Academic Families: How To Find The Perfect Boarding School For Your Child
Searching For The Best UK Boarding School For Your Child?
With hundreds of schools to choose from and so many external opinions from family and friends, selecting the best boarding school for your child can be confusing. How can you tell from Kenya which UK school is going to be right for your child?
Using a professional agent can really help – they can accelerate your search, ensure you have the latest info on schools and help you navigate the application process. Schools also know that when a good agent presents a student, they are a good fit.
Like schools, not all agents are alike and good places to start looking for professional agents include the British Council (www.agent-training.britishcouncil.org) and the Boarding Schools’ Association (www.boarding.org.uk/bsa-initiatives/bsa-certified-agent-scheme) agent lists.
One such agent is Lorna Clayton from Academic Families, who said ‘having lived in Kenya, and working to place Kenyan students at UK boarding schools, I know that Kenyan students are much sought after by UK schools because of their positive attitude, enthusiasm and all-round ability. Unfortunately, Covid challenges and costs have put paid to the days of generous fee discounts but there may be some room for discussion for Kenyan students who can demonstrate real talent.’
Further discussing Kenyan parents’ requirements, Lorna adds ‘our highly accredited guardianship ensures children are well supported wherever their school is, so parents don’t need to worry. We’ve thought of everything that families need to ensure their child is safe and happy – and it’s a long list! We can even help with visa applications to ensure student study visa and family tourist visas are approved without a hitch.’
Here are 10 tips to finding your child’s dream boarding school.
1. Decide your budget
UK boarding schools aren’t cheap, and you’ll need to consider the extra costs involved too, which may include:
– visa with Immigration Health Surcharge (IHS) so you can use the National Health Service.
– flights
– school uniform and sports kit
– guardianship services
Deciding on a budget can help you narrow down your list of potential schools.
2. Speak to a professional agent
You should be able to have a free initial consultation with an agent which will give you ideas beyond the list your school may have provided. Friends and family will have lots of advice, but you need to focus on what’s best for your child and not what was good for your friend’s child. Also bear in mind that schools change as Headteachers come and go, and some have addressed the Covid challenge better than others, so what was right for your friend a few years ago, may not necessarily be the best choice for you now.
Kenyan mother, Chetal, put her trust in the placement agents at Academic Families to find a school for her daughter. ‘I’m so glad I came across Academic Families on one of their trips to Kenya. It was invaluable being able to have them introduce schools matched to our needs and liaise between the schools and ourselves. We had the best possible experience and now look forward to our daughter enjoying the best possible schooling!’
3. Attend Education Fairs
Meeting schools at education fairs is a great place to start when thinking about sending your child to school in the UK. However, it’s important to bear in mind that at fairs, there may only be a dozen or so schools to meet with. Many schools won’t be able to visit Kenya, so how can you be sure that you’re not missing out on a fantastic school? You should also consider attending Online Fairs and Open Days as these are very effective way to meet schools.
4. List the ‘must-haves’ and ‘like-to-haves’, before starting your search
The UK is home to so many boarding schools that your options are endless, so decide what is most important to you. Maybe first-rate sports or performing arts facilities, a faith-based school or a specific subject are top of your list?
Many schools use different teaching styles and can offer dyslexia and other learning support too. Don’t keep quiet if your child requires additional support – different learning styles and needs don’t carry any particular stigma in the UK and there are many specialist schools who educate mainstream and children with additional support needs together. Whatever you’re looking for, there will be a UK school that can offer it.
5. When?
There are various entry points into UK boarding schools, but the key year groups that schools will accept pupils into are Year 7, Year 9, and Year 12 (ages 11, 13 and 16). Don’t leave your research until the last minute – start looking around 18 months in advance of the intended entry date to ensure you have plenty of time.
Roni Jennings, Head of Placement at Academic Families notes that it’s still possible for students to start the placement process with less than 18 months to go. ‘If your desired start date is quickly approaching, don’t panic. School admissions are currently quite fluid, so even top schools may have a space just waiting for your child’s late application. September 2022 is still a possibility!’
6. School set up and culture
Most schools are co-ed but also consider single sex education if a school meets your other criteria. Do you want a faith-based school? Are you looking for a school with a traditional and formal approach, or one that has a more liberal culture?
You may also want to find out which nationalities there are across the school and the boarding community? Having a range of nationalities will allow your child to develop their cultural understanding.
You might want to find out the percentage of full boarding, weekly boarding, and day students that they have too. For example, ‘Greater London’ schools often have lots of weekly boarders who return home at weekends so boarding houses can be quieter which isn’t great for full time boarders. Schools with lots of full-time boarders have a vibrant boarding community and lots of organised activities.
7. Curriculum and Subject choice
UK boarding schools offer options when it comes to the qualifications your child will sit. A levels, IB or BTECs have different approaches to assessment styles, so you can choose an exam system that you think will be most beneficial.
When you’re looking for a school, make sure that you know which subjects they can offer. If your child is desperate to take Design and Technology for example, then you need to be sure that the school offers it. Likewise subjects like drama or dance. You don’t want to send your child to school to find out that the school don’t offer some of the subjects you had hoped for.
8. Sports options
Find out what the schools offer in terms of sports. Maybe there is one sport your child is an expert at, or maybe there’s something they’ve always wanted to try. If your child’s heart is set on becoming a professional footballer or golfer then be sure the schools you shortlist offer these sports – many offer rugby in preference to football for boys and even fewer offer football for girls. There are great schools offering whatever you are looking for – you might just need some help to find them.
9. Extra-curricular options & Uni applications
Thinking ahead, university applications are strengthened by relevant volunteering or work experience and schools can help with this. Duke of Edinburgh Award (like President’s Award) and Combined Cadet Force develop leadership skills. Relevant work experience is like gold dust – in senior care homes for potential doctors and volunteering with youth groups for aspiring teachers. Understand how schools will support students to enhance their CV and university application.
10. Location
There are great connections to regional airports from Kenya so proximity to Heathrow shouldn’t be a requirement, but it is always good to know transfer options – remember your child will only make the journey a few times each year and many schools offer a bus on travel days which are fun and good value. Professional guardians support students at all schools so don’t base your search on the geography of your own network.
There are so many factors to consider when evaluating schools that it makes a lot of sense to enrol the support of a professional agent. It isn’t expensive – less than a one-way airfare to the UK!
Roni Jennings, Head of Placement at Academic Families says, ‘as former Deputy Head at Braeburn Mombasa, I understand Kenyan students and their educational needs very well. With my experience supporting international students at UK boarding schools, I also understand the importance of matching schools to individual students and not the other way round. I offer a highly personalised service using my expertise and experience to ensure our Kenyan students are happy and successful at their chosen boarding school.’
Many Kenyan families choose schools they have a personal or geographic connection to. However, families who start with their child’s specific requirements rather than a list of ‘great schools’ are confident they have matched their child to the school where they’ll be happy and successful.
Roni adds, ‘Parents often start with a list of schools they ‘know’ and end up with a completely different list once they realise there are many great schools they may not have heard of which are a perfect fit to their child. I am so proud to have held their hand on this journey.’
Remember, Academic Families will be visiting Kenya at the end of February (26th to 28th), so contact them on WhatsApp +44 203 475 0750 to accelerate making your child’s dream a reality.
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