That private school on TV an eye opener

[GabbyLoggon]

something like Sunningdale.

after watching that I bet all teachers would wish they could teach well behaved children of the rich

A school with no punishment regime.hmmmm

[Hixies]

My son has been at boarding school for a year now - he went aged eleven - to a specialist dyslexic unit within a prep school - he had a wobbly start but now loves it - he has grown into such a happy and confident child - not all parents are rich - we have had to make huge sacrifices but it is worth it knowing i now have a happy child - not sure whether we can afford for him to continue to board - but at the moment it is the best thing we could have done

[thenubianqueen]

I live in Harlow and Brixton. Trust me, the only difference is the roundabouts.

[piscesmoon]

It makes me smile to think that the DCs of the rich are well behaved! You get the same mix as everywhere.

[ECLEO]

Hi Hixies
just seen your reference to a dyslexic unit within a prep school. We are looking for a prep school for our DS (10 years' old) who has moderate dyslexia and I am desperate for any recommendations. We want somewhere as mainstream as possible but with good support for his learning needs. Would you recommend your DS's school?
Many thanks

[Lilymaid]

zombie thread

[Gunznroses]

Ecleo - i don't know where you are but here is a very good prep school for children with dyslexia
Egerton Rothesay school

[grovel]

ECLEO, where do you live?

[minifingers]

Will try to watch the programme.

I would never send my own children to boarding school. (not that I could afford it). I went, as did my two siblings, and basically, despite the fact that there were nice people working there we weren't actually PARENTED in the real sense of the word. I think it was very damaging emotionally. Not that I would have recognised this at the time. Children tend to get on and make the best of things.

[DesertHippy]

minifingers this is a zombie thread ie it's 2 years old so I think the programme is long gone now.

[hardboiled]

Where was the original program shown?

[grovel]

2010

[hardboiled]

Found it in Youtube. Fun to watch. It helped me confirm my decision that I would never send DS to one of these schools - Sunnigdale, Eton, Harrow, etc - because I would be very disappointed if he came home and said he wanted to become prime minister, as I've always told him I hope he will make a good living at a job that involves neither lying nor damaging the lives of lots of people.

[Hamishbear]

What's it called on You Tube? Thanks

[hardboiled]

Britain's youngest boarders 2010

[AllTheYoungDudes]

Zombie thread.

[Veritate]

I went to boarding school and can still remember uncomfortably the utter desolation of homesickness - and that was at age 11. I'd absolutely hate to do that to an 8 year old, no matter how cosy the school is.

[difficultpickle]

Ds is 8 and loves boarding. He does 3 nights and wants to do more. I've said 3 is plenty at his age. I guess it depends on the child. I didn't like going away for a week with the Brownies when I was 8.

[hardboiled]

In the country I was born in, if a child goes boarding, it is either:

• a punishment. For example, when my parents discovered my sister was skipping school they threatened her with boarding school.
  
• a force majeure (children of the military, or people working abroad...).
  

No one would think of it as "the best for my child" even if in some cases it turns out to be. It's very very different.

[difficultpickle]

Hardboiled the other option is to enable a child to do something they absolutely love that they couldn't do if they didn't board, which is our position. No punishment or force required at all. In fact if ds is naughty at home I have said I won't allow him to board. I've never seen him behave himself so quickly once I said that!

[hardboiled]

Happy to hear you son loves it, bisjo.

[lisad123]

Which channel was this on? Would like to watch it

[hardboiled]

See posts above. Youtube.

[hardboiled]

This one is good too, from 1991, on Eton:

(part 1)

It's a fascinating subject of course, even for the parents who would not contemplate boarding.

[lisad123]

Just sat and watched it. The boys seem happy enough once settled and the school seems very lovely and family like.
I wouldn't personally send mine to boarding school, but do understand why some do, especially if they move alot.

On a separate note I really wanted to go to boarding school as a kid

[hardboiled]

I asked DS yesterday if he would like to go boarding. He thought long and deep and then said: "No. I couldn't live without you". I better start working on getting him ready for university now!