for Service families g State boarding

Many state (and independent schools) have an overt connection to the Forces through the Combined Cadet Force (CCF). However, even state boarding schools without this feature often run activities and opportunities which match and support a ‘Forces mindset’. At St George’s we do not have a CCF detachment but we aim to expose our pupils to all aspects of military service. For example, we send our senior girls lacrosse team to run the Royal Marines endurance course at the Commando Training Centre in Devon. We have also hosted visits from The Rifles, Royal Tank Regiment, Royal Marines, Parachute Regiment, Grenadier Guards, Princess of Wales’s Royal Regiment and Army Air Corps. In the process, our pupils and staff have raised more than £300,000 for the Soldiers’ Charity.

We regularly have more than 150 Year 10 pupils undertaking the Duke of Edinburgh’s Bronze Award, with many going on to start their Gold Award. Our ‘service beyond self’ ethos ensures all our pupils participate in events and activities that benefit the school and also the wider community. A young person who sees their future in the Armed Forces or other public service will find exactly the kind of opportunities for personal development to prepare them for their chosen career pathway.

Leadership Development

Service parents tend to value the priority given in state boarding to leadership development and doctrines of service. State boarding schools aim to ensure pupils have many opportunities for the development of their leadership skills and service values. At St George’s we aim to assign responsibility when pupils are ready for it, supporting them as they grow their skill set and develop their values. Importantly, state boarding schools do not forego excellent academic outcomes in pursuit of these experiences. We aim to nurture all pupils so that they are the ‘best that they can be’.

All types of school within the UK are represented in the state boarding sector – single-sex education, grammar school, mixed comprehensive, secondary and prep school – and schools are distributed throughout the country. I encourage you to visit a state boarding school. You may be surprised by the quality of accommodation, the range of activities available, the compassion and care offered and the quality of academic education. We hope to welcome you into our community.

Find out more from the BSA State Boarding Forum at www.boarding. org.uk/for-parents-pupils/types-ofboarding-school/