Choosing to send your child to a British boarding school is a fantastic choice. With great academics, unique extra-curriculars and centuries of tradition, boarding schools offer a unique educational opportunity. What should you look for in a boarding school, what is the admissions process like, and how can we help?
How should I choose a boarding school?
Boarding schools offer great pastoral care, passionate teachers, and a great breadth of experiences and opportunities. “We provide the soil in which your son or daughter can grow and reach towards the sunshine,” said Antony Curtis, the Career Counsellor at Stonar who recently spoke at an Insight Education webinar on British Boarding school admissions. Nonetheless, given the wide range of boarding schools in the UK, choosing the right school can be tricky. Here are three things to consider:
What sort of education do I want for my child? While boarding schools universally offer well-rounded and holistic educations, different schools are known for focusing on different things. Some are more focused on academics while others may offer a wider variety of extra-curriculars. With centuries of history, schools like Winchester or Charterhouse offer a more traditional education, while others such as Bedales focus on newer, experimental educational methods. It’s worth seriously considering the strengths of your child and the sort of education they’ll benefit the most from.
What sort of extra-curriculars are on offer? One of the benefits of a boarding school education is the extra-curriculars on offer. However, not all schools focus on or offer the same extra-curriculars. Some schools, such as Reed’s and Millfield, focus on sports and invest heavily in their sporting facilities. Other schools may have better music or drama facilities. Some schools offer incredibly niche activities uncommon outside of the school (for example, the football-handball-squash hybrid game of Fives). Your child's extra-curricular interests should be considered when choosing a school – your cello prodigy may do less well in an environment where they’re forced into the school’s rugby second XV.
What’s the mix of nationalities? Increasingly, the modern British boarding school is cosmopolitan, attracting students from around the world, but there are fairly significant differences between student bodies. While there are schools that are mostly British, others take on a large number of international students, some even offering English classes to new pupils. It’s worth considering whether you want your child to have a more “British” experience, where they’re surrounded by British students and British culture, or whether you’d prefer your child to have a more globalised education, surrounded by students from across the world.
What is the admissions process like?
Unlike the application process to UK universities, there is no unified system for boarding schools. Different schools have different tests, interview formats, entry requirements and deadlines. Westminster, for example, sets their application deadline at the end of Year 6, has a strongly academic entry exam and gives unconditional offers. Eton, on the other hand, has an earlier deadline at the end of Year 5, has a less academic (but still academic) entry exam and gives conditional offers, meaning that students have to meet certain grades in order to take their place at the school.
The process can therefore seem somewhat complicated, especially if you’re less familiar with the British education system. Given these differences, it’s crucial that preparations be made as early as possible to fully understand what’s expected from applicants. We’d recommend beginning preparations at least a year before applications begin.
What’s the best way to prepare for these assessments?
It’s clear that the application process isn’t easy. Tailored advice to get into one school probably won’t be effective for another school. If your child is applying to multiple schools, a more holistic approach is required.
At Insight Education, we believe that our mentoring programmes fit the bill. Our methods encourage critical thinking, emotional intelligence and independent learning. Rather than speaking at students, our mentors listen first and then create sessions so that students can pursue their own interests and find their passions. We seek to build a foundation, allowing students to adapt to different scenarios and think logically.
Our Mentors take on an elder sibling role, offering support and encouragement to our students, alongside their own tips and tricks built up through years of experience. Students are also able to draw from senior education professionals who work with us, giving insight into the way these schools operate.
It’s important the emphasise the importance of logical and lateral thinking. Broadly speaking, schools are looking for students that are both academically strong and teachable, and students should be able to demonstrate this during the application process. Teaching skills alongside training for specific entry assessments is crucial for success.
There’s much to consider when applying to boarding schools. It’s important to choose the right school and the most effective method to prepare for entrance exams. Making the right choices will set your child up for scholastic success.
By Thomas Cleere (Insight Education)
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