How do you choose a boarding school

should also add we are just startingto look for dd1 and have used the isc website and have filtered our search by first deciding on mixed only , so knocked out all the singe sex, then a 2 hr driving radius, knocked out quite a lot more, then any with less than 400 pupils or more than 800, then asked for strong music ... and hence have ended up with a list of about 6 schools worth visiting. there is also a boarding school association ( not sure if it isc) who inspect boarding facilities rahter like ofsted but looking at pastoral care and accomadation standards, our dd prep school scored very highly recently, that might be worht looking at .

the isc are really helpful , our area co-ordinator was charming and gave us loads of help in choosing a prep school, agree with what has been said already, need ot think about where your son's talent lie , and find a school whihc excels in those areas, and then add in the distance factor, how far do you want to drive on friday nights of exeat weekends to get him , are oyu going abroad ? then you will need to decide how far from the airport or how far from other relatives or his guardian... , the good schools guide is quite helpful, when i went to boarding school ( 20 yrs agao) my parents got a copy of the good schools guide and we all went through it putting different coloured stars by hte schools we liked any that got a start from me, and one from mum and one from dad we went to visit - not very scientific but it worked !!!

What is he like?

Is he bright?
Sporty?
Music?

Shed sex is serious competition, I'm afraid

I haven't had to choose a boarding school, but I would think you start in the usual way by deciding which ones are reasonably accessible. Even though you don't have to think about the daily commute, a weekend out will be a lot less stressful all round if you can get there and back in a reasonable timescale, or if they have good links to trains you can collect him from.

Then get prospectuses and see if they sound like the kind of place he'd enjoy - he's old enough to have some clear ideas what he does or doesn't want - is he keen on sports, or music, or art, or certain academic subjects? If so, what are the facilities like for that area.

www.isc.co.uk
www.gabbitas.co.uk

You also need to look at fees/flexi/weekly boarding/proximity to home/size of boarding house/sporty/arty etc.

If I was goign to send ds and I still might, I'd be looking at Canford for preference, and Kelly College for affordability and proximity to my Mum as we are abroad.