Day school at day school or small proportion boarding?

[pugsandseals]

If all else were equal, which would you choose & why? We might use boarding facilities once per week at most which is allowed as occasional boarding, but certainly wouldn't want to weekly or flexi board. Is there anything else we need to consider which one would be better at providing than the other?

Are you aware that if DC enoys it then, as they get older, they will probably ask to increase the frequency of boarding - you may end up as a weekly boarder after all!

Yes I am. I like the idea of the boarding facility being there but DD is currently stubbornly refusing to consider it as she currently prefers the activities offered at the day school. Lots of talk about the activities being co-ed at the day school, but I can't seem to shake the feeling that the activities will be a much smaller part of the experience with everybody rushing off to get the bus at 4.30!

Why do you think you might use boarding facilities occasionally? Is this for her benefit or yours? Also if there is only a small proportion of boarders are you sure that activities go on far beyond 4.30? IME schools where boarders either weekly or full are in the majority then activities go on right into the evening and often day children are not allowed to go home before 9 pm. But if there is only a small proportion of boarders then most activities don't go on till late at night/Sat afternoon or Sunday becasue most parents want and indeed organise activities for their children out of school. If your daughter is "stubbornly refusing" to consider the other school I would leave it.There is little point in sending a child to a school they really don't want to go to if you have a choice.

Should have said, the end of the school day at the part-boarding school is 4.30, so activities run until at least 6. We know people there already so are confident that this happens. DD has boarded at summer residential at a different boarding school before knowing nobody & loved it, so I am fairly convinced that she would enjoy the freedom of a bit of boarding when she gets older. Would also save her getting bored the odd night both me & DH have to work late from home & the social side would be nice for her as she is an only. From what I can gather others often use the boarding facilities when they stay late for activities. It's beginning to sound like I am talking myself into the semi-boarding school isn't it? DD is torn as most of her friends will be going to the semi-boarding school, but she prefers the feel & facilities of the day school.