Girls’ boarding school at 14 after 2 years of homeschooling, what should we consider?

[mamtaberi]

Our DD went to school till grade 7 start, and has been homeschooling for the last 2 years. She is an avid reader. She passed her IGCSE mathematics with A* last year. At present she is studying Sociology and Sanskrit to appear in April and May. She is good in academics, though she has not been studying all the subjects since we started homeschooling.

But ... she has been missing friends and interaction, so we are looking to join a school. She likes to make friends and is quite a social person in general. Since we are in that exercise, we went through some boarding schools as well. We have never known anyone personally who went to a boarding school at that age. Going to hostel at 18 years is something we are more familiar with, even in family..

We think she will be able to catch up with subjects and academics, and participate well in sports. DD is keen to experience a boarding school, though both of us are undecided. We see positives in a boarding school we've visited but we are concerned about her emotional health, and peer group influence (bad), losing oneself in trying to fit in esp. in absence of parents or family.

If you can share any insights on joining a girls-only boarding school for a 14 year 2 month old, I will be very grateful.

Why boarding school? Seems like a strange decision after homeschooling. I wouldn't do it. Is it unavoidable that she has to board for some reason? Because if not, a day school would be much better.

What were the factors that led to her being homeschooling?
What appeals to her about boarding school?
Which subjects has she not been studying at home that she was before?

I think you should consider the emotional/psychological impact of such a massive transition. She was pulled from day schooling, did two years at home, then because she is missing some social contact with peers, you want her to send her away full time?

Are you able to provide more context around your schooling choices for her so far as I think that is more relevant information than her academic attainment.

this op.it feels like one extreme to the other Why not a day achool where you will be available readily to support her "resocialise"?

Are you in the UK @mamtaberi or another country and exploring UK boarding schools?

I wouldn’t. Choose a school she can be a day pupil at. This is peak mental health crisis time. It’s not the time to pull back.

Depends entirely on how robust a person she is. As PPs have said, why was she home schooled? It will be a huge change for her to go from home to living with a large group of her peers 24 hours a day. My children loved boarding but they are very independent confident sporty kids who make friends easily. (Not that being sporty is necessary but it's useful for making friends if you are in a team). Does your DD have lots of friends at home and does she find it easy to make new ones? You say she does. Is she relaxed, flexible and tolerant of others (essential for a border).

From home schooling to boarding school? Seems a very drastic transition. Have you spoken to her about this? Does she want to go to a boarding school? That will be one hell of a culture shock for her.

To start boarding school at 14 would be such a challenge for her on top of all the other pressures that comes at that age. She can gain lots of friends from going to a day school instead.

If she hasn't been doing science at home that could be an issue slotting into GCSE science. What subjects has she been skipping?

Having already done Maths GCSE equivalent would have the opposite problem.

Going into year 10 could be a challenge where schools have started teaching some GCSE content in year 9.

@mamtaberi you have missed out crucial information.

Which country are you living in?

Why was your daughter taken out of school?

Which country are you planning she should attend boarding school in?

What are her hopes from 18? If university - in which country?

Posters here cannot give specific responses without this information.

You don't say why you home schooled, or why all subjects were not covered.
Homeschooling to boarding school is from one extreme to the other, not a good idea necessarily.
Girls usually cope with boarding school better than boys- but that is not to say issues are impossible.l would look into day pupil options.