Why go to Boarding School?
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Joining an independent boarding school is a brilliant opportunity. Speak to someone who attended a British boarding school, and the chances are they’ll tell you it was the time of their life.
Most importantly, boarding school pushes young people to take the lead role in their own academic and personal development.
Here, Top School Guide has a deeper look at what boarding school is like, and how leaving the family home to join a boarding community helps guide a young person towards independent adulthood.
1) Engagement and Enthusiasm
The best schools have a student-driven culture of self improvement. A boarding school is a village where residents share goals of academic and personal development.
Success is shared and success is celebrated. Students engage the support of the adults around them, but also learn to care for and support each other.
New boarders quickly buy in to this contagious, positive culture and determine to become the best version of themselves that they can be.
The outcome is self and peer-motivated students who are driven to put in the extra mile for themselves and their community. One of the first things parents of new boarders notice is a positive change in their independence, drive and responsibility. There’s no need to be a pushy parent, as boarding students do it for themselves.
2) Academic Opportunities
British boarding schools attract some of the best teachers in the world. Class sizes are smaller and average academic results are way higher than in the state school sector.
As a boarder there is no time wasted on a daily commute. Homework (know as “prep”) is structured into the day, with peers, resources and teachers on hand to support. It’s almost impossible to have that level of structure and support at home.
Add this to the additional engagement and enthusiasm outlined above, and you can see why boarding can give students an academic advantage.
3) Global Friendships
A British boarding school is the best way to see the world without having to go anywhere.
Using figures from the Independent School Council’s 2023 Census, we can extrapolate that around a third of boarders in British schools are foreign nationals. The proportion tends to be greater as you move up the year groups.
A typical school will have in excess of 15 different nationalities, and good schools will always keep a balanced mix. The most internationally-popular schools, such as Sevenoaks, or Brighton College, will usually welcome in excess of 40 different nationalities.
The benefits of living in a multinational boarding school need no explanation.
4) Boarding is Healthy
Yes, boarding school is good for you! Boarding school students usually boast excellent physical and mental health.
On the physical side, most schools offer plenty of access to fresh air and open green spaces. Sport is massive in boarding schools, from traditional team sports like hockey and rugby, to sailing, mountain biking, and other outdoor pursuits.
Exercise is mandatory and schools will go out of their way to find a way to keep less enthusiastic students active. Food is nutritious and eating habits are monitored.
Regarding mental health, schools put in place a web of adult and peer support networks. Students know they are valued and have a range of people to share any problems with. They also know they need to keep an eye out for their peers, and offer support to others when it’s needed.
Mercifully, boarding students are too busy being properly sociable to get sucked into excessive social media or screen time. Schools develop phone and internet policies with student input, and it is reported that students are glad to have guidelines and regulated access.
Essentially, boarding students learn good, healthy habits for life. They learn to be disciplined and self-regulating, and to look after their bodies and minds as part of their daily routines.
5) Boarding is Fun!
Being part of a community, making friends from around the world, learning and being healthy are all great benefits of boarding. But the best thing is undoubtedly the fun to be had.
Boarding students live and work with their friends amongst amazing facilities. This brings endless opportunity for students to entertain and amuse themselves away from parental supervision. Anyone who has boarded will tell you there is never a dull moment, and it is amazing how much you can fit in to a day.
Most people aren’t aware just how many “extra curricular” or “enrichment” activities schools put on for their boarders. Of course there will be a huge range of sports, but things like drone-racing, bee-keeping, model UN, classical film clubs, games club, electronics and robotics clubs ensure there is always something new to get stuck into.
Likewise, social events at boarding schools are amazing. These can include BBQs or black tie events, DJ nights, trips to the theatre, laser quest, karting, and inter-house competitions.
Trips and tours can be for educational purposes, sporting, DofE award expeditions or charitable volunteering opportunities. There are countless opportunities to join trips in the UK or overseas, all of which enrich students’ life experiences and help them grow.
Most boarding students understandably end up with a fairly limited interest in watching TV or playing video games. Simply put, they’re too busy living their best lives.
Are you ready for boarding school?
Boarding school gives young people the opportunity and platform to become the best they can be. You develop your independence and confidence to new levels, and have a great time whilst doing it.
If you think you or your young person might be ready to look for a British boarding school, Top School Guide can help figure out which schools will suit best. Please get in touch for an initial chat and have your questions answered.
