Boarding school

A boarding school is a place where students live and learn together. The term "boarding" means the school provides rooms and meals for the students. These schools have been around for many years and can be found in many countries.

Students at boarding schools are called boarders if they live at the school all the time, or day pupils if they go home in the evenings.

Dollar Academy, a boarding school in Scotland

Students can stay at a boarding school for one year to more than twelve years. Some students go home every weekend, some every term, and others only at the end of the school year. In some places, like the United Kingdom, India, China, and parts of Africa, boarding schools are common and often start at a very young age. In other places, like parts of Europe and the United States, boarding schools are usually for older students.

Boarding schools can be for boys, for girls, or for both. Some of these schools are very famous and have educated important leaders. Today, there are many different kinds of boarding schools, including those that help students with special needs, or that focus on special kinds of learning like democratic education.

Description

Typical characteristics

The term boarding school often means classic British boarding schools and many schools around the world modeled on these.

Boarding house of the Presbyterian Ladies' College, Sydney, New South Wales

House system

Main article: House system

A typical boarding school has several separate houses, either inside the school or nearby.

Some teachers are in charge of each house. They look after the students living there, especially when they are not in class. Houses usually have rooms for students to sleep, eat, and study. They may also have rooms for relaxing and kitchens for snacks.

Most schools have set bedtimes, but students sometimes find it hard to follow these rules.

Other facilities

Schloss Torgelow, a Gymnasium boarding school in Germany, that leads to the Abitur exams

Boarding schools often have many places for activities outside of lessons, such as music rooms, gyms, sports fields, boats, and swimming pools. Many are in beautiful countryside areas with a mix of old and new buildings.

Food quality can vary, but most schools offer many food choices to suit different needs. Students can usually eat with friends and teachers. Schools also have infirmaries for basic medical care.

Time

Traveling boarding schools, like THINK Global School, partner with an IB school in each country they visit.

Students usually need permission to leave the school grounds. Boarding schools may offer full-time, weekly (Monday to Friday), or flexible boarding options.

British boarding schools have three terms a year, each about twelve weeks long, with short breaks in between. Some students live close to their families and visit them often.

Other forms of boarding schools

Boarding schools are schools where students live, but not all schools where students live are "classic" boarding schools. Other types include:

Therapeutic boarding schools that combine therapy and education.
Traveling boarding schools, such as Think Global School, that move to a new city each term.
Sailing boarding schools, such as A+ World Academy, that sail around the world while teaching.
Outdoor boarding schools that teach independence through outdoor activities.
Residential education programs for children who need extra support.
Residential schools for students with special educational needs.
Semester schools offering a short stay focused on one subject.
Schools focused on areas like science or arts.
The Israeli youth villages, where children live and learn together.
Public boarding schools, which are rare today.
Ranch school, common in the western U.S., that combine school with ranch life.

Applicable regulations

In the U.K., most boarding schools are independent schools, not following the national curriculum. But they must follow health and safety rules, such as having enough space for each student to live comfortably.

History

Boarding schools look different in different places. In some places, children start going to them at a younger age than in other places. In some cultures, families have sent their children to the same boarding school for many generations. Often, more boys than girls go to boarding schools, and they may stay for longer times.

The idea of sending children, especially boys, to live and learn together in other families’ homes or schools is very old. People have written about this for more than 1,000 years.

In Europe, during early medieval times, boys were sent to learn from clergymen in monasteries or noble homes. One of the oldest boarding schools, The King's School, Canterbury, started around 597 AD. Other old schools include Winchester College, started in 1382, and Oswestry School, started in 1407.

United Kingdom

Boarding schools in Britain started in medieval times when boys were taught by clergymen in monasteries or noble homes. By the 12th century, the Pope told monasteries to start charity schools, and many public schools grew from these. These schools were influenced by the universities of Oxford and Cambridge and were mostly run by clergymen until the 19th century. Over time, children from all backgrounds went to these schools together.

Boarding preparatory schools often prepare students for larger public schools. During the time of the British Empire, boarding schools helped teach British culture to local leaders and children of British officials living abroad. These schools shared British values and ideas.

Charterhouse School

One reason families choose boarding schools is to give children new experiences. Going to a school with a long history may shape the culture parents want for their children. Choosing a well-known boarding school can also help children meet people from different backgrounds. Sometimes, families choose boarding schools for other reasons, like if parents are having trouble with their children, but these reasons are not often spoken about.

In 1998, there were 772 private boarding schools in the United Kingdom with over 100,000 children. Boarding schools are still important in the British class system. About one percent of British children go to boarding schools, including some as young as 5 to 9 years old.

United States

Before public schools were common in the United States, boarding schools were often the only way for students in rural New England to get a secondary education. Some states, like Massachusetts, supported special boarding schools called "academies" for students from nearby rural areas. Some of the oldest academies still operating include West Nottingham Academy (started in 1744), Linden Hall (1756), The Governor's Academy (1763), Phillips Academy (1778), and Phillips Exeter Academy (1781).

As local governments started free public high schools, many of these academies changed or closed. In the early 1900s, new boarding schools appeared, modeled after British schools, to prepare students aged 14 to 18 for college exams. These were called "prep schools," though many only had day students. By the early 2000s, about 0.5% of U.S. school children went to boarding schools.

Recently, some governments have started public boarding schools. Some offer extra help for students who do well, like the North Carolina School of Science and Mathematics (started in 1980). Others help students from difficult backgrounds.

Junior boarding schools for children under 13 are uncommon. The oldest is the Fay School in Southborough, Massachusetts (started in 1866).

Phillips Academy Andover, MA

Native American schools

Main article: Native American boarding schools

In the late 19th century, the U.S. government started boarding schools to teach Native American children Western ways. These schools taught boys and girls separately and gave them different jobs based on old European ideas. Boys learned farming, and girls learned sewing and cooking. These jobs were different from what many Native communities believed, where women often had important roles.

Though some Native children accepted these new ways, many did not.

Canada

Further information: Canadian Indian residential school system

In Canada, the largest independent boarding school is Columbia International College, with 1,700 students from around the world. Robert Land Academy in Wellandport, Ontario, is Canada’s only private military-style boarding school for boys in Grades 6 through 12.

Other Commonwealth countries

Most countries do not prefer boarding schools. However, some former British colonies, like India, Pakistan, Nigeria, and other African nations, see boarding schools as a good choice for education. In countries such as New Zealand and Sri Lanka, some state schools offer boarding, often with fewer students than private schools.

Malaysia

Main articles: The International School of Penang (Uplands), Dalat International School, Marlborough College Malaysia, Sekolah Berasrama Penuh, and MARA Junior Science College

Russia and former Soviet Union

In the former Soviet Union, boarding schools were called Internat-schools. Some focused on special areas like mathematics or sports. Others were linked to orphanages. General schools also had programs where children could stay late and get meals if they could not go home early. Today, boarding schools are different across post-Soviet countries.

Columbia International College, Hamilton, Ontario

Switzerland

The Swiss government supports private boarding schools for international students as part of its economy. These schools teach major languages and have very good facilities. Some of the world’s most expensive boarding schools are in Switzerland, including Institut auf dem Rosenberg, Institut Le Rosey, Beau Soleil, Collège du Léman, Collège Champittet, and Leysin American School.

Japan

In Japan, several international boarding schools operate privately. Examples include NUCB International College and Hallow International School. These schools follow curricula such as the IB (International Baccalaureate) and use English as the main language of instruction.

China

As of 2015, there were about 100,000 boarding schools in rural areas of Mainland China, with around 33 million children. Many children start at these schools at age 2. Most of these schools are in western China, which is generally less wealthy than the eastern and central regions. Many migrant workers and farmers send their children to these schools.

India

In India, boarding schools are run by private companies and government bodies. Notable government-run examples include Jawahar Navodaya Vidyalaya, Ekalavya Model Residential School, and Ashram Schools. These schools follow educational boards such as CBSE, ICSE, IB, NIOS, and AISSCE, and mainly use English for teaching.

Sociological issues

Some elite university-preparatory boarding schools for students aged 13 to 18 are places where young people learn to fit into important social groups. Families who value power and hierarchy often choose these schools, hoping their children will grow up to hold positions of influence.

Boarding schools can create a network among students from similar backgrounds. Many of these students later become leaders in politics or finance. The way students are taught at these schools can make them feel they are meant to lead. This teaching style continues to affect students even after they leave school, shaping how they see the world. Some believe this style of teaching can create leaders who support unfair ideas about society.

Psychological issues

Boarding schools can be challenging for students. Living, studying, and making friends in one place can be stressful. Some students may feel pressure or sadness.

When children go to boarding school, they may miss their families and homes. This can make them feel lonely or like they don’t fit in. Some children might feel different because of this experience. Experts have looked at how being away from home at a young age can affect feelings and relationships later in life.

In popular culture

Further information: School story

Books

Boarding schools are often used in stories, especially in British literature. These stories usually follow young characters who might break rules for good reasons but they do not rebel against the whole school.

Many well-known books have boarding schools in them, such as: