Senior Boarding Schools Guide

There are many benefits to a boarding-school education, from the co-curricular activities to the community spirit. Watch our videos and use our tools to find the right boarding school for your child.

Choosing a senior boarding school: where to begin

When choosing a senior boarding school for your child, it’s important to remember that no two schools are the same. Each boarding experience offers different academic and co-curricular programmes, as well as unique house structures and on-campus facilities. To help you find the right senior boarding school for your child, we talk you through the key points to consider, and bring you all the open day dates you need to help plan your search. Click on each school’s icon on the map below to hear more about what they offer - and subscribe now to easily compare your favourite boarding schools on your parent dashboard.

Many senior boarding schools are reporting increased interest from parents looking for an immersive social and academic experience for their children. We asked Robin Fletcher, Chief Executive of the Boarding Schools' Association, which represents more than 600 schools in 37 countries around the world, to give us his perspective on the benefits of boarding.

Why choose a senior boarding school?
The right education and environment at a senior school is extremely important for future development. While senior boarding may seem a daunting prospect for prospective pupils, the home-away-from home environment offers plenty of benefits.

By staying in boarding houses, pupils develop heaps of new life skills that help foster independence and responsibility. For instance, daily tasks and activities usually completed by the parents are now the responsibility of the child. Pupils are also expected to take responsibility for their learning with the support of top academic staff. These expectations help pupils develop greater discipline and self-confidence. Students are also able to engage with activities inside and outside the classroom in a supportive and diverse community setting, providing the perfect foundation for social development.

Another reason to choose boarding is the top-class education offered to pupils thanks to expert academic teachers. These professionals have high educational standards and will provide supportive and highly tailored teaching. Many boarding schools offer both A-levels and the International Baccalaureate, ensuring pupils can discover their passion, achieve fantastic exam results and are well-prepared for further education and their future career.

Co-curricular boarding activities
A key element of boarding school life is the scope of cross-curricular activities available to pupils outside the classroom. Whether it be sailing or cookery, dance or badminton, each school offers different activities that make up a large part of the boarding experience. It’s important to discuss with your child what they would be interested in taking part in outside of class. Decide upon the perfect boarding school that specialises in these cross-curricular activities.

Which senior boarding school should I choose?
With each boarding school offering a unique experience, it can be difficult to choose the right one for your child.

Here are our top things to consider when choosing a senior boarding school:

Boarding preference. You should consider the type of school and boarding experience best suited to your child. Whether it be a co-education or single-gender setting, full, weekly, flexi or B&B boarding, different schools will offer different rooms and facilities which may allow your child to flourish in different ways.
Education quality. Educational quality should also be a key factor when choosing a boarding school. What specific subjects does the school perform better or worse in?
Location. The school's location should play a key part in the decision process. How far away from home is your child comfortable staying? Would they be better suited to a busy city or rural countryside environment?
Boarding admissions process. Once you have chosen the right senior boarding school for your child, it’s time to start the admissions process. We recommend you aim to start looking by the time your child is around nine or ten years old. While this may seem early, boarding schools receive a massive number of applicants – and early entry ensures your child has the best chance of getting into the boarding school they want amidst high competition for places. While all schools have a registration form, every senior school conducts its admissions process differently. Many ask your child to sit the IESB pre-test to understand a prospective pupil’s ability and future potential. Other schools may also ask for a face-to-face interview or look for references from previous schools.

FAQ’s

What is a day like in a senior boarding school?
While each child’s experience may be different, boarding school days tend follow an organised structure of lessons, meals, breaks, and free periods – allowing for a fantastic balance of schoolwork and free time to meet new people, take part in unique cross-curriculum activities and grow as an individual.

Which is better: boarding or day school?
While no school is perfect for every child, there are distinct advantages of sending your child to a senior boarding school. With round-the-clock educational support and a massive range of cross-curricular activities offered, boarding schools provide additional opportunities for your child to develop as an individual, achieve academic success, and discover their future career path.

TE Schools Advice

Choosing your child’s school is one of the most important decisions you will ever make – let our experienced team help you. We will guide you through the decision-making process and give you the confidence to make the right choice, armed with the most up-to-date insider knowledge. We are all parents ourselves – we know how hard this is, and we can make it easier for you.