Americans React to British Boarding Schools for the First Time!

[@reactingtomyroots]

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[@BlueTexel]

Back in the 80's I flew to Hong Kong from Heathrow (London), and my friend and I shared the middle row of seats with 3 pre-teen sibling kids. They were on summer hols from boarding school and going to join their parents in Hong Kong. They were the best behaved kids I'd met, and obviously seasoned travellers already as were totally confident with the short stop at Dubai airport. Granted the crew looked out for them but these kids were quite independent and mature despite their young age. It seems hard to send them off to boarding school so young, but I'm sure it gives them such a good, well-rounded education.

[@SueMurnin]

I wore school uniform from the age of three,I went to private school and then boarding school. I loved it and still have friends from then. It taught me to be self reliant and to mix with different people.

[@kerrydoutch5104]

Aussie here. Just as a point of similarity with British Schools pretty much every school, country, city, private, public, boarding, schools have uniforms for summer, winter and sport. . Therefore no need for logo'd caps, jackets etc. It give students a sense of school unity, spirit, pride, belonging. But also saves peer pressure with regard to fashion trends and thinking about daily outfits.

[@michellekennedy4426]

Same here in Ireland,I can't think of any school that doesn't wear a uniform.

[@Tass...]

Yeah removing the stigma associated with fashion and trends is a huge reason why school uniforms are a very good thing. It puts everyone on a more even level regardless of wealth.

[@sludgiebear]

Yes, and it's a nice sentiment, but then one could argue that more fortunate kids grow up never knowing or understanding how some of the less fortunate people live because they've never had to face it, and vise versa, and never facing the fact that logos and brands don't actually matter etc. Also, uniforms breeding unity, pride, and belonging also breeds division between schools: "that person over there is wearing a *whatever* coloured blazer and tie, so they must be from *X* school" - people will always find division. The only remedy to this is to either ensure all schools conform to the same exact uniform, including colours etc, or simply remove the uniform altogether. If kids were allowed to wear what they wanted in schools, wouldn't these lessons be learned earlier? After all, we *are* talking about education, and that's part of preparing our kids for real life, right? Plus, education should also part of the parent's responsibilities as well - parents should be teaching their kids to understand and respect others. Uniforms, in my eyes, removes individuality and creativity, and it imposes a false sense of equality. If uniforms were removed, perhaps the more fortunate kids would grow up understanding the less fortunate kids, and maybe the less fortunate kids would be given a drive to strive for better things. Outside of schools, and other formal settings, no one wears uniforms - it's a false pretence which doesn't help to prepare our kids for reality as they mature. Remove the idea of uniforms, and allow them to mature and strengthen sooner rather than later.

[@kerrydoutch5104]

@@sludgiebear I grew up with uniforms as the norm and thats the way it happens in all schools in Australia. Kids will always find a way to try and out do each other. Certain ways to wear the uniform that are more fashinable or look better than others. But thats just kids. The uniform does bring unity and school spirit, not division, especially in cross school competitions or representations. Status and differences between schools isnt to do with uniforms at all. It could be academic or sporting performance or any number of things but uniform. It means nothing else except it identifies the school you go to. . And its bit of a myth that having a uniform turns them all into little soldiers and stifles creativity and individuality etc. It doesnt at all. Its just a uniform. Police fireman nurses hospitality staff all have uniforms but theyre still all their own individual selves. I guess theres pluses and minuses with wearing uniforms vs not

[@caroleteare924]

A lot of children whose parents are in the military go to boarding school to save the disruption every time a parent is posted abroad. They are settled in a school and don't have to keep changing. There are house parents who look after the pastoral care and most schools have frequent school holidays and long weekends. Of course the children experience home sickness at first, but they soon adapt and become very confident and independent. The facilities are usually first class and the children's leisure time is full of activities that they would never get in a day school. I agree that I wouldn't want my little one to leave home at a very early age, but for some children it can prove beneficial.

[@lyndarichardson4744]

I agree for military families, it can be less unsettling for children than being moved around.

[@colinp2238]

This was particularly true of the British Army of the Rhine, Germany. Children were transported to the schools by military buses from different locations.

[@gillianrimmer7733]

3 of my 4 children won scholarships to independent schools. They loved school. The one child who had problems at school was my daughter who went to the local secondary school -( because she wanted to go where all her friends were going) she hated it. She was academically bright before she went, but was bullied, fell behind in the work, and left at 16.

[@gillianrimmer7733]

As a retired teacher/ lecturer, I feel that Americans prolong childhood longer than they do in any other country. I've taught in colleges and universities where we have had American exchange students for a term/a year. They need a lot more personal guidance/teaching than British students. We focus a lot more on students becoming independent learners than they do in the US, so the American kids expect to be spoon-fed information instead of researching it themselves. We regard university students of 18 as adults - which they are- and we expect them to act like adults.

[@reactingtomyroots]

Could definitely see that!

[@colindickson4931]

In the uk, some children are in boarding school because their parents work abroad and want their children to have a uk education. Also, military families can send their children to when serving overseas.

[@stewedfishproductions9554]

One of the main reasons for wearing school uniforms is to reduce bullying and peer pressure in the classroom. By having everyone wear similar clothing and having to follow a dress code, no particular person can be singled out for not having the 'latest fashion' item. It has been proven that uniforms create a 'level playing field' by reducing teasing of those who are dressed in less expensive (or less fashionable) outfits. Often, when allowed to wear 'what they like', children can become more focused on their appearance, their school status and ultimately less than on their school studies. 🤔 😊

[@geoffpoole483]

Uniforms are a rarity in Eu states and their educational standards are higher than Britain's.

[@PLuMUK54]

​@geoffpoole483 Some EU states. Not all have good education systems.

[@chantelvenessa]

Yes I was in primary school in the late 80s and early 90s when the majority of state schools were non uniform. I was so happy to move over to a Catholic school where uniform was compulsory, it took a lot of pressure off.

[@stewedfishproductions9554]

​@@geoffpoole483 The implementation of school uniforms can be very polarising issue. When you consider they were first introduced into England in 1552, it dates back a long way - that was for a school, but academic dress goes back to 1222, ordered by the Archbishop of Canterbury for religious students. The school uniform policy is practiced in many countries, such as: Ireland, Malta, South Africa, Australia, many Asian countries and those that were part of the Commonwealth. So TBH, uniforms versus academic results is a difficult one to balance or argue. Such a wide spectrum of countries have adopted the policy - from Albania, Babados, DRC, Fiji to India, Japan or Pakistan. But you are right, as both France and Germany for example DON'T have a school uniform policy - being down to the individual school to decide.

[@gtaylor331]

@@geoffpoole483 In your opinion.

[@enemde3025]

Overseas UK boarding school pupils are not exchange students. Children can start as young as 4 years old at Boarding schools called PREP SCHOOLS.

[@alicemilne1444]

I sincerely doubt that children as young as 4 are sent to boarding school.

[@EmilyCheetham]

Most boarding schools don’t start till children are between 7&11. I don’t personally know any that start boarding at 4. Some that have say pupils as well as boarders may start at age 4 -reception class.

[@EmilyCheetham]

@@alicemilne1444 agreed. Only if the school has both day pupils and boarders will they take children that young. Boarders usually start between age 7&11 depending on the school.

[@MsPeabody1231]

​@@EmilyCheethamMost actually go at 11 when they start secondary school. Though others can go at 13 or 16. I know people who went at 16 though mostly from abroad in British dependencies and ex-colonies because their parents lived far from anywhere that could educate kids at that level.

[@EmilyCheetham]

@@MsPeabody1231 yes a big percentage do go at 11 but Iv know many who started as young as 7 or 8. That was when my big brother started too along with several of his friends. On the other hand my younger brother started at 11. The ones that start after age 13 are the smallest percentage. Probably more so pupils coming from abroad. Especially as Brits can go to college at 16 (or chose to do 6th form and then do University). But not much point starting after 13 if you are them going to go to college or get an apprenticeship at 16.

[@pureholy]

I work and live in a prep school with both weekly boarders and day students - many of whom board on a regular basis - called flexie boarding. These students choose to board, some of them are only 8 or 9 and choose to board up to 3 nights a week. These days schools are heavily regulated and frequently inspected. Safeguarding - keeping children safe and protected - is a school’s number 1 priority. Our boarders have limited access to a heavily filtered internet and other than calling home, limited access to cell phones. They do have access most evenings to a huge, enclosed private garden with adventure trail, trees, grass, hard play area and astroturf court which can be floodlit also an indoor heated pool with lifeguard, an indoor gym, 2 other indoor open spaces, 2 common rooms with TV, computer games, board games, jigsaw puzzles (surprisingly popular) and a cookery class room. Our average resident staff to child ratio out of school hours is 1:5 or better.

[@marcuswardle3180]

There is the concept of Day Boarders here in the UK. This is when the pupil boards during the week and on Friday goes back home to their parents returning on the Sunday night. This makes the strain of homesickness out of the situation.

[@okane9417]

Day pupils go home every day. Weekly boarders go home on Friday and return on Sunday. Full boarders (or just 'boarders') don't go home until the end of a six-week term.

[@AdeboFunkyVoodoo]

Weekly boarders are pussies!

[@Phiyedough]

You have to bear in mind that some upper class parents are quite hands off anyway. They employ nannies and governesses to look after the kids.

[@101steel4]

Harry and Megan being a prime example 😂

[@tmac160]

@@101steel4 I think they just borrow the children from an agency for photo shoots.

[@dcallan812]

Thankfully the use of wet nurses have died our, or should that be dried up. 😃

[@scouseofhorror104]

True. They tend to have children to continue the family name rather than what we do to... you know.. have a family 🧐😅

[@Mugtree]

Agree. I was brought up by a nanny then boarding school at 6. Even at I only really saw my parents at some dinners. We generally lived separate lives

[@101steel4]

Pretty much every school in England has a uniform. Even primary school. It may just be a school jumper, trousers and shoes, but it gets you prepared for a full uniform in your next school.

[@archiebald4717]

Some children love it.

[@Kiss_My_Art]

My Stepfather was 5 when he was sent to boarding school, I read his letters that he sent home to his parents as a young boy.....they are absolutely heartbreaking....he was so so sad & unhappy, he was there 10 years, his parents never listened to him 😢 ....but ....he was as lovely as my own Dad, I was a very lucky girl to have both of them to love & guide me ❤

[@mauk2861]

This is very much more like an advert than a documentary! This is like our Grammar Schools except it costs a lot of money. Some boarding schools start at 4, like one near us.

[@DrAllyGreen]

My daughter attended a boarding school when she was around 5 years old as a day pupil (so would come home at night) and I'd say 90% of the kids who boarded from age 7 were from military families - it gives them stability

[@djs98blue]

Guess it’s better than no education but I’d question any parents who have young children knowing they can’t be with them most of the time. What’s the point?

[@vallee3140]

surely if she came home at night she wasn't boarding? thought that meant sleeping there too.

[@davidmellish3295]

​@@vallee3140 No she wasn't boarding BUT she still went to ( what is called ) a boarding school

[@okane9417]

@@davidmellish3295 Many boarding schools have a bunch of local kids as day pupils. I attended three boarding schools and all had day pupils. There weren't many, though. One or two day pupils per class, I'd say.

[@davidmellish3295]

@@okane9417 I know that ,I was explaining to the other person that even though she didn't came home as a day pupil she still went to a boarding school

[@elementus2857]

12:40 Headmistress/Headmaster is just another term for a school Principal, the term is not exclusive to boarding schools but is more common in Secondary schools than it is in Primary schools.

[@NeckasFBIAgent]

I loved boarding school, a community with no worries or distractions from school life. I wish I could go back to experience it all again. I’m thankful my parents could send me and appreciate the memories

[@jackkiernan5950]

I went to boarding school worministers in Wiltshire and i must say it was fantastic and you become independent from a very young age, i remember missing my mum in the earl year's and eventually i settled etc. it was overall a great education and remembering being so excited to see my parents in the summer holidays, tennis ag the weekend fun times 💙😊

[@julialyttle3843]

I went to boarding school when I was about 9y. This is because my mother was a diplomat and my father was in between tours so family life were a bit hectic in the early days as we had to move every couple of years. It was difficult for me to make friends. My parents made a decision to enroll me into a boarding school in England. At first, there were tears and i was a bit homesick but school life kept me busy with studies, new friends, extracurricular activities. I enjoyed it very much and there was no regret whatsoever. It did give me the opportunity to broaden my horizon and made lifelong friends until today.

[@TimmyEliteBmx]

I went to a lot of elite athletes sports camps as a teen and they were always held at best private schools that had the most amazing facilities where it would cost up to £50,000+ a year

[@steverpcb]

For a girls boarding school, St Trinians immediately comes to mind !

[@rachelrobinson5804]

My cousin went to boarding school went to boarding school in Devon. He had really bad dyslexia and it was his best opportunity at the time to get the intensive support he needed. He has an MA, and now works for the Home Office. The kids are not left to their own devices, there is adult supervision all the time for the younger students and there are non academic staff who look after the pastoral needs of the Kids. My Aunt visited many weekends and took him and his friends out in Exeter.

[@chucky2316]

Wasn't beam or Buckfast was it.

[@chucky2316]

Forde house in newton abbot was a horror show I pity him if he went there. Suprise suprise erased from history in the late 80s 😂

[@seraphimequilibriumhealing4925]

I went to boarding school from the age of 7 to 18 and it was the worst time in my life!!!!!!!

[@rachelrobinson5804]

@@chucky2316 I can't remember now as we are all in our 50's, i do know that Exeter was the nearest big town/city.

[@pink_jezus]

Does Blundells ring a bell? It's about 20 minutes outside of Exeter and the school I attended.

[@sueKay]

Only a tiny minority of UK kids go to schools like these. And If I had kids I would never send them to one of these schools. I've heard horror stories from people I know who've been to them. My mum went to a private school which had boarders (she was a day student and got to attend after receiving a scholarship), and her years there were a misery. The wealthy girls treated her like she was invisible. She was top of the class in just about everything (and still runs rings around me academically in her 70s!), but fee paying girls would be given awards by the school for being the top performers. This video is basically a glossy sales pitch to encourage wealthy people to board their kids in UK boarding schools.

[@tamielizabethallaway2413]

You discredited the whole video based on *ONE* experience of your Mother from 55+ years ago? Yet still claim she's more educated than you...🤔 Clearly the school served her WELL then, No...??? She obviously benefitted from it enormously! There are bullies in EVERY SCHOOL, and those snobby bitches your Mum had the misfortune to be educated alongside, are in every school also! Have you not seen the film "Mean Girls"? How about the movie "Romy and Michelle's High School Reunion"? That film practically reimagines my exact life in my Secondary school experience, but without the physical attacks I endured on top of the spiteful comments! I went to 3 state schools AND I went to a private school for fours years...guess which one I excelled at and was never bullied in? Had your Mother reported it, it would have been stopped. The school would NOT have just allowed her to suffer. The problem with bullying though, is that most victims fear repercussions if they tell someone, just as I did. But it's a school, not a crystal ball, they can't help what they're not aware of.. It's interesting you say your Mother was singled out by rich girls, as her education was via scholarship...yet also then discredit the richer girl's achievements as being nothing more than favouritism! It's possible your Mother felt reverse snobbery towards those girls as much as they felt snobby towards her. Remember, girl's from wealthy families outnumbered scholarship students by a merry mile, so it's perfectly reasonable to predict that they would be given more of the available awards. Is it really fair of you to INSIST that the ONLY reason those girls received acknowledgement, was simply because their Daddies had deep pockets? How do you know what academic brilliance they had or not? They all attended the same school, the school which you claim has made your Mother so clever! Isn't it likely that they were all well educated young women then? That's not criticism, I'm just saying, are you sure you're not dismissing their talents simply because they come from wealthy backgrounds?? It sounds like your Mum was struggling having to mix with students from a social class she felt uncomfortable being in, which I can completely understand. She was very much the odd one out. But that's low self esteem from her, feeling like money is what made people equals, or not as the case may be for her. She was clever educationally, but unprepared to mix socially with people from different backgrounds. I don't know why I'm being prompted to remember movies in this particular comment, but your Mum's school experience reminds me of the movie, "Pretty In Pink" the main female in that film has a scholarship too, and is picked on by richer girls. But that doesn't mean the school itself is the root cause, that's all I'm saying.

[@donnaharris8097]

As a teen , I worked in one , most children were very happy on the whole , a few of the young seven year olds weren't and often cried to go home - personally I spent my life admiring the education and well roundedness the school gave to their pupils and often wished when I had my own children- that I could afford boarding schools for them ...

[@llamagirl2679]

I went to an all girls Boarding School in Surrey but it was also a Day School. It was absolutely beautiful and I received and amazing education .All schools in the UK wear uniforms whether they are private or State. Education in the UK is very different to the US. I also went to a HS in California for a few yrs and it was so different. I was at least 4 yrs ahead academically and found HS so easy in California, it wasn't like going to school, it was just fun all day long. It was like going to camp not school. Most of the girls started at 7 at my Boarding school

[@johnnybeer3770]

If you guys want to see an hilarious side to boarding schools try to find and watch a British film called " The Belles of St. Trinians", it's brilliant . 🇬🇧

[@juliaw151]

And then watch the modern remake just "St Trinian's" and the sequel, too, "St Trinian's 2: The Legend of Fritton's Gold". Both also hilarious!

[@sarahclapp505]

😈😈😈😈Love the movies all old and new.

[@bakersmileyface]

omg I forgot that movie existed

[@karenblackadder1183]

Make sure it's the old B&W,, version with the lyrics. '🎵Maidens of Saint Trinian's. Gird your armour on! Gather up a weapon, Never mind which one!!!!🎵

[@wenglishsal]

... St Trinian's, St Trinian's .. Our battle cry. St Trinian's, St Trinians.. Will never die... I now have a vision of Miss Fritton whistling out the window, and Flash 'Arry walking out of a huge bush, to find out what she wants done.. Happy memories, thanks for the reminder ​@karenblackadder1183 Heartiest best wishes to you from Wales ☺️🏴󠁧󠁢󠁷󠁬󠁳󠁿

[@lizzylou2085]

I know someone who is a House Matron at a boarding school. The children come from all over the world, any who's parents are Diplomats or serving in the forces. By being at boarding school, they have a 'settled' life and make fiends who will be there for most of their school life. There is a broad range of activates for the pupils to enjoy out of school hours just like any non-boarding pupil. The schools try very hard to make it a home from home.

[@MyOutdoorsUK]

I went to boarding school aged 7 and now, as a 62, year old I look back on it as amongst the best years of my life and certainly the most influential. Classes were generally around 8 children and the whole school, boys only. only had 88 children. I was lucky enough to get a scholarship and found that having a school uniform was a great equaliser. As I had been taken into care aged 4 this equality was really important to me. At 13 I went to live with foster parents and left the boarding school system to go to a "normal" school and for the first 2 years I had to do pretty much no work as my education was so far in advance thanks to my boarding school years.

[@carolineskipper6976]

Most schools in the Uk, right from Nurery and Reception classes (3-5 year olds) have some sort of school uniform. For younger children this will probably be dark trousers or joggers with a polo shirt and sweatshirt in the schools colours- possibly with the school's logo embroidered on it. By the time they reach secondary school (age 11-12) the uniform is usually more traditional and formal, with white shirts, ties, blazers (with a badge on the breast pocket) in the school colour, and a skirt or trousers (NOT joggers) in black or dark grey. In some areas the girls' skirts might be kilt-style with a tartan pattern in the school colours. The 'posher' the school, the earlier the more formal uniforms come in. The ideas behind uniforms are 1) that it reinforces a sense of belonging to a community, 2) It ensures smart and appropriate dress and also, very importantly 3) it levels the playing field - if everyone is dressed the same, then no-one is bullied or dismissed due to the clothes they wear. (It also helps parents avoid the daily 'what I want to wear to school today' battles ) At the sort of boarding school discussed in this video, the students from other countries are not on any 'exchange' programme. They are individuals whose parents (for whatever reason) have chosen to get them a British Boarding School education. Some of the students will be British, but whose parents live and work abroad - like members of the diplomatic service, or are in the military and likely to be posted to different locations all the time for relatively short periods, and they want their children to hve a stable and consistant education. Referring to a female school leader as 'Headmistress' (and males as Headmasters) is pretty old fashioned now. Most Heads are simply referred to as 'Head Teachers', regardless of their gender. Most Brits who haven't been through the Boarding system themselves can't imagine sending kids off to board below the age of about 11(which is the normal age to go to secondary school here). I think going off at 16 sounds like a lot of fun (for kids who are ready for that).

[@katashworth41]

It was 20+ years ago, but when I was at primary school we had to wear a shirt and tie first day. I was 4 when I had to learn to tie a tie.

[@carolineskipper6976]

@@katashworth41 That is unusual. Most infant schools, even if they go down the 'shirt and tie' route, start off with pre-tied ties on elastic.

[@NauiByeolEge]

Just to say my father, and all his siblings attended boarding school from the age of 6. There was no school in the place where their parents lived. It was normal for them, and all children in that remote location went to boarding school.

[@roseannecomaskey6890]

There's a good documentary about Eton boarding school from the prospective of three scholarship students, it follows the boys first year. It's eye opening 👀.

[@EmilyCheetham]

Also a tv show of Harrow that is very interesting.

[@lumasters8197]

Both of my children went to boarding school at 6 years of age. Both have done very well, are able to interact with all cultures, and people.

[@Caambrinus]

Private schools have 'headmasters/headmistresses', State schools in Britain usually have 'headteachers', as the person in charge; all these are abbreviated to 'Head', by both pupils and teachers.

[@chucky2316]

And houses my school had houses.

[@ElizabethDebbie24]

When I was in state education I had Headmasters and headmistress who were in charge of my school

[@juliaw151]

​@chucky2316 same. I was green "De Vere", which is apt as i am a slytherin 😂🐍

[@NicholasJH96]

@@ElizabethDebbie24yes that changed when I was there it was head master for ages then in 2010 deputy head became head teacher. School I went had house names but had certain colours as well. This was a state medium Welsh comprehensive school.

[@karenblackadder1183]

​@@ElizabethDebbie24And competition between the 4 houses in each year.

[@Mugtree]

I started boarding school at 6 and it was also meant moving country too. My parents were living in Africa at the time and I went to school in Edinburgh 👍. Bloody loved it (did cry for a week at the start)

[@alicetwain]

Also, at least these are schools. My grand-grandma started working at 8 in a silk spinnery. They would leave home on Sunday evening, reach the factory, stay there until saturday evening. At the factory at 8 years of age.

[@donnaharris8097]

😢

[@gregoryhayball]

I went to a boarding school in the UK back in the 80's. I was exempt from paying the fees though for personal reasons. It was a big manor house that was constructed during the reign of Elizabeth I and that is how it remains today for the most part. We had an outdoor heated swimming pool, some of the best teachers I'd ever had, a pool table, a resident ghost, indoor squash court, homework you couldn't get away from 😂, some of us had air rifles and were allowed to use them in the school grounds, low alcohol beer in cans in the school shop for the 6th form pupils but you weren't allowed to get drunk of course. I had some great and funny times there. It was best at the weekends though as the house masters on duty went of their way to make sure we enjoyed ourselves from trips to see a film or go ice skating or just go into the nearest big town. We could play music in the dorms as loud as we liked on the weekends or use the pool. One year we brewed some beer in the 6th form studies. One of the teachers found it but he let us keep in return for some of it 😊. The same year we made some wine in the chemistry lab with the teacher. We didn't get any of it though. Teachers bloody drunk it 😂.

[@catherineturner2839]

I went to a boarding school but I was a day pupil . I loved it. Quite a few of the pupils had parents in the forces - Army, navy etc. The forces assist with the school fees.

[@Jeni10]

This is the first episode of Michael Apted’s Seven Up! A study in children from age 7 and upwards: kzbin.info/www/bejne/rXLWfWukp850hdUsi=_aaaxA_x9BOS1_j5 Lindsay, you, in particular might appreciate this study. I actually own the DVD boxed set!

[@misshayley-1984]

My partner attended private school his whole school life, during infant and junior school yrs he was picked up at the end of each day but when he got to secondary school yrs he stayed in a dorm and even had school on a Saturday! When he wasn't in school he spent alot of time in austria with his family. Me on the other hand complete opposite, I attended normal school and went out with my friends after school and weekends. Personally I could never send my child off like that, I'd miss her too much ❤

[@tamielizabethallaway2413]

What about what your child could be missing? I totally get what you're saying, but our daughter's are not dolls...😥 I hated my daughter going to school FULL STOP! In the Summer holidays I'd hear parents yelling "I'll be glad when school starts again" and I'd be literally dreading it! 😵 So don't think I didn't feel the same way. But if she's shows signs this could be a fantastic environment for her to flourish and succeed in, don't rule it out. You might miss her company, but she could miss so much more, so much of her own potential self. ❤

[@misshayley-1984]

@tamielizabethallaway2413 hi, sorry I'm not sure I understand what your saying? I was explaining my partners upbringing in the private school setting not my daughters, my daughter is very much at home I love spending time with her. She attends a special needs school as she is autistic with global development delay, so whilst the private schools may be suited to other children they wouldn't be for her. Thank you for responding and sharing your opinion ♥️

[@JJ-of1ir]

My daughter was sent to a private school (not in the state system). It was a 'day' school and she thrived. Very small classes, many subjects but, most of all it was geared to 'bring out the best in each girl. She won a scholarship which allowed her the pick her next school. Again it was a private school for girls. We took her round to see all the schools in the area and just outside, after researching them ourselves. She chose to go to a girls school again herself. I was worried that it would inhibit her relationships with boys when she grew older, but to my surprise it didn't. She has become a confident, well educated young woman, who has many interests across the board which she continues to pursue today, but most of all a wonderful set of friends that continue to stand together despite their diverse careers. Girls thrive in a girls school.

[@Mickman007]

Wealthy families send their children to these schools at such a young age to make them independant and strong minded and they get a great education, although the wealthy lot have a different life than the usual brits.

[@marcuswardle3180]

I went to a boarding school at age 11 but there were children as young as 8-9 already there. These schools are know as Preparatory School, or Prep Schools. In the video shown there is a scene where the School name is displayed and underneath is the name of the Prep. School. The young children at my school adored it as the school catered for all their tastes. There was on hand the "Matron". She was a registered nurse and looked after the kids temporal needs. Most Prep schools are small allowing for the matron to 'oversee' her charges. As most boarding schools are fee-paying then the teacher to pupil ratio is low which allows for more one to one teaching. Also these types of school ensure that homework is done. It may have been a long time ago but I thoroughly enjoyed my time at boarding school. They teach you to have structure in your day which makes you more independent in later life.

[@LuvNickynGina4ever]

I also went to boarding school at age 11/12 for 6 years

[@ninamoores]

I went to boarding school at the age of 5……mind you it was war time. Lots of kids whose parents get overseas postings are sent to boarding school….it’s common in theUK.

[@PLuMUK54]

I love the way they try to make these schools sound like they are achieving something special. I taught in a good girls' school for 35 years, and the teachers did nothing different to the teachers at these boarding schools. We did not have an open door policy. All schools have security. Our priority was just the same, making sure the girls felt safe. The artwork was amazing, but no better than the best at the school where I taught. The music was good, but no better than that achieved by girls in the school, several of the girls are now internationally known musicians. We had foreign students whose parents were graduate students at a local university and from the same countries as mentioned in the video. Class sizes were between 20 and 25, larger than the boarding schools, but as well as a teacher, many classes had teaching assistants. Students went on to various careers, including medicine, research, music, design, and teaching. The most important aspect of the school was that it was an ORDINARY STATE SCHOOL. The pupils did not all appreciate their education, but the same can be said of fee paying day and boarding schools. Those who appreciated their education thrived as much as those at boarding schools.

[@chucky2316]

It's all about the teachers then kids will engage and learn. They don't want to be there because it's boring. My history teacher was a drunk but by god he engaged and made history a very fun and interesting subject and that experience stayed with me.

[@PLuMUK54]

​@chucky2316 Very true. I knew someone who taught in a boarding school for about 2 terms. She resigned because, she said, it was so dispirating to work with teachers who did not care. There are good and bad teachers in every school.

[@LB-my1ej]

I worked in another country and both my children went to boarding school during the week and home at weekend. It was excellent and turned them into well educated, well adjusted, well mannered adults who have excellent jobs. They loved it and did so many things they wouldn’t normally have had access to. As a parent You do what’s best for your children.

[@nickmacdonald9535]

I was offered a scholarship to a boarding school and attended from 1966 to 1971 and the academic standards were very high. A lot of the boys came from broken homes, many were kids from Service Families and so on, a right mix. It was the best thing that could have happened to me.

[@Jeni10]

Almost all schools in Australia wear uniforms. There are good reasons for it: pride in your school is one, and giving each child a sense of belonging, as well as levelling all students to the same socio-economic level, at least in appearance. It means that clothing labels do not play a part in a child’s school-wear, everyone is dressed the same. Many years ago, I was riding the train home from work, and a group of primary school kids were playing with small fireworks, lighting them and throwing them out pf the window where they went off at the feet of unsuspecting passengers waiting to board a train! I was able to identify which school they went to by their pocket badges and when I got home, I called the school, spoke to the Principal and reported them. When the Principal asked me for a description, I gave him some details and he said, “I know exactly which kids you’re talking about, leave them to me. Thank you!”

[@MichaelMulqueen-j6c]

In the uk as soon as our kids are old enough we check out fictitional books like harry potter or the famous five and of our kids go with there starched blue uniforms marmalade sandwiches and ginger beer until they are 35 have a Volvo and enjoy radio 2 on the wireless

[@robertadavies4236]

This is a production by the British Council, which I used to work for. One of the major purposes of the British Council is to promote British education abroad. You need to keep in mind that this video was made specifically to be shown overseas, to persuade foreign parents to send their children to Britain for their education. That's why there was so much emphasis on an international outlook, reassuring parents that their children will be accepted.

[@reactingtomyroots]

Okay, that makes sense! :)

[@tracyl1368]

In the State school system all kids start school at 4 years old and all school's be it private or state wear a school uniform. Private school's do take kids as young as 7 but mostly from military families from my experience, most now go at 11.....

[@lolMax1]

I worked in a prep school as support for the the children. The children were 4 + and they went home every day. Most of the pupils went onto private schools at 11 years old and some would travel to and from school daily. In some private schools you choose the option of boarding or daily travel.

[@missmerrily4830]

My daughter, as an army brat, went to boarding school from the age of 11 to 16, because we were overseas. She found it hard at first, through homesickness, but by the time she'd been there for a couple of terms, she settled and when we got stationed back in UK, she didn't want to leave and come home to day schooling. If she had learned nothing else, I'd have been glad she boarded, because she not only got a good education but learned discipline, manners, resourcefulness and how to get along with others. I was also a member of staff at a US DODDS school in UK where some of the pupils had to board weekly and go home at weekends. Those high school kids too were not at all traumatised and I do wonder sometimes whether a parent who isn't willing to consider boarding is maybe being a little bit selfish. Of course if the child doesn't want to be there and is permanently unhappy, then no, but it can have many benefits. My daughter went on to have a long career as a senior police officer and is now looking at a financially comfortable older age helped no doubt by her years at boarding school. That's not to say that many kids don't have successful educations at local schools, but for anyone who needs to give their kids a stable unchanging school life to prevent the turbulence of frequent moves, I think boarding schools can be the answer.

[@bordersw1239]

All of those elements she learned at school you could have taught her yourself- as a parent.

[@wodmarach]

Boarding schools can be amazing places for children with a number of conditions, ADHD, Autism, and Dyslexia especially as they allow much more focused time with their teachers and generally more routine than normal schools. However they can be very restricting to some which can lead them to difficulties especially when they can't adjust to said routine.

[@Welcometotherox]

If you want to learn about ordinary British secondary (high) schools, you are probably best off finding clips from the Channel 4 documentary series "Educating". It followed ordinary school students in (often rough) state schools here (what you'd call public schools) and was very popular. There was Educating Yorkshire, Educating The East End, Educating Greater Manchester and I think a few others.

[@TanyaRando]

Lots of networking starts in boarding schools. Part of "the old school tie" system. Ex pupils can give you a better look at private schooling and it's effect on children. This is more from the point of the schools.

[@ElaraNorthwind]

I went to boarding school, and I loved it. People's assumptions are weird, you still see and speak to your parents a lot. There is always something going on and always kids your age to talk to and It teaches you independence and forces you to be confident in speaking up in a way I think is very unique at that age. For me it was a very positive experience, and I miss my school where my friends who went to public school all say that they hated it and were glad to leave... 🤷🏼‍♀️

[@martingibbs1179]

Woodbridge school near me is a boarding school but fewer and fewer people send their kids as boarding students now, so many of the schools boarding houses have been sold off since it cant afford to keep them. Most of the schools students are now local kids who just go to the school for the day and go home at night.

[@D1331D]

My experience of as a parent who's kids went to independent school. My eldest started school snd was doing well then we moved house. The next school proved terrible and was compounded by a teachers attitude. She (Mrs Kelly) informed me my kids education was NONE of my business as I wasn't a teacher. She then moved my child to a different table in the class and they became disruptive, swearing too. At this point I decided a teacher would not treat my kids like this or speak to me the way she had done. I researched independent schools and visited a few too. I was looking for happy children in a cosy environment, like home. The prep school I chose was family based, headmaster/teacher, his brother also a teacher and their parents who were always there for the kids. There were about 100 children and around 20 of them were borders either weekly or termly. Every 2/3 weeks the termly borders would go home for the weekend too. I worked to pay their fees, I went without things to pay there fees, I drove an old car but in my mind it was paid for. I asked my eldest (mid 40s) a few months ago 'if you were to meet Mrs Kelly what would you say to her?' they thought for a moment and replied 'Thank You' I was surprised and asked why? They said 'If Mrs Kelly had not said to you what she did, you wouldn't have moved us. We had great time at school!' They even went back for the headmaster's father funeral because they thought so highly of him. Not all kids settle in independent/bording school but not every kid settled at the local school. There are expensive schools but it depends on how you base your choice, traditional or for other reasons. Not all are posh and my experience is many parents like me worked to pay the fees. 23/24 fees: Annual Day Pupil £19,770 Annual Full Borderd £33,525 The school gave my kids stability especially aged 17 & 15 the pastol care was excellent at a time when my marriage broke down. Their houseparents became the support at a time my ex was being a complete A!

[@margaretshanahan9754]

How many children go home to "no supervision" as both parents are working to keep a roof over their heads? How many children come home to parents who are stressed out, perhaps arguing constantly, irritable, barely coping? At least in boarding school they are being given discipline, are off the streets, and have a second family. When they go home, they can enjoy quality time with their family.

[@geoffpoole483]

Their emotional development tends to get warped.

[@mattsmith5421]

I would of been mortified if I had to go through the "off the streets" upbringing as you put it. And it's better to be without your parents for an hour a day than an entire week.

[@djs98blue]

@@geoffpoole483this

[@stevieinselby]

A big part of the _traditional_ reason for sending children to boarding school was that gentlemen who were in the military or diplomatic corps or working out in the colonies might be moving regularly and not always living in places where they felt it was conducive to raise children and give them the best education - so a boarding school where the kids lived there throughout the term and then returned to their parents (or grandparents or other family members who were in the UK at the time) for the holidays. Through that, and the fees that meant that only the richest could afford it, boarding school became synonymous with exclusivity and status, which is why some wealthy parents still choose boarding school for their kids even if their home lives don't require it (and plenty of very wealthy parents have little to do with raising their kids, and just outsource it to nannies and tutors and au pairs even if they are at home). Increasingly, boarding schools are aimed at either British parents who are working overseas or foreigners who want a traditional British education for their children. Many also offer weekly boarding with children returning home at weekends, which reduces the cost and the personal dislocation from their families a little.

[@seandonohue6793]

So 16-17 when Lindsay (apologies if that is misspelt) went to boarding school is the time we would usually call college in the UK. When we have left secondary (high) school and sit 2 years of exams to decide if we get into university.

[@andrewspraggon3331]

There's a boarding school in my area and it's from 5 to 17, my ex Co worker was from that school and was very intelligent and fun and cool. She loved being in an all girls school. Less distraction ftom boys too. It's not all rich people either, my friend has been and her mum scrimpied and saved worked hard to send her to a boarding school. Not to be confused with borstal

[@fjonesjones2]

I went to boarding school in England aged 10, parents were not rich by any means, managed to get a Scholarship (took 11 plus exam early).. Most valuable years of my life... teaches you, independence, community values, how to mix with people from different countries. It is really mind expanding... . I've been an Aussie now for 50 years with lots of overseas friends ... great life..🥳🥳🥳

[@jeffree9015]

Learning english is such an advantageous skill. Wealthy europeans and asians send their children here for what is an excellent education. I do think thats too young though.

[@101steel4]

Real English too. Not that Webster nonsense Americans use 😁

[@ronaldobrien6870]

School uniforms are the norm in Ireland too (for the equivalent of elementary and high schools). Only a small number of schools permit students to wear their own street clothes - very few boarding schools in Ireland though, it's seen as an English / British thing.

[@LuvNickynGina4ever]

There's a lot more boarding schools in ireland, than u would think, i wouldn't say very few there is a handful in dublin alone and a few more throughout the country, obv the more well known ones are in dublin. I went to boarding school for 6 years.

[@ronaldobrien6870]

@@LuvNickynGina4ever Apparently there are only 25 boarding schools in Ireland, out of a total of around 4000 schools.

[@pyewaket1]

I was 11 when I went to boarding school, some of the children were a lot younger. I have friends from all over the world and who 40 years on I am still friends with. There are some prep schools that take 2 year olds. On the positive side I learned from going to boarding school resilience and that whatever life throw at you you know you can get through it.

[@ClaireQuinn566]

Nearly all the schools in Ireland have a uniform for summer, winter and sports. I think it looks very nice. It saves all the potential rivalry of latest fashion, brand names etc. it's a pity you don't have that in the US.

[@EmilyCheetham]

Most chills in uk have a uniform whether they are private or state school. It is an equaliser. Children are less likely to be bullied if they are all wearing the same thing.

[@JackieOckwell-oc4ho]

My cousin was a day border at a school from age 12. She was able to come home at weekends as the school was close enough to home. A good friend attended a RAF (Royal Air Force) boarding school back in 1970's/80's - he loved it. I also have a 10 year old girl in my extended family who also is now at an RAF boarding school - she has been there over a year and she loves it - it was her choice. Part of the point with the RAF boarding schools is to keep a child in the same continuous environment for their education - rather than having to move schools constantly as their parents are moved between bases both in and outside the UK. In all 3 cases - they loved their schooling - they are all hard workers and successful. There is also a level of independence and positive confidence that I suspect comes from the boarding school experience. Do I believe it is suitable for everyone and better than traditional schooling - not necessarily. They only have their experience to go on - as do I (traditional schooling and University) - so it's hard to compare. But I know in all 3 cases - they have no complaints.

[@lizg5574]

Wearing a uniform makes it a lot easier when laundry is done. All the items can be washed within the school, the same items in a load, without fear that instead of cotton, someone is wearing silk or a non-fast colour. Clothing would be marked with a name to identify the owner. If someone was wearing designer labels (and a few might be able to afford such) they would have to get them dry cleaned or attended to by a specialist, which isn't reasonable. Whether underwear has to all be the same, I don't know, but I do know that my Mother was a "day girl" at a boarding school, and everything she wore was identical to what the boarders wore, right down to undies. So uniforms are bought from a specific supplier and all made with the same fabric.

[@EmilyCheetham]

Well the biggest reasons for a uniform at whatever type of school is as an equaliser. It doesn’t matter if your parents are rich or poor and in the armed forces with the forces paying. You are all dressed the same so pupils can get on with their education rather than worrying about who is wearing what. It stops bullying over clothing.

[@EmilyCheetham]

@@Welcometotherox boarding schools give out multiple scholarships every year. That's why I mentioned it.

[@lizg5574]

@@EmilyCheetham I had to wear a uniform at both Primary and Grammar School. Neither was a boarding school - way too poor for that - and much of the uniforms were hand-me-downs or second-hand. In Grammar School the rule was the blazer, white blouse, School tie (yes, even for girls) a black V-neck jumper and grey skirt. First to Third year, we had to wear white socks, then we could wear flesh-tone tights. The only 'freedom' we had was that the skirts we wore could be any skirt - as long as it was grey. Some wore mini-skirts, some wore midi-skirts - mine were always at the knee because I was a lot taller than my peers and finding school skirts we could afford was a challenge.

[@EmilyCheetham]

@@lizg5574 yes I wore a uniform in state school and my brothers wore on in boarding school. I don’t really see a problem with them. As I said it is an equaliser. With a uniform you are less likely to be bullied for what you wear or don’t wear. You don’t have to worry about brands. You all look similar. Uniforms also cut down on destructions in class as you aren’t focused on what people wear.

[@sarabazlinton9820]

My sister teaches in a boarding school though it also accepts day students, and takes children between the ages of 4 and 13. Most of the students who board are from overseas or have parents who are top level military personnel, in this case it avoids the child’s education being disrupted every time the parents are posted to a new location. My sister has been there for around 15 years and absolutely loves her job…in her time she has been a house parent, the school is split into houses for pastoral care, but you can also win house points for good academic work which helps build a sense of community within the wider school community. You compete for your house in school sporting events and creative arts too. Uniform is relaxed, there’s a very basic informal uniform for school hours but out of teaching time the children wear their own clothes as they would at home. For those that do board, it’s flexible so some do full time, some just board in the week, some even just for part of the week or the occasional night. Weekends are mostly free time with lots of activities and outings available which the children can choose, and they are also allowed free rein to explore the extensive school campus including sports facilities, the private woodland and open spaces. Boarders do sometimes get homesick, but they usually settle in quickly and grow to love being a boarder, children and parents can call each other any time they wish outside of the normal school day. The academic side of things is excellent and achievement levels are high. I’d quite like to board there myself 😅😊

[@ruthletts9752]

It truly depends on each situation. My friend has her children educated in the uk she and her husband are diplomats/embassy in a country that has very poor education. They had a choice. Keep children with them with a tutor or send them to uk. Although they wanted to keep the children with them they had to let go of their own personal wants and do what was best for the children where they could learn social skills with other children and better education, or keep them secluded with them. Uk children get lots of school breaks. So children at boarding school rarely go more than eight weeks before being able to go home to their families.

[@lindafielding6733]

I came home from work to find my 16 year old daughter had contacted boarding schools in my county as she wanted the chance to do better at school than in the local 6 th form college. She chose to attend a local state boarding school for the 2 years of her A levels and it did wonders for her confidence and exam results. A lot of the students there were either from other countries or had parents working abroad so she met others with different perspectives and it broadened her horizons. State boarding schools are rare in England, although I know in remote areas of Scotland many pupils board as it’s too far to return home each day.

[@SteveBagnall-gh1fu]

I only attended state schools then became an apprentice printer at a large company. I printed everything from a postage stamp to an advertising poster you see on billboards. I achieved all I wanted, then gave it up to become a police officer for 5 years then returned to printing, moving into production management then sales. Now 72, work as a marketing researcher for a medical equipment manufacturer, taking redundancy in a few weeks as the business is being sold, so the golf course will be calling for the summer.. Thoroughly enjoying all you two put up, and look forward to my daily viewing, keep them coming, the diversity is amazing.

[@Jeni10]

Headmistress is the principal.

[@davesimpson5702]

Boarding school from 11 onwards was superb for my 2 kids

[@mej6519]

i got sent to boarding school when i was 12, it was hell, it was one step up from borstal. full time boarder, only went home for xmas. spent most of my time escaping from that place. the only thing that shit hole taught me, was how to survive on my own.

[@chucky2316]

Justice to the victims of these places. Forde house in newton abbot was hell on earth they may have demolished it and put a housing estate on it but people want justice

[@mej6519]

@@chucky2316 I caught pleurisy(water on the lungs) after the prefects kept pouring cold water in our beds, 7 months in school infirmary, Permanent lung damage, I don't get chest infections or bronchitis now, I go straight to pnumonia. Fun eh. It wasnt just the prefects, but the 6th formers and the teaching staff too that made our lives hell.

[@EmilyCheetham]

Sorry you had such a bad experience. I know many that really thrived and some that loved it. I know it is not for everyone but it is not all bad.

[@mej6519]

@@EmilyCheetham a "bad experiance" would be fallng off a push bike and getting gravel rash hip to ankle, but we are talking about systematic abuse from headmaster, teaching staff, head boy, prefects, 6th form and 5th formers.

[@EmilyCheetham]

@@mej6519 not necessarily. There are soooo many things that can be considered a bad experience. I had went to sooo many public school and had bad experiences at some that had nothing to do with those sort of things. There were still headmasters, head boys & girls, 6th formers at all my secondary schools even though I was just at state schools as a day pupil. Also I heard sooo much from my brothers in boarding school and from their friends so please don’t make out falling off something is the only sort of bad experience. I had epilepsy. I was discriminated against, I was excluded from things, I was last to be picked, I even had my signature forged once and then falsely framed for theft and soooo much more. Iv had plenty of bad experiences in things/places that had nothing to do with a minor injury.

[@chucky2316]

Best maths teacher i ever had was from oregon in the usa. I remeber being at college as a young 16 year old and in those days you picked an apprenticeship but had to do subjects aswell. Im still not brilliant with maths but when i have a good day its thanks to that guy from oregon. The way he taught the subject was amazing and it all fell into place a few more years with that guy i think i would have no bad days

[@michellesaunders9037]

A friend of mine sent her son to St Edward’s (Teddys). It is primarily a boarding school but he went as a day boarder and just stayed if he wanted to.

[@jacquelinemcgraw6213]

I worked in a boarding school here in Scotland. When pupils birthday lands in termtime then they never shared this special time at home.

[@juliaw151]

I work in the nursery of an independent school that has boarders. Its a fantastic school. Some of the children have just got back from a 2.5 week trip to India. We alsp have multiple children from around the world, lots from China, Thailand, etcetera, that board with us for a term or even a year.

[@EmilyCheetham]

It is not just wealthy families that send their children to boarding school. Families in the military/armed forces often send their children to boarding school- especially if they are moving house every 6-24 months. The military will often pay part or all of boarding school fees. Also some children who are very smart can get scholarships to boarding school. The boarding school will give them a higher level of education than the state (government) schools. My dad was in the airforce when we were very young and so my big brother went to boarding school from the age of 7 or 8. I didn’t go because I had epilepsy & a couple of other medical issues , but then my younger brother went to boarding school.

[@chucky2316]

My first comment was deleted not suprised tbh 😂, but i knew someone who went to boarding school in the 80s and it was full of wronguns (adults). He would have been safer spending those years at sphan ranch. Im glad i went to a mixed comp school.

[@geoffpoole483]

No disrespect to Steve and Lindsay but this video is basically a sales piece by the British Council. Charles Spencer's experience of boarding school are all too common. Stephen Fry is another example.

[@angeladormer6659]

As probably other subs will say, boarding schools (public schools) are the destination for those from monied backgrounds. A lot of these children would have had nannies and gone to prep school before going on. I went to a grammar school and in our third year we could take an exam to go to boarding school. I begged my mother to let me try, but she would not allow it. One of the girls in my class went and came back once to tell us all about it. It sounded marvellous. Public schools are not only about small classes and intense learning, they are about networking. Making those friends who will always be useful, not just as friends. I worked with a girl who had boarded at the local public school, but sent her daughter there for her whole education, til University, as a day girl. Her son had gone to the local prep school then onto a boarding school, at eleven, the other side of the country. He had dyslexia, so it gave him the education he needed. 💗💗👵🏴󠁧󠁢󠁥󠁮󠁧󠁿🌹🌹

[@missmerrily4830]

Not strictly true. What keeps the majority of 'ordinary' boarding schools afloat is a substantil population of service kids, and did you know you are helping to pay for their education through YOUR taxes! Yes, if a service person does not want the turbulence of their child moving to frequent schools, they can apply for funding for a large proportion of the fees.

[@angeladormer6659]

@missmerrily4830 Actually I did know about service and health service children getting scholarships as I was with an army brat for a long time and worked with a consultant's wife whose children went to public school. NHS funds?

[@RickieMcleary]

most schools public and private in the uk have quite strict uniform requirements

[@deniseadams1703]

Many of the seven or eight year old pupils are children of diplomats or service personnel who are frequently posted abroad so going to boarding school provides them with a stable life.

[@jonathanspence8642]

Boarding schools are an odd institution, derived of a need. However you really need to look into that longstanding satire of the boarding school St' Trinians. In the UK we have been making films based upon the satire since the days of B&W. Though like your Adam's family, it's somewhat older. PLEASE watch a film and react. It's part of our culture that you might find as amusing as we do.

[@lexyellis]

Most public schools (public schools are private in the UK) have various options for their students eg, day students (who don’t board at all) day students who occasionally board a few times per term/year, part boarding (often Monday-Friday with weekends at home), or full boarding (only going home during holidays). Also, part boarding is only offered when public schools do not have weekend lessons/extracurricular activities. So there are many options. Also, all nursery schools in the country (public or state) accept government issued childcare vouchers for 15 hours per week (30 hours per week from September 2025). Even if it is an affordable option, they aren’t for everybody. And even within State education there are so many different avenues you could take: Academies (often linked to private businesses or public schools), local authority controlled schools, schools with religious affiliations, special schools (for children with special educational needs), grammar schools (state schools in which you have to pass exams to enter), and around 30 or so state boarding schools (where the education is free but you pay to board). There are many many more type of school within the UK. All with their own unique ways of working & teaching the national curriculum, but not all with the amazing opportunities afforded and offered by public schools. It’s up to the parent to decide which one is best for their child, which is affordable for their family, which is available to them in the area they live or can access, or indeed none of the above. It is not commonly known (even in the UK) that the default position for any child regarding their education is actually home schooling (unless and until you choose a school & your child begins attending, when it becomes mandatory. However it is as simple as ticking a box & being available for your local authority to make informal enquiries to check the child is receiving a suitable education at home. However having said all this, I’m most certainly not an expert in uk education, I just did a lot of research as to my options for my own children before they started their own school.

[@Leslie-cg7ph]

Guys if every parent thought the same as you,the kids would know their true potential or even achieve it,but I understand it’s not every parents idea of schooling.

[@HarkerenSarai-sm4vz]

The private (paid education) school where I am in the UK has a boarding school with it. The school is a secondary school which are for students who are in year 7 -11,(age 11 - 16) with optional stay for two more years. There is an option of a day boarding where the students are there during the week and then go home at the weekends. Many students who attend the school live locally so it not strictly only as a boarding school.

[@carolyncopeland2722]

My family lived in very rural NZ working on a farm. My brother and I went to the closest school, but it was a half hour commute each way to the bus, which was then another 45 minutes to get to the school. My mum wanted to home school, but after the first year decided that it was too hard to home school us and keep up with all the farm work and farm accounts. My brother went to boarding school at at 10, because he had dyslexia and the local primary school was unable to support his needs so recommended it. I went to state funded girls only boarding school at age 12. I was considered a late starter and struggled to fit in for some time as most others has started boarding at 7 or 8 and already had settled friendships. Most of the girls their were either from rural farming situations or very wealthy and their parents travelled a lot for work internationally or recreationally if they didn't need to work. Boarding school was great. The younger kids were always supervised. You had to either play a sport on a saturday or take part in a club or other event so school was really a 6 day a week affair. During my time there you could play any sport, not just a school team sport and you could change your sport every term if you wanted. I did sports as diverse as skiing, kayaking, polo, windsurfing, golf, orienteering, tramping (hiking) as well as netball and cricket. Some of the clubs i went to instead of sports were chess, glass blowing and even dnd for a term. It really pushed me academically as well as learning to get on with a wide variety of people with different backgrounds and opinions.

[@BP-kx2ig]

I went to Boarding School from the age of 11 to 18. This is because my father was in the Royal Navy and the family had to move every 2/3 years. Therefore it was important that I had a constant secondary education. There is a common misconception that a boarding school has to be a public school such a Eton, Harrow and Winchester. I was in a boarding school in Winchester but it was a Grammar school not Public

[@alisoncauser2955]

Theres a public school ( private) that takes boarders from.4 years old. Day nursery from 2 years old. My nephews went there but because they live local to it they are only going during the day.

[@mrfill9999]

I looked up the featured school (Badminton) and checked out the fees for UK/EU boarders (£38610/year) and International boarders (£46770/year). I'm not surprised they didn't mention any cost as no normal family could possibly afford this. Boarding schools are not popular owing to the huge fees which only the very wealthy can afford. The second school featured (Bruton) actually closed down in 2022 owing to low pupil numbers.

[@geoffpoole483]

The video is aimed at wealthy foreigners for whom £40,000 on school fees is peanuts.

[@andrewbutler7681]

My late father went to a prep. school (short for 'preparatory') from age 5 to age 11 and then a different boarding school from age 11 to age 16. It seemed to work for him... I went to two different primary schools - the one that was closest wasn't open for my first year - from age 5 to age 11 and then the grammar school - which later became a comprehensive by combining with the secondary modern next door - from age 11 to age 19, having done an extra year to include Russian at O-level and A-level. We wore uniform even in the sixth form. That was back in the days when we walked to and from school on our own...

[@stevewesley3841]

Kids here in the UK usually finish school at 16 and some go on to college until they are 18. Where I work a lot of the weekend staff are 16 to 18. We also start school earlier than kids do in the USA.

[@gallowglass2630]

My father and older brother went to boarding schools in ireland.My father though came from a dirt poor family in county mayo on 19 acres of land and his father though a postman aswell was an alcoholic,but my father got a scholarship and went to the diocesan boarding school in ballina which my first cousins went to aswell but at that time it was no longer a boarding school.In my fathers time catholic boarding schools were the mainstay of education ,free education didn't come along until the 60s,before that it was only the rich and very bright that could be educated and the very poor by the christian brothers who kept the fees very low but they had a very bad reputation of abuse. My older brother went to a boarding school similar tom my fathers ,but now that same school is coed and no longer boarding shortly after he left in the 80s.We weren't badly off as a family but we were not rich either .I think it was a fairly positive experience for him and suited him as he had a stammer and he probably would have struggled in a normal school and my parents would have wrapped him in cotton wool.We missed a bit of family stuff but we are still fairly close as a family.

[@Adrian_1972]

Headmistress and headmaster are the most senior teacher in school. US equivalent would be a Principal. More common these days to use term headteacher, although Principal is becoming more common in the UK

[@IsobelIsobel123]

Alot of kids who go to boarding school are the children of parents who also went. A lot of the parents work long hours or abroad, etc. and it is basically expected the kids will be boarding so families are long prepared

[@idiotsabouttown948]

i listen to you talk about what you want ... your time with your kids ... what you have to do is step back and think about what boarding school can do for your child not how you would miss the time spent with your child. British boarding schools are very different from American schools and if you notice from the film the standard of education is better as kids don't go home and get side-tracked by going out with their mates. Their friends are there with them helping each other understand and complete work also the kids have all sorts of "after school " clubs to do more so than parents at home can organize. Parents are working, busy with stuff but boarding schools have adults employed to be there for the kids 24/7 Also being in that environment can help with confidence and expand on the knowledge base of your child when they interact with others from differing backgrounds and countries . Yes the child will miss the parents and the parents the child but on the whole it's only 5 year's and then the world opens up for your child.