One of the issues many parents agonise over when selecting a school for their child is whether they should attend a boarding or day school. Taking your child to a boarding school does mean you are leaving their supervision to others and that you will not have as much engagement with them as when they live under your roof on a day to day basis. There are however several good reasons you should want to opt for this choice.
1. Independence
Life has many highs and lows. The best way to learn how to cope and thrive in whatever the circumstance lies in making decisions for yourself and becoming self-reliant. It can be a tough experience at first, but with time, this independence will make you more confident and mature.
A boarding school environment gives greater room for students to develop independence skills in a supportive environment. It also enables you to learn how to live more comfortably with people of different backgrounds. An ability that will be useful when students become adults and have to live, study and work on their own.
2. Responsibility
Without parents constantly monitoring, students also learn how to take personal responsibility for themselves. From managing money to keeping their dorm space tidy, they encounter many situations where they have to think of actions and consequences. This again helps them to become more mature and able to succeed in future when they have no supervision at all. Learning to take responsibility for themselves will mould them into well-rounded individuals, better able to succeed in life.
There is also a sense of responsibility that is developed towards others and nature. From having to mentor younger students to maintaining environmental cleanliness, there are many lessons learnt that will lay the foundation for adulthood.
3. Life/Soft Skills
When we think of school, thoughts of the classroom, books, and labs come to mind. Boarding schools however provide a more holistic education beyond book smarts. Since students get to spend entire days at a stretch with classmates, in and out of the classroom, they often build stronger ties and social networks.
These connections with people of different cultures, ages and personalities will often last beyond their time at International school and can benefit them in their future careers and personal relationships. The life skills they learn like time and money management, and handling domestic chores will make them more responsible adults that will appeal to potential employers and partners.
4. Individual Attention
Boarding schools tend to have much smaller classrooms. This means teachers can pay greater attention to the needs and performance of individual students, helping them to discover their strengths and weaknesses. This greater individual attention ensures shortcomings are identified and addressed early so that students perform better academically and have a better chance of gaining admission to the universities of their choice.
This deeper interaction between the teachers and students ensures better mentorship and stronger communication. Students learn to become more at ease speaking up in the classroom and engaging in discussions. It also gives more opportunity for students to collaborate more closely with classmates, learning about their different and shared views and opinions.
5. Networking
Having to live, study, and play together encourages deeper bonds between students. The friendships they make will often be lasting and can carry on to the time they enter university and later build their careers. Many boarding schools host a multicultural student body that gives opportunities to explore cultural differences and learn how to appreciate diversity.
Many boarding schools are highly selective of the students they admit. They choose those that demonstrate strong potential and ambition to make achievements. Having like-minded students live and study together can help nurture their ambitions and drive to gain entry into top universities and make a meaningful contribution to this world.
6. Academic Rigour
Boarding schools make for a more intense academic life. There is greater investment in the required support systems including highly qualified teachers, well-equipped laboratories, well-stocked libraries, media centres, and other technologies. Teachers design lessons and apply teaching modalities that make for more challenging learning that boosts critical thinking and problem-solving.
There is also more time that can be devoted to learning as students remain on campus for extended periods, with many teachers also residing within or nearby. It is not uncommon for lessons to take place at the weekend or in the evenings, offering more opportunities to delve deeper into the curriculum and for students to become better prepared to cope with the academic rigours they will encounter at the university level.
7. Learning Focus
Intellectual stimulation is quite high in a boarding school environment. There is better recognition and nurturing of academic prowess, causing students to be highly motivated. This stimulation comes from both teachers and fellow students who create an atmosphere, both in and out of the classroom, where there is an emphasis on academic achievement.
Without the distractions of home computers, gaming, and television, and the easy access to libraries, laboratories, and extra coaching, students are able to better focus on schoolwork. They feel more engaged and secure in a fostered learning environment.
8. Co-Curricular Activities
Most boarding schools have also heavily invested in their arts programs and sporting facilities. Students with an interest or talent in co-curricular activities will certainly find a niche they can explore and be trained in. Sports teams will often compete with other schools, providing opportunities to bring recognition to the school and their personal achievement on the field. These successes can also help to enhance their applications to universities and where they have excelled, provide a chance to secure scholarships.
The artistically inclined can also enjoy similar benefits of recognition and scholarships from their achievements. Many of these pursuits also help to nurture personal growth by making students more disciplined and organised. It can also help cultivate hobbies that will be enjoyed for a lifetime. Others like learning languages, which can make travelling to new destinations easier and boost their careers.
9. Convenience
Boarding school means no morning or after-school commute for parents and students. There is more time that can be devoted to studying and co-curricular activities in a safe and controlled environment. For parents that often have to travel, it is a comfort to know that their child is well catered to in a learning environment tailored to help them succeed in their ambitions.
While some boarding schools can be costly, it is an investment that will carry on accruing benefits into their later life. From the friendships they will make to the careers that will be built, attending boarding schools can make for the right foundation to a brilliant career and more.
10. Meaningful Reunion
Absence makes the heart grow fonder is clearly proven when it comes to boarding schools. The joy that students and their families feel at being reunited over holiday periods is strong. Plans are often made to make these reunions more meaningful by organizing trips and other activities where there is more interaction and much fun to be had. This can serve to strengthen family bonds in spite of the separation.
This does not mean that separation is a bad thing. The benefits mentioned mean that students are more likely to grow into mature, well-rounded, and successful individuals. The experiences they gain and the people they meet will enrich their lives and make for a brighter future.