EDUCATION EDITION
backdrop for a spot of last-minute exam revision, or is it outweighed by a city-centre location where every amenity lies within easy reach? As with much else in education, there’s never really an answer where one size fits all. Growing independence At Stephen Perse Cambridge, boarding is offered in the sixth form only – so pupils are that bit older and more independent. Their boarding accommodation is a short walk from the school campus, creating a clear demarcation between school and ‘home’. While the school offers a range of activities, students often enjoy doing their own thing. “We have activities at the weekend; but you don’t have to participate if you don’t want to,” says Denise Hammersley, head of boarding. “Our boarders love the option of walking into Cambridge with their friends.” Kimbolton School provides an equally unique boarding experience, but in a completely different way. Boasting a castle and acres of parkland, it provides an ambience that’s an antidote to the high-rise living experienced by some city-dwelling pupils. “Our pupils learn to love it very quickly,” says Dr Daniel Koch, senior deputy head. “Even if nature and the countryside aren’t your thing when you get here, they will be when you leave.” Then, there’s the accommodation. Some boarders thrive on the camaraderie of a shared room, while others require a haven where they can be on their own. At Stephen Perse Cambridge and Abbey College Cambridge, single en-suite rooms come as standard. “Students can have
hink ‘boarding school’ and the imagery that springs to mind – from the haunted corridors of Hogwarts to the midnight feasts at Malory Towers – is relentlessly traditional. It’s not a total misconception. While Whomping Willows and ginger beer are in short supply, the positive qualities that come with the boarding experience today – such as forging lifelong friendships and learning how to live as a community – would be familiar to previous generations of boarders. What has changed, however, is the way that boarding is organised. Today, the approach puts the child firmly at the heart of the process. Prospective boarders don’t just get a say in where and when they board, but whether they board at all – so their input is vital. There are other considerations too. In Cambridgeshire, boarding comes in a dazzling range of options: board full-time or a couple of nights a week? Is a school in peaceful rural surroundings the optimal
UNWIND Boarding at Abbey College Cambridge (left); students bond with games at Gresham’s (below)
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