Give your child the best of UK education in a secure healthy environment

Are you concerned about a second lockdown, distance learning or home schooling? UK Boarding Schools offer a safe environment with excellent facilities, plenty of space, a structured lifestyle and academic excellence.

Mid-November is often the time that we hear feedback from families that we worked with to find the best school for their son or daughter. Their children have now completed their first half term and settled into their new way of life. Many have welcomed their children home for the two-week half term break and are excited to hear all about boarding school life and the many opportunities they have experienced.

Parents comment on how confident, independent and outgoing their children have become and are positive about how they are enjoying and taking responsibility for their own learning. This is very reassuring for parents when they have made the huge step to commit to the emotional and financial responsibility of a boarding education.

A boarding education is widely known to encourage independence, increase confidence and develop resilience; it is these qualities that have given boarding students the skills to enable them and the independent sector as a whole to rise to the challenges of the Covid pandemic.   

UK Boarding schools were very quick to adapt to the confines of lockdown, providing interesting, innovative and challenging distance learning programmes. Ensuring students had access to online lessons as well as a wide choice of extra-curricular activities; but now their doors are open again!

The age of Covid has brought change to all of us and UK boarding schools are in the forefront of providing a safe and secure environment for their students. During the summer break, UK boarding schools were busy planning and preparing for the start of term to welcome their new and returning boarders. Social distancing, temperature checks, regular deep cleaning, PPE, quarantine arrangements, staggered lessons and mealtimes, year group bubbles and one-way systems have all become part of new school routines.

Schools are taking advantage of their extensive grounds and playing fields to give their students room to interact safely. Many are benefiting from a rural locations and students are encouraged to make use of the open spaces for their exercise and well-being. The priority will be to ensure that students are happy and feel supported. House staff will be available to provide guidance and support and arrangements can be made for boarders to contact home more frequently than usual, so they can feel closer to family members. Guardianship companies have set up 'quarantine hotels' and arrangements have been made for students to stay in school during half term and exeat weekends if the family is concerned about travelling.

If you would like to consider a UK Boarding School for your child but are limited by travel restrictions, we can arrange virtual school tours, Q&As with senior staff members and one-on-one online meetings to discuss the options for your child. Flexibility is a huge part of this new world and schools are offering two term academic programmes, delayed start or distance learning until they arrive at school. Safety is obviously of the highest importance and schools are able to offer fully equipped and staffed medical centres, to ensure that they react quickly to any eventuality in the best interest of their students.  

Contact us today for free impartial advice and guidance on selecting the best school for your son or daughter or join the UK Boarding School Exhibition Online (Friday, November 6 from 11am to 12.15pm and Saturday, November 7 from 5pm to 6.15pm (UAE time) to meet heads and representatives from leading schools across the UK.

Sara Sparling is the Director and Education Consultant, Anderson Education.