Living at Dilworth
One of the unique features of life at Dilworth is that every boy is a boarder. In his Will, Dilworth required the School to provide Maintenance, Education and Training, which is to say the students' board and up-keep, their academic education, and their learning of skills for their future in the wider world. Thus the current roll of 530 boys makes Dilworth the largest boarding school in New Zealand and, more importantly, a community in its own right.
Boarding is a central part of the School's mission to produce good and useful citizens. Through boarding, boys are able to receive a truly holistic education. There are many advantages to boarding. Living on site provides maximum access to the School's impressive facilities and enables the boys to take the fullest advantage of all the School has to offer, including after-hours access to staff for tutoring, involvement in the many and varied activities that take place, or being able to use specialist classrooms in the evening. In addition to the use of facilities, the friendships made in a boarding environment are strong and long-lasting. Boarding requires the boys to learn how to interact and get along with others, thereby facilitating an important part of each boy's social development.
Each boarding house is staffed by a combination of adult Housemasters and Assistant Housemasters (usually members of the school's academic staff), a Matron, and Tutors (usually young adults and often engaged in tertiary study). The Tutors, in particular, assist with supervision and act as 'older brothers' to the boys. The resident staff work to provide a warm, friendly environment, which is the core of the pastoral care for each boy.
Boarding is organised differently at each Campus. The Junior Campus boys live in four houses of 48 boys each and sleep in dormitories of six. The Rural Campus boys live in 'cabins' of 10, each cabin consisting of two rooms of five, supervised by adult 'cabin parents'. Boarding Houses at the Senior Campus accommodate some 70 boys, living in either single or twin rooms, with individual study spaces for each boy.
Boys are granted leave of absence during many weekends of the school year, however the frequency and duration of such leave will vary from campus to campus and will change, from time to time, in order to fit in with other weekend activities and events. Those boys who attend Dilworth from rural areas and outlying towns are able to remain at school, fully supervised, during the weekend.