schoolfocus Boarding in the UK Sending children to boarding school is a big decision for any family, but parents in West Africa are increasingly recognising the significant benefits and opportunities that come from a British education. At its best, a modern British boarding school offers an all-round education that develops the whole person. It provides outstanding pastoral care and support as staff set clear boundaries and high expectations while nurturing self-esteem and self-reliance which enables pupils to go out into the wider world with confidence. A recent UK Boarding School Association (BSA) report showed that confidence and independence were the two most frequently mentioned attributes to result from boarding - both vital qualities in the competitive world of university and work. The UK has a long tradition of boarding and this has led to the highest standards in pastoral care. All good schools are members of the BSA and are regularly inspected by an independent body to ensure these standards are maintained. This provides great reassurance to parents considering a boarding education for their children. If you are considering sending your son or daughter to the UK to board, when you start to draw up your shortlist of schools, consider if the values of the school fit with your own. For example, respect for others, kindness and good old-fashioned manners are key to life 8 at many schools. Your child will spend their formative years being shaped by these values so it’s critical that you support them. Beyond academic results and facilities, every school is built on a different ethos so it’s important to understand what this is and how it manifests itself through daily life at school. Take time to go through the School’s website and the UK Boarding School Directory – West Africa. Many enquiries come from recommendations from existing or past parents – talk to your own network to find out about their experiences of different schools. I would always encourage parents to visit a few schools – not so easy when you live far away but it really pays to take the time to see what is on offer and what suits your family best. When visiting, do try to visit on a normal working day – it will provide a much more accurate picture of how you will find the school on any term-time day. If a school offers weekly boarding, check how many pupils are in at the weekend – you don’t want to your child boarding at a school which is empty at the weekend. UK SCHOOLS DIRECTORY 2019/20