Flexible boarding
What are the benefits of flexible boarding schools?
If boarding school seems like the right option for your child but you have concerns, there might be a flexible boarding option to suit your needs
For busy working parents, boarding school might be a consideration, but for some, there could be the concern that this comes at the expense of family time. But flexible boarding can bring your family all the bonuses of boarding school and still allow for precious time together. Communications Director Sophie Braybrooke explains how flexible boarding might be the perfect fit.
There are now a number of options available to suit a diverse range of family needs. These include weekly boarding, with pupils going home for weekends and three-night boarding, which allows pupils to participate in extra curricular activities, avoids hefty daily commutes and allows even more time at home.
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Boarding school offers so much more in a day; from breakfasts enjoyed together with friends, clubs and activities to choose from, after-school homework sessions, students learn to live, work and play as a team. Rather than spending time in front of a screen, children are engrossed in outdoor pursuits and academic projects.
“Trampolining, maths club, film making, show choir, computer coding, there are nearly 50 different after-school activities pupils can sign up for at Royal Hospital School,” says Sophie. “Two afternoons a week are spent having games sessions, which can range from learning to sail on nearby Alton Water to hockey, rugby, netball, climbing, golf, cricket and athletics. And it’s all in one place!”
Academically, private schooling often comes with more one-to-one support, smaller class sizes and an individually tailored approach to learning.
Sophie says: “Every child at
And keeping in touch with home is important. Parents have access to an online portal so at the click of a button they can access the news blog, email communication and their child’s timetable as well as receive notifications of sanctions, rewards and progress reports. Parents are also encouraged to follow what their child’s Houses and academic departments are doing on a daily basis, most of which have their own Twitter pages.
Boarding can be costly, but with all the benefits of individualised academic support coupled with a multitude of activities available and outstanding pastoral care, the benefits outweigh the cost.
Weekly boarding at
“We are good at recognising young people’s strengths and weaknesses and we help them follow the right path for them. No matter what level he or she is at, we just want the best out of every individual,” says Sophie.
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