Choosing the Right Time: When to Enrol Your Child in a Boarding School
Over the years I have worked in 4 boarding schools including MGS and including one of the foremost premium, exclusive IB boarding schools in the world in College Alpine Beau Soleil, Switzerland. During that time I have worked as a Houseparent, Head of Department, Head of Seniors and Principal. The insight gained over the years helps me to offer advice to parents, but I would never be so presumptuous as to say when the right time for you and your child is to enter a boarding setting. That very much depends on a number of things and I hope that in this blog entry, I will give you food for thought for your decision making process.
Selecting the optimal age for a child to join a boarding school is a decision that involves careful consideration of both the child's readiness and the educational benefits offered by the institution. In the context of Manchester Global School which is offering both International Baccalaureate (IB) and Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) curricula, several entry points present themselves, each with unique advantages. Among these, Class 4, Class 6, Class 9, and Class 11 emerge as pivotal stages, offering a blend of developmental readiness and academic progression at each level.
Class 4: A Foundation for Independence
Enrolling a child in Class 4 (or 5) serves as an excellent entry point for those seeking to instil independence and resilience early on. At this stage, children are typically around 9 years old, and are best suited to those ready to navigate the structured routine of boarding life. This early exposure fosters a sense of self-reliance, encourages social development, and lays the groundwork for academic excellence. Our boarding staff provide a homely, safe environment rather than the traditional overtly disciplinarian that some schools still aspire to. So important to ensuring that the socio-emotional needs of the younger borders are handled caringly to maximise their development of independent skills and appropriate relationship building with peers and staff.
Class 6: Nurturing Middle School Confidence
For parents considering a slightly later entry point, Class 6 is an opportune time. At approximately 11 years old, students in Class 6 are entering middle school, where they experience a shift in academic expectations and social dynamics. Boarding schools at this level provide an immersive environment that nurtures confidence, independence, and a deeper engagement with both IB and CBSE curricula. This transition from Primary to Secondary sections is a time when slightly different routines encourage a greater sense of self-organisation, time-management and independence from adults. As students are often starting to develop in terms of puberty, it also coincides with an important period in their lives where a neurological need for peer-to-peer relationships and friendships takes over and where better to build those relationships than when living with those friends.
Class 9: Preparing for Higher Education Pathways
If boarding school has not appealed up to this age, Class 9 marks the beginning of high school, a critical juncture in a student's academic journey. Enrolling in a boarding school at this stage provides a focused and supportive environment for preparing for the challenges of Class 10 board examinations regardless of the curriculum. It allows students to delve into the specialised subjects of their choice and make informed decisions about their future academic paths. It provides an environment that has directed focus with additional support opportunities if and when a student needs additional support or indeed additional stretch because they are already ahead of the curve in a given subject area.
Being in the school setting for more hours provides more opportunities to invest time in their passions, be they academic, sporting, creative or competitive. With ample opportunities for leadership in boarding they can build on those opportunities to enhance their profile ready for college applications in a supportive and controlled environment.
Class 11: Transitioning to Advanced Academics and Building University-level Independence.
For those seeking an entry point closer to the culmination of school years, Class 11 offers an ideal opportunity. At around 16 years old, students in Class 11 are entering the realm of advanced academics and can readily access the additional support, resources and time that come with being on campus 24-7. Boarding schools at this level provide an immersive environment for IB Diploma or CBSE Plus Two programs, fostering a strong academic foundation and honing the skills needed for university-level studies. These include the opportunity to learn to cook in extra-curricular clubs, learning financial self-management, travel booking and many other important life skills.
Boarding Options: Balancing Academic and Personal Growth.
By offering both 5-day and 7-day boarding options we recognise the importance of balance in a child's life. The 5-day boarding option allows students to benefit from the structured environment during the week while spending weekends at home with family. This offers a balance between the intensity of academic life and the comfort of familial connections.
On the other hand, the 7-day boarding option provides a continuous, immersive experience, fostering deeper relationships with peers and faculty. This option is particularly beneficial for students engaged in extracurricular activities, as it offers uninterrupted access to facilities and mentorship, promoting holistic development.
Given the importance of extracurricular activities as you have hopefully read in one of my previous blog posts, I hope that this aspect will resonate with those of you have children who live for their passions already, or those who want to explore more options until they find the one(s) that will be with them for the rest of their lives.
I would like to return to what I said at the beginning: the decision of when to enrol a child in a boarding school offering IB and CBSE curricula is a complex one and comes down to the child and their character, almost regardless of age. The choice of Class 4, Class 6, Class 9, or Class 11 depends on a combination of developmental readiness, academic goals, and personal preferences. Here at Manchester Global School, with our immersive world-class learning environment and diverse offering, provide a unique platform for nurturing not only academic excellence but also the personal growth and independence needed for success in the ever-changing global landscape.