Education Choosing The Right School
To board OR L
First-class facilities and highly skilled staff make boarding the perfect 21st-century education, says Henrietta Lightfoot
istening to parents both in my own school but also in many other schools that I visit, the question of “to board or not to board” is one that seems to be increasing in
conversations. For some boarding is an anathema: “I would never send my child to board – I would feel really guilty, ” or “why do people have children if they are going to send them away?
By contrast, other parents have opposing views: “Boarding has given my child a sense of confi dence and self worth and helped them become independent.” “My daughter was desperate to board and I realised it was me being selfi sh by not letting her experience a fully rounded education.” “My son does so many more activities at school than he ever could do at home and he appreciates me more when he comes back at weekends.” Whatever your view, boarding is certainly not like it was in the old days. Boarding schools have adapted to 21st-century life with top-notch facilities, highly skilled and caring staff . Boarding no longer means being dispatched for a whole term to far-fl ung country destinations. Instead parents can choose full, weekly or fl exi-boarding alternatives and come together for family time at the weekends or give their children a stable environment when working away. For all parents, not having to taxi their children to after-school clubs is a real bonus. Instead the ballet, horse-riding, rugby and Italian clubs are right there on site. One mum at my school uses not being able to board as a threat for her daughter
Boarders are fi ercely
proud of their schools and boarding friendships really do last a lifetime
who relishes the weekend excursions to Alton Towers, surfi ng trips, sporting fi xtures and drama clubs! Boarding schools with their stunning campuses also off er children freedom. T ey are safe places where children can run and climb trees. Although younger children whose parents work are looked after by nannies, there are far too many stories of unsupervised teenagers who fi nish at 4pm, surfi ng the internet until their parents return at 7pm.
It is possible to change your view of boarding
particularly when your sweet seven year-old turns into a stroppy teenager. Supervised homework, completed before they come home can prove a life-saver. Sharing a room and having to keep it tidy, doing your own washing and being considerate of others are skills that boarders develop naturally. Boarders are fi ercely proud of their schools and boarding friendships really do last a lifetime.
Henrietta Lightwood is Director of Marketing at Badminton School, Bristol 34 FirstEleven Autumn 2011
www.fi rstelevenmagazine.co.uk
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