EDUCATION
whose parents are working overseas. But other pupils may stay at school Monday to Friday, board for two or three nights a week, only occasionally for extra revision when exams are approaching, or when there’s a late rehearsal or training. Some schools also ensure day pupils don’t miss out by offering an extended day, meaning they can be part and parcel of just about everything on offer to boarders – without the overnight stay. They are called home boarders at The Leys School or day boarders at Stoke College, and it is a godsend to working parents. It’s a chance for children to be fully immersed in all aspects of school life, returning home in the evening with their prep done, evening meal eaten and plenty of time to enjoy relaxing with their friends. “Pupils participate in boarding routines, eating supper in school, doing homework and taking part in evening activities. To all intents and purposes, they are fully fledged members of boarding houses, balancing busy school life with quality family time,” explains The Leys School.
results (students regularly secure places at top universities; the 10% of students at the Stephen Perse Foundation gaining offers in the last round of Oxbridge applications are a case in point), and so a priority is to ensure the food does more than tick the nutritional and quality boxes. Not only are students consulted in menu choices, but schools are conscious of the need to provide food that is ‘culturally informed’, says Richard Girvan, principal at the Stephen Perse Foundation. “Food is such a big part of feeling at ease.” Involving boarders in decision making is routine in a way that would have been unheard of previously. At St John’s College School, boarders regularly meet a house parent to discuss everything from activities to the menu. “The children certainly have an input,” says Neil Chippington. Another big change is when pupils board. Just 2% of junior school pupils in independent schools now board, compared with around a third of sixth-formers. The amount of time boarders spend in school is also different now. In the old days, children could expect to be at school for most of the term, interspersed with occasional weekend visits by friends and relations. Today, boarding comes in just about any way that works for the family. For older pupils, that often involves full boarding, and this remains an essential option for international pupils and those
STAYING AGILE (Top to bottom) Stephen Perse Foundation, The Leys School and Stoke College offer boarding that can be tailored to suit each family
Some schools ensure day pupils don’t miss out by offering an extended day
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