoon (students will be able to leave Eton from 12 noon onwards).
*!!! PLEASE NOTE!!!*
It will not be possible to welcome any students to Eton before 12 noon on the first day (Sunday) of their Course. If, for example, the only flights available arrive in the UK early in the morning, then parents must make their own arrangements to ensure their child/children is looked after until they can be brought to Eton from 12 noon onwards. If such arrangements cannot be made then we must respectfully ask that parents do not register their children for a place on that course. This is simply because there will be no staff to welcome and look after the students until 12 noon at the earliest. Students staying for 2 or more Courses in the same year will NOT be able to stay in Eton during the weekend between Courses. These students must make their own arrangements to be collected from Eton (by friends or relatives) after the Procession on Saturday morning at the end of their first week, and to be brought back to Eton on the Sunday afternoon for the start of their second week. Again, this is because there will be NO staff left in Eton to look after them at the weekend.

Collections/Departures from Heathrow (or other London Airports) Arrangements can be made for your son/daughter to be collected from/dropped off at Heathrow (or other London airports) using an Eton College approved chauffeur/taxi service. However, parents must note that this service is NOT FREE OF CHARGE. A form requesting arrival/departure details will be sent to parents once student bookings have been confirmed, and parents must here specify any request for this service. Charges will depend on the airport location and time of day - any questions in this regard should be sent to the Course Administrator Collections/Departures by TRAIN Arrangements can be made for your son/daughter to be collected from/dropped off at Slough Station using an Eton College approved chauffeur/taxi service. However, parents must note that this service is NOT FREE OF CHARGE, and a standard charge of £10 each way will be made. In order to ensure students arrive on time for the Courses, all train arrivals must be scheduled for no later than 3pm on the first Sunday.

If, for reasons beyond their control (flight/train delays, or traffic problems), any student is going to arrive at Eton later than 4pm on the first afternoon, please contact the Course Office (01753 671137) as soon as possible so that everyone can be accounted for!

When are students free to depart? Students are free to return home at the end of the Courses from 12 noon on the Saturday of each week. Lunch is not normally provided on Saturdays but may be requested by those students with flight departures later that afternoon.

COMING TO WATCH THE PROCESSION?
(Please note that a leaflet with details of the time and location of the Procession will be given to all parents before the Courses begin. What follows here is merely a summary).

For an Overview of what the Procession of Boats involves, please click here

The Procession takes place downstream of Windsor Bridge, on the Weir Cut adjacent to Fellows Eyot. Activities will commence as usual at 9.30, and crews perform separately, so that the time of finishing varies. The first row-past should be at about 10.15, and the final one at about 11.30. Because of the need to lift the ancient and heavy processional boats, older students will start and finish proceedings, and younger ones will be in the middle. Names of crews will not be available until Friday, since to some extent they depend on the performance in other boats earlier in the week.

Each successful crew receives individual medals, and its members are then free to go.

Parents wishing to watch the Procession should park their cars on the grass to the right of the pathway that runs adjacent to College Field, and then walk from there through to Fellows Eyot from where the Procession can best be viewed.

For a map of directions to the Procession, please click here