Boarding should feel like a ‘home away from home' for children, a place where they can immerse themselves in a different side of school life while making lifelong friendships.
Ideally a boarding school should be well placed to offer easy accessibility, be in a comfortable setting, with great facilities on the doorstep.
Boarding is a unique relationship between school, parent and child and the right boarding environment can benefit your child and their school experience in many ways:
1. Experts in caring for your child
Look for a boarding school that is led by staff who are experts in pastoral care. Your child should be in a safe and caring environment, with a boarding team that are perfectly placed to guide them through any challenging times – this can be particularly useful through adolescent years.
2. Time and space to grow
Ideally there will be plenty of space and fresh air. A large benefit to boarding is cutting out the commute and instead enjoying a short walk to class! By choosing to board, children often have more time to study, enjoy activities and play with friends.
3. Facilities on your doorstep
The school facilities become part of your child's daily life and home environment. This means playing fields could be right on their doorstep as well as swimming pools, running tracks and maybe even a gym. Life on a school campus is set up to be dynamic and inspiring for children!
4. A learning environment
At schools where children are taught in English, boarding can immerse students in a community that fast-tracks their absorption of the language. It can be remarkable to see students who arrive at a boarding school speaking almost no English, becoming proficient speakers within weeks!
5. Supported learning
Some boarding schools will offer additional study opportunities from expert teachers to help improve the academic success of students.
6. A sense of independence
From the first boarding years through to the last ones, boarding can offer a sense of independence in children that helps them through life. This can all contribute to boarders leaving school with a mature attitude and feeling prepared for the demands of university life.
7. Friendships for life
The friendships made at boarding school are incredibly strong. There can be a wonderful sense of family community that comes from living together, caring for and supporting each other, and enjoying free-time together. A school boarding community can be like family; evenings are about eating together, supporting academic study and enjoying leisurely activities.
Above all look for a boarding school that has a family-friendly approach and flexible boarding options that feel right for your child.
Find out more about our taster Boarding options here
Meet our Head of Boarding, Peter Gillmore here
