Education Schools Profi le
Schools Council and former headmaster of Harrow School, it’s worth bearing in mind that schools aren’t in it for the money. “One of the striking things is how little
surplus boarding schools make,” he says. ‘The thing that costs the money is…the hotel element. You’re providing three meals a day and pretty good accommodation, as well as 24-hour pastoral and medical care.” With fewer families in any case buying into
what used to be the sine qua non of boarding – the week in, week out full-on experience – costs aren’t always as high as headline fi gures would suggest. The majority of schools now come with a range of options tailored to fi t a family’s lifestyle, pockets and location. Out goes the traditional image of a stern Vic-
torian parent detaching a sobbing child from his legs and sending him on a lengthy cross country journey twice a term. In comes board- ing just about any way you want it and with a strongly local dimension. “Harrow is one school that has a national catchment area as well as pupils whose families live locally, but, in very many boarding schools, a large number of students come from within 45 minutes of the school,” says Barnaby Lenon. Other schools echo his comments. At
Dulwich Preparatory School in Kent, many families have homes in the area, while a growing number commute to jobs in London. For them choice is essential – and the school delivers. “Some do fi ve evenings a week, oth-
ers might do a couple of evenings,” explains registrar Sally Ahlers. As long as there’s a bed available, even last-minute boarding is possible if parents are delayed. “A modern boarding school responds to the changing rhythms of family life,” confi rms Rebecca Dougall, head teacher at The Royal High School, Bath. “For families, the fl exibility
establishments, is seeing more children switch from day schools to boarding in the sixth form. In London, meanwhile, the pressure on
we off er is crucial; parents want to know that, if family plans allow, they don’t have to wait until an exeat to meet up with their daughters.” So are we on the cusp of a renaissance
in boarding? The mood seems to be one of cautious optimism. While fewer than 200 seven year-olds board – the number trebles at eight years-old – with another huge rise at the beginning of sixth form. Trent College, like other
day schools is spiralling ever upwards with around ten applicants chasing every state grammar place and rising. In the independ- ent sector, things are just as tough, with candidates who fail to secure their fi rst choice school sometimes facing a struggle to bag a suitable alternative. “In the past they’d have had a fall-back position [but] those avenues have been closed off by sheer competition,” says Harry Biggs-Davison, head of St Philip’s School in South Kensington. Then there’s the rush to sign up for feeder schools: the newest prep on the block Wands- worth Prep, opening in south London, is already registering pupils for 2016. So it’s less than surprising to hear of an intrepid group of West London parents whose children are swapping urban jungle for pastoral sym- phony, each morning travelling the 20 miles to Caldicott Prep School in Farnham Royal, Bucks, where boarding is compulsory only in the top two years, allowing younger boys to experience what amounts to boarding-lite. Like St Mary’s, Caldicott is successfully
reaching out to parents and off ering them the education they want rather than, as in the past, the one some schools felt they should get. It’s that successful reading of parental needs that will enable boarding schools not just to survive but, with luck, thrive in the years to come.
“PUPILS USED TO HAVE A FALL-BACK POSITION IF THEY FAILED THEIR FIRST CHOICE SCHOOL BUT THOSE AVENUES ARE NOW CLOSED DUE TO COMPETITION”
Right, Harrow pupils relax playing chess, above, boys at The Dragon School enjoy a country walk
22 FirstEleven Summer 2012
www.fi rstelevenmagazine.co.uk
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