Britain's Youngest Boarder

[littledawley]

Anyone watching?

I love Hugo!! What a great lad.

Some fantastic names...

Sorry my post was how a 7 year old chooses.

Took me to long to post as I was watching programme.

Should link to baby names!! Loving Quentin!

wow Clegg Major must find it hard having his super-brainy brother turn up and scoop all the prizes!

They are very well spoken and seem far more confident than many adults I know! I can't imagine my DCs ever sounding like that.

8 is young but as a previous poster said, it suits some people, and most of the boys seem happy and enjoy boarding life.

That said, my dad was 'sent away' aged 7 and I thought that was a bit .

I've thought about boarding schools for both DCs. But I'm too soppy and concluded that it wasn't anything I'd contemplate before secondary school. And now, because I'm still soppy, I think it's a useful thing to do for A levels as a transition to leaving home.

But watching this programme, I can see the benefits of going earlier.

16k per year. About average for prep boarding schools.

Ds will choose whether he wants to do the audition and, if he is accepted, whether he wants to go (would have to board).

Barnaby Lennon - head of Harrow! Great name, makes me think my children's names mean they will never be properly posh!

I can understand if there are circumstances - such as the forces example.

DIfferent strokes for different folks.. but I just wanted to bundle up those kids.

It must be hard leaving your 8 year old to board.

Ds seems to have got posher since he went to prep school.

I hate it when people say "sending your kids away", as if it's some kind of punishment. I boarded from 11, and totally agree with the lad who said it was like one big sleepover.

They were all a bit.....posh....at Sunningdale, though. They seemed much less worldly than my 10yo ds.

I can see some circumstances where it is perhaps the best option, but I felt so sad for them.

It makes me realise that I'm very happy with our choice of day school. I won't rule out weekly boarding from 13 but I can't see DS ever wanting to.

My dad boarded form the age of 7.

He had the most wonderful parents ever, but was the most fucked up individual you are ever likely to meet. If you ever got past the stiff upper lip.

I think it must make you grow up to have an inner belief that you can cope independantly.

Dh went to boarding school and he is very self reliant. Sometimes too much so. He's never mentioned sending dc though, not that I'd be ok with that anyway.

He's also quite minimal regarding possessions. I think my shoe collection alone overwhelmed him when we started living together

Mousehole- that's what really struck me, their time playing with friends. How old is your DS? Weekly boarding seems like such a great option.

I boarded from 16, my siblings boarded from 13, 11, and 11.

The two that boarded from 11 have some sort of emotional inadequacy. As does my mother who boarded from 11.

Maybe it depends on the school, as I only hear fantastic things about boarding schools. (Mostly from adults who are paying the fees)

i think boarding for teens is fine.....these boys are babies

Dominics Mum looks just like Meryl streep in Kramer vs Kramer uncanny ( am watching on iplayer)

well thats given me food for thought.

thoughts, lovely teachers, esp the head, the boys seemed geniuely supportive of each other and they seemed delightful little chaps
a great range of spaorts and wonderful facilaties, small class sizes, and THE biggest difference is that the children there want to do well, no peer pressure to not do well at school

it's really made me consider private school for my dd.
infact i'm goiing to look into it tonight.

however, and this is a big one.
i do feel these boys may well have emotional problems later in life, such as unhappy marraiges etc.
as i do not hink it's normal to be away from the faily environment at that young age.
alot of the things they were saying, how they get used to it etc, they seemed to be saying what they were expected to say iyswim.
and i'd worry they will have emotional problems in their lifelong journey

but it's opened my eyes to private schooling.

Carriedababi- I went to state school and taught in state but my children go privately (as did DH). I love it and feel so privileged to be able to send them. The facilities are great, the staff can give them so much attention and the children are well mannered and motivated.
I feel very sad and a little embarassed that my children can enjoy all of this and that education can't be like this for everyone.

I don't think I'm "emotionally inadequate" having boarded from 11, but it made me very self-contained; I have always been able to look after myself and don't need to rely on anyone.

Happily married for 15 years, though.....