Quite a number of parents have recently asked me :Why choose boarding?
Often I find that Dad is keen, but Mum says ‘over my dead body.’
It seems a widely misunderstood concept which parents either love or hate.
Those of a negative opinion have usually arrived at this conclusion due to out-of-date opinions formed through personal experience or hearing ancient horror stories from family or other parents.
Here are a few points which parents have found helpful in asking themselves why boarding might be worth considering, when they might previously have dismissed it.
No. 1 Watch confidence grow through time doing sport, music, drama, art instead of commuting.
No. 2 Leave work-week nagging of your soon to be hormonal teenager to the professionals.
No. 3 Expand school choice options, especially where siblings have different needs, without moving house.
No. 4 Develop independence, an ability to think for themselves, coupled with a lasting network of useful contacts for the future.
No. 5 Retire the parent taxi service for after school activities or play dates. It’s all there in situ!
No. 6 Solve childcare challenges in busy professional families, especially if both parents work.
No. 7 A source of stability and pastoral support whilst there may be difficult relationship issues between parents at home.
No. 8 Access to the best British education, even when work commitments require travel overseas or a fixed-contract move abroad.
No. 9 Accelerated achievement through having 5 to 7 extended days a week with access to the library, art room, specialist help with homework and a huge breadth of other facilities and resources.
No. 10 Gain cultural understanding and tolerance of others, to facilitate future success in a global career world.