Foundations for life: an all-round education at a UK Boarding School Atolani joined his UK boarding school in Gloucestershire a few years ago as a nervous, shy young boy from his prep school in Lagos. Last Saturday in a packed hall I watched his Speech Day. Having grown now in stature and in confidence, this young man was called up for numerous academic and sporting prizes. Atolani is being widely tipped as a potential head of school. Why do so many West African families choose UK boarding schools? An all-round education – There are many exceptional British and international schools that I work with across West Africa that deliver excellent results. However, what they would all agree with is that they can’t fully compete with the opportunities and facilities of leading UK boarding schools that enrich the curriculum to instil confidence, resilience and leadership skills. Fulfilling academic potential – Small classes, outstanding teachers, superb resources – these are some of the reasons that ‘value-added’ results are so high in the UK independent sector. In terms of reporting on progress, schools keep in close contact with parents through regular reports and proactive communication from form tutors and house parents. British values in an international community – Some schools cherish a heritage going back more than 1,000 years while others are more recently established. However, what they have in common is a traditional British ethos, high expectations and a gold standard of education. For Atolani, and his sister Jenrola who follows in his footsteps to the UK this September, these solid British foundations will set them up for life. Mark Brooks – Education Consultant. UK SCHOOLS DIRECTORY 2019/20 7