Choosing the best education for your child is one of your most important decisions as a parent.
We've put together a few things to consider along the way.
Which environment would best suit your child? With over 450 boarding schools across the UK, you can find almost anything! There are schools that:
Where would your child be happiest and thrive? It's a tough decision, but we're here to help you in any way we can.
Check how the school scores on pastoral care. You want your child to be happy and feel free to turn to staff for help on all matters personal and academic.
As a parent, you should feel free to call the school staff should you have any concerns. Pastoral care does not only mean the school matron but a whole array of staff overseen by the head or deputy head.
Many boarding schools have "day pupils" in addition to their boarders, but it is worth checking how many of the boarders are full boarders as opposed to weekly boarders. If there are not many then your child could find themselves with limited company at the weekend and few organised activities to enjoy.
Also, ask what are the arrangements for full boarders to go out at the weekend and how many of them do.
If you are able to visit a boarding school in the UK, then you will be taken around all their outstanding facilities and beautiful grounds. Make sure to ask to see the actual boarding houses, as this is where your child will spend a lot of their time. We help arrange school visits and transfers for parents who want to see a few schools in person before making the final decision.
We understand your family might not have time to visit the UK for school visits. Our Admissions team regularly meet with schools across the UK and understand the differences and details that make each school special. This extensive knowledge and personalised advice will help you make the best decision for your child, whether you're able to physically meet the schools beforehand or not.
Make sure to choose a school which is within reasonable driving distance of the airport. We recommend trying to find a school which is no more than 1.5 hours away.
Also, it is worth thinking about whether a city or more rural location would best suit your child.
Many parents send their children to UK boarding schools to learn or improve their English. It’s important that there is a good mix of nationalities at the school because this will help to ensure English is spoken by all the children in and out of the classroom.
Your child might benefit from some extra tuition in English, check that the school offers English language lessons, or contact us to discuss how we can help arrange for language classes before a school term or during breaks.
Most UK boarding schools offer a huge array of extra-curricular activities and sports so your child should never have an excuse for being bored!
However, some schools tend to specialise in different sports and activities. If your child is very talented at a particular activity, try to choose a school that offers the best facilities to nurture this talent and ask if the school offers any relevant scholarships.
You can also explore our "Best of" blog series that reviews the top boarding schools throughout the UK for football, art, dance, music, rugby and so much more!
If your child needs additional support in the classroom, be sure you share this with the Admissions team so they can confirm the school’s ability to best support your child.
There will be a school that can support your child, whatever their needs or academic ability. We can help you find the best school that will ensure their safety, happiness and success.
That's what we're here for! Get in touch today and we'll schedule a free, private consultation via a phone or video call.
This article appears in the following categories Boarding School Life, Education Systems, School Admissions
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