SCHOOLING/EDUCATION
Can I afford BOARDING? Find out why state boarding schools could prove the smarter choice for RAF families.
ffering high-quality education, state-of-the-art facilities and exceptional pastoral care at less than
half of the cost of the independent sector, it’s no wonder state boarding is so popular with forces families.
Whilst state boarding is open to any pupil with a UK or EU passport, around 10 per cent of children in the state boarding system are from Service families.
Fees are kept to around £4,000 per term, less than one half of the cost of comparable independent schools, because the education element is paid for by the state and parents only cover the cost of boarding.
With average term fees well below the maximum Continuity of Education Allowance (CEA), state boarding is close to being a no-cost option for military families who will simply pay their 10 per cent contribution towards the fees, some £400 or less per term.
38 Envoy Autumn 2015
As state boarding schools are, however, often mistaken for independent schools it’s clear that value doesn’t come at the expense of quality. Each year state boarding schools regularly out-perform other state schools and top many academic league tables throughout the country. Notably nine of the Sunday Times Top 100 State Schools 2014 were state boarding schools.
There are several reasons behind state boarding schools’ ability to ‘punch above their weight’ academically: the quality of the teaching is frequently judged as ‘Outstanding’ by Ofsted whilst the stability offered by the boarding community enables pupils to grow in confidence and make the most of their respective abilities.
Of course the concept of a ‘good education’ goes way beyond a tally of A-grades – there are many other benefits to a state boarding education.
The quality of facilities in state boarding schools is now indistinguishable from those in the independent sector following a £20
Sixth Form
www.raf-ff.org.uk
million programme of investment in boarding accommodation. Fully-equipped health centres and modern home comforts have replaced the outmoded concepts of a ‘visit to matron’ and the school dorm.
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