For Mr Gough, boarding is about far more than where students sleep at night. It is about creating a community in which young people feel safe, known and valued, while developing the confidence to become increasingly independent. As Epsom’s Head of Boarding, his ambition is simple: for every boarder to feel that they belong and are encouraged to flourish.
Mr Gough brings a deeply personal understanding of boarding to the role, having been a boarder himself from the age of seven. His career has since included six years as a Housemaster and five years as a Deputy Head Pastoral, giving him extensive experience of supporting young people through the opportunities and challenges of school life.
At the heart of his approach is the belief that strong boarding communities are built through relationships. Students need trusted adults around them, clear and consistent expectations, and opportunities to contribute to the community in which they live. They should also have the freedom, within appropriate boundaries, to make decisions, learn from mistakes and gradually take greater responsibility for themselves.
Mr Gough is also a strong believer in stepping outside your comfort zone. Earlier this year, he put that philosophy into practice himself by cycling 1,160 kilometres across the length of Malaysia. An experience that reinforced his belief in resilience, perseverance and discovering what we are capable of when we challenge ourselves.
“Boarding should be a safe and happy place,” Mr Gough explains, “but it should also encourage young people to step outside their comfort zones and discover what they are capable of.”
This philosophy extends beyond individual boarding houses. With a large and diverse boarding community at Epsom, Mr Gough is keen to create more opportunities for students to mix across houses, take on leadership roles, try new activities and develop friendships beyond their immediate circles.
Underlying everything are Epsom’s values of Kindness, Integrity and Ambition: treating others well, doing the right thing even when nobody is watching, and having the courage to keep growing.
Ultimately, Mr Gough hopes that students leave Epsom remembering boarding not simply as a place they lived, but as a community that helped shape them. If boarders leave more confident, compassionate, independent and willing to challenge themselves, then boarding will have achieved something lasting: preparing young people not only for their next stage of education, but for life beyond school.
Mr Andy Gough
Head of Boarding, Assistant Headteacher