Boarding

[Ladyli]

I live in France and my 15 year old son wants to go to a high school which specialises in computing only problem is he would need to board there from Monday to Friday. I’ve spoken the careers advisor who thinks this would be the best option for him. I just feel sick to my stomach thinking he might not be with us during the week, he’s only 15 I don’t want him to grow up tbh 🥲 sorry probably feeling overly emotional atm as I’m recovering from a stomach bug.

I understand you must be nervous of him going away.

if you’re not ready, have you looked into options? How far away is the school? Is there a course he can do locally instead, or maybe put off going for another year.

Personally, I would leave the decision to him. It’s his life and he’s old enough to make decisions on his education. Boarding schools can be great environments.

Know that it won’t harm your relationship if this is what he wants. Just be there to support him.

But he wouldn’t be ‘going away’. He’d be sleeping at school four nights (sometimes five) a week and at home the rest of the time.

As his parent you need to be happy with both the school and the boarding environment. Due diligence, etc. And you need to feel sure your son has a resilient personality and is relatively self-reliant. Not timid, not easily led, able to thrive within a system of rules and regulations even outside the school day. Is he someone who regularly spends time away from home - perhaps with more distant relatives or on extra-curricular trips?

Is the school primarily structured around weekly boarding? Children are generally happiest at a school where they are doing what the majority do, in terms of day / full boarding / weekly boarding.

I can’t really comment further as I have no experience of French boarding schools. I know in England weekly boarding can be a great solution for parents and children.