Find-A-School UKThe definitive UK guide to finding an Independent UK Private School |
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But what about the family? I have had parents approaching me over the years who were very worried that their children had asked to go to boarding school, and wondered what they had done wrong to make their children want to leave home. Actually, this situation is a tribute to the parents and the home they have made for their children. Children who find boarding most rewarding and easiest to cope with generally come from a loving and secure background: it is that very background that enables them to go happily into boarding school. And it is a way of life that adds new dimensions to the relationship between children and their parents. They learn about communicating with each other by letter and telephone, and the time they spend at school is business time, when they are getting on with their work (including not having to be bullied into homework by harassed parents!) and the other activities that are on offer. Home time becomes more precious, and therefore better used – ‘quality time’ set aside to enjoy together. Sometimes parents ask what happens if boarding ‘doesn’t work’ for their son or daughter. The answer is that if everybody has gone |
about it the right way, if the children are confident, the parents are confident and the school is confident, then it will work. There will be ups and downs, of course, because that will happen wherever the children are at school – even if they are educated at home! But the decision-making, if done carefully and thoughtfully by all the parties (in which I include the children) will sort out whether this is the right thing for this individual boy or girl, at this time; and if the answer to that is ‘yes’ then it will work. Part of this process is often for a child to spend a couple of days in school to try it out before starting. This is a good thing, but needs to be treated carefully. I have had pupils of my own going to a ‘taster’ session at a senior school and coming back talking with great excitement about all the wonderful things they have done. This is fine, as long as they realise that this is not everyday life! More useful is to spend a couple of days in school seeing the normal routines going on and being part of it, without anything special being laid on. Then there is not the potential for disappointment and consequent upset when the reality is experienced. < Back | Page 2 of 3 | Next > |
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