Active discussions

Please or to access all these features

Talk
Secondary education

Connect with other parents whose children are starting secondary school on this forum.

Original poster

Boarding schools - planning for Brexit?

158 replies

Tonsilss · 08/02/2019 13:14

My DD is at a UK boarding school. We are also in the UK, but hundreds of miles away.

We now have only 50 days to a likely no deal Brexit.
I've asked the Head what contingency plans are in place for the effects of a no deal. This is in the current context of expected serious food, medication and fuel shortages, the possibility of contaminated tap water, no facilities for disposing of waste, civil unrest and an increase in crime (eg looting / burglaries).
He has told me that the school has not made any plans in respect of Brexit. And that other schools haven't either (the school is in some kind of independent schools association). Apparently it is too early to be making any contingency plans. The school has not written to any parents (whether UK or international) in relation to Brexit. I imagine that some international parents will have little or no idea of what is going on in the UK.
Can I ask whether anyone else has a child at boarding school and is worried about what will happen, both in respect of the Easter holiday (shortly after Brexit), and in respect of the summer term? Have your schools made any preparations or even just plans to do so?

OP posts:
Original poster
Tonsilss · 08/02/2019 18:07

Like many other people, I am stockpiling some food and other essentials (and even a few water purification tablets). The school, on the other hand, with a large number of boarders on their hands, is doing absolutely nothing.
The school does have plans in place for the event of a fire in a boarding house, for instance. There are fire alarms linked to the Fire Brigade, and fire drills for the boarders. But nothing, not a single word or action, to prepare for a No Deal Brexit, which is now the most likely scenario in only 50 days' time.
I'm worried about the NHS too - short term and long term. But that's for a different thread.

OP posts:
Zodlebud · 08/02/2019 17:40

£400 a day for being unflappable when all those around you are losing their heads. Sign me up!!!!

If it all goes to pot then it will be the same at your home as it would at boarding school. You trust them to look after your child normally in all circumstances so why not Brexit? Are you stockpiling water purification tablets at home ready for the event?

Of course I think about all the potential scenarios post Brexit (whatever way it happens) but I certainly don’t worry about it. We are all developed countries. Do you honestly think if the UK had a shortage of bare essentials that the EU wouldn’t put into place emergency ruling to ensure these items got through? The EU needs the UK just as much as we need them. There will be some flexibility. We are not talking about the North / South Korean border here.

Comefromaway · 08/02/2019 17:35

Contaminated water supplies? Civil unrest?

I thought you were going to be talking about student visas and such like.

happygardening · 08/02/2019 17:31

Frankly I’d be less worried about boarding schools but worrying about what the NHS is doing, an organisation not know for it’s forward planning.

Original poster
Tonsilss · 08/02/2019 17:23

This job advert just put out by the government is doing nothing to reassure me that our only concern will be a lack of imported strawberries:
www.theguardian.com/politics/2019/feb/08/brexit-no-deal-crisis-command-centre-starts-hiring-civilians

OP posts:
Takeittotheboss · 08/02/2019 17:14

You are not alone. I too am very worried as to what preparations , if any, have been made by the schools. So far, parents have had no information on anything Brexit-related.

Zodlebud · 08/02/2019 17:11

I think you might be alone on this one. We’ll probably just all sit back and put the kettle on instead of falling into nationwide civil unrest and dealing with contaminated water supplies (I’m really not sure where you’ve got that one from).

In all honesty I think we’ll have a slightly odd six months where we might not be able to get strawberries (unless they’re British), but the world is not going to end.

Original poster
Tonsilss · 08/02/2019 16:38

I'm hoping I'm not alone with this worry?

OP posts: