The benefits of prep school boarding
Robert Lankester Headmaster, Maidwell Hall
Say goodbye to school runs, endless testing and tutoring, mobile phones (at least in some prep schools) and chauffeuring increasingly frustrated children to endless after-school clubs. Instead, say hello to climbing trees, muddy knees and a carefree childhood.
and good mental health. However, these
disinclined to commit to anything. At
days many social factors have created
a boarding school, children can have
a world that prohibits children from
much greater independence and a sense
enjoying the benefits of this kind of
of their own responsibilities. If this can
freedom, with the result that parents
develop in a homely and comforting
feel they have to ‘helicopter’ them. A
atmosphere then the result should be
prep boarding education gives children
children learning life-enhancing skills
the independence to play with their
such as making their own decisions
friends and a freedom that helps them to
without even realising they are doing so.
Have you thought about prep school
Learning some of the harder lessons
boarding?
in life in your childhood is natural and
develop and enjoy their childhood, with all the positive mental and physical health attributes this brings.
WHEN TO START BOARDING? So it’s clear there are many benefits to boarding, but when is the ideal time to start and which type of boarding should you choose?
gives you an emotional resilience that There is no doubt that a country
is beneficial later in life. For example,
Over the past 20 years there has been a
education can bring greater freedom,
decision-making – it’s very easy for
steady trend towards children boarding
space and time. We used to live in an age
parents to make all the decisions for
at a slightly older age. Children who
where children could play in the streets
their children, trying desperately to
wish to board at their senior schools
and explore with their friends, having
make life easier. Except that it doesn’t
routinely join boarding prep schools for
a level of independence that has been
– parents simply become exhausted
one year only or even a term or two.
shown to build resilience, individuality
and the children can become ‘flaky’ and
But however excellent the pastoral care
