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Original poster

Boarding schools - is anyone for them?

62 replies

mwamwa · 18/09/2007 11:05

We live in S London and I have a son aged 8 and a DH who says that his prep boarding school days were the 'best of his life'. Tomorrow I am going to look at a boarding school to possibly send DS to next year. Not having done boarding myself it all seems very alien but I can also see the benefits. DS is not accademic and is desperately keen to go - he has a vivid imagination and sees it all as a huge adventure! I have heard all the negatives (he is state educated at the moment) but can anyone give any positive views to boarding.

OP posts:
TheQueenOfQuotes · 18/09/2007 19:09

"I cannot believe that at somelevel a child doesn't feel rejected."

I never felt rejected in the slightest (it was partly my idea to go )......although I suspect my parents may have felt that way a little in my last 2yrs at school when I spent virtually all of my school holidays in Edinburgh (where my school was) instead of going home

Original poster
mwamwa · 18/09/2007 21:50

Ditzy - No its not Feltonfleet - have seen that and thought it was lovely too. Off to see another tomorrow and have just had 'heated' discussion with DH about his 'best years of his life' and all that.....we shall see. I may be converted yet. if boarding, I wouldn't want to be more than an hour away. We are in Wandsworth - not the pukker end! Tired of it all now....

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bodiddly · 18/09/2007 21:54

I went to one at 10 which I think was too young. I had a great time when I was older but was fairly miserable for the first year or two. I think it depends on the child really but def wouldnt consider it before 12.

DaphneHarvey · 18/09/2007 22:08

mwamwa - Alleyns in Dulwich?

Ettenna · 19/09/2007 13:53

I'm in a prep school, so yes, only know about the younger ones. Some of them do, undeniably, feel 'sent away' from their families.
Perhaps when a child is old enough to fully understand the benefits of boarding they feel comfortable with it. However, eight is way too little, in my opinion.

twinsetandpearls · 19/09/2007 22:14

My dd will shortly be attending a school has boarders. She is too young to board for a few years but if she wanted to board I would not stop her doing so during the week. As it is I leave the house at 6 in the morning and return between 8 and 9 during the week- she woudl probably be better off

tangarine · 19/09/2007 22:33

My ds (10) has been boarding for a year now. He is very happy - for him, any school which forces him to play sport every day of the week has to be better than his old state school in SE London.

He boards because dh and I get moved around with our jobs every few years. He did pre-school overseas and was a year behind when he came back to the UK aged 5. It wasn't a problem for him catching up at that stage as it was year 1 and there was a wide range of ability. But I think it gets harder as you get older, especially once you realise that you are behind the rest of the class.

ds also has some long term health problems which can't always be catered for overseas - we almost lost him a few years ago and I wasn't prepared to go through that again. His school is closer to his hospital team distance wise than we are, and the matrons are in regular touch with the team. And my parents live down the road from his school.

I do miss him terribly, but the fact that he gets continuity of education and medical care, is learning well, has good friends, has a very active outdoors life (far more than he could at home) and is becoming independent balance my own selfish wish to keep him with me. Ds2 has suffered from the separation more than I expected.

dh boarded and loved it. I think boarding schools have changd a lot in the last 20 years. ds's school really look after the children. I wouldn't have let him go if I didn't have complete faith in them.

3andnomore · 19/09/2007 22:50

to yong///
I believe that if the parents move around a lot they can have their place in the more cital years...but at a young age...nope!

Skribble · 19/09/2007 22:52

DD wants to go to a boarding school (dance) she would be 11/12 when she atarts. I think she will ove it she is that type of girl, she will be home every friday, only 1 hr away and H would be only 5 mins away most of the time incase of emergencies.

I'm not sure how I will feel at the time if she gets in {gulp}

Bubble99 · 19/09/2007 22:56

Emmanuel school in Clapham (private mixed day school)is known for being less academic and more relaxed. Entry requirement is 55%.

I know two families with children there and they are very happy with it.

purpleduck · 19/09/2007 23:26

I can't imagine my kids going to bed without a kiss and a cuddle at aged 9

Original poster
mwamwa · 20/09/2007 14:55

Thank you to everyone who commented on this subject - I was prepared for lots of negative responses but there has been some chat which has been v. interesting. I have since had my first tour round a prep boarding school and saw my eldest DS round every corner...he would absolutely love that way of life - especially doing sport every day! However, for DS2 I don't think its an option at all. Different needs for very different children.

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