Can't afford uk boarding schools any more. Alternatives please

[Letsgetouttahere2023]

Simply cannot afford/ justify the cost of uk boarding schools. No parental help self funded, it is / will kill us. Would love to try and replicate, happy to move abroad to do so (we can wfh /internatinal jobs)

. 3 girls all brilliant all rounders, but particularly sport talented (hockey). 12y 11y 9y old.

Looking at re locating abroad . English only fluent language
School the priority for relocation, we can easily sort job post covid

Any recommendations For Schools? Not sure where to even start!

Thanks

So just send them to day schools. Then you can still see them every weekend / watch matches / take them out for dinner etc.

More laundry and cooking, but also more fun.

So are you saying that it's impossible for parents to place any restriction their child's social media use at home and the only safe thing to do is to send them away? This is utterly bizarre.

Here’s a radical suggestion.
Your children live with you instead and you parent them

A 28 bedroom slum?

Umm you know that you could just take their phones off them? I know, mins blowing.

and living with friends

And bullies.

Pop them up for adoption. Problem solved.

I have 3 teens. 17, 14 and 14. They are not allowed phones in bedrooms. They don't go on SM a lot, other than friendship group WhatsApps. They keep busy. Their education is free and I get to see them every day! What's not to like?

is this a joke ?

Irish boarding schools seem to fit your bill. OP, what do you think?

As for there being no phones or social media (or drugs or drink) in boarding schools, I think you are deluded. Even if that were the case, what happens to them at uni where all restrictions are off? Sounds like a recipe for disaster.

Children have got to work out for themselves what is a safe level of consumption of social media, alcohol, drugs and sex in an environment where they feel safe to talk to a responsible adult. Guess that is usually the parent. Seems crazy that you would pay so much to use boarding schools (that you can no longer afford), when you don't need to living so close by.

Some children really thrive in that environment. But I know I would be miserable as I need my private space. I hope your dcs got a choice in this.

I work at an international school in Switzerland, and have many ex pat teacher friends around the globe, as well as in the Uk. There are decent schools many around but the cost of relocating is quite substantial.

I understand what you are saying OP. The UK curriculum is wonderful, in that it is very child centered, but schools are on their knees, staff are tired and resources are not there.

You don't say what your skill set is or which countries you would consider. Start looking for jobs, most packages will offer some sort of funding for school fees. Plus you can rent out your property. It can be a wise financial decisions but Mumsnet is not the place to ask about it, IMO.

There are decent schools many around but the cost of relocating is quite substantial.

The cost of living is also astonomical in Switzerland. And it is quite dull, sorry.

I understand what you are saying OP. The UK curriculum is wonderful, in that it is very child centered, but schools are on their knees, staff are tired and resources are not there.

The alternative is private day school in UK, which is much cheaper than boarding.

What abouts state schools like most other people?

Why parent your own children and send them to a normal day school. Boarding school is utterly bizarre.

Somewhere that teaches grammar and punctuation?

Tbf this is the boarding school board. (Or has the OP been moved?)

I don't want to burst your bubble but my dd boarded and had a mobile phone with her. Unless you are talking about prep you will struggle to find a school that bans modern tech

Have you thought about turning off the WiFi at night? That'll save you about £90k per annum.

@blueshoes maybe dull in your opinion. I know many people who would beg to differ, but that's ok. Different strokes for different folks, and all that!

The alternative to boarding school isn't having a teen glued to a phone all even FFS. It is possible to cook with, communicate with, and encourage hobbies whilst living with a teenager. And you know, enjoying their company. I've done this, I recommend it. Oh and she got good grades, had a good social life and went to uni.

If you can't afford an expensive boarding school, the obvious answer is a cheaper day school or even state school. I can't really believe you'd consider moving abroad rather than adjusting your lifestyle.

What countries are you eligible to work in or will you need sponsored visas?

Kids at boarding schools have all the same problems as kids who live with their parents. The only difference is that these issues are someone else's problem. You want to be nearby to do the nice stuff like take them out to dinner and watch matches. You are so determined for someone else to parent your kids that you will literally move anywhere for cheaper fees. This is seriously odd and quite sad tbh.

Prison? It's very cost effective in the UK 😂 they have a variety of extra curricular classes, phones banned but can contact close family when needed, even have bunk buddies for those close knit friendships.

In reality though I think there are those international schools that uk kids go to when parents work abroad.. heard they are hard to get into though.

So you want to live near your kids but not with them? I don't understand this mindset at all.