Matthew Godfrey, Deputy Head at Downe House School in Berkshire, talks to us about transitioning from day to boarding at private schools. 
The experience of boarding has been transformed over the past twenty years or so. Boarding houses used to be austere; now they are very much homes-from-home: soft furnishings, cosy dorms, open social spaces, and modern kitchens are par for the course.
They also used to be very hierarchical, with little interaction between year groups; now, senior pupils are trained as mentors for younger pupils, talking to them, helping them, and nurturing them as elder siblings might.
The pupils at my school love talking about their paths into boarding and their experiences of making school their second home. There are many different reasons why children and parents choose to board and often they come with stories or defining moments; for example, one new boarder recently told me: ?I?ve wanted to board ever since I read Mallory Towers and saw Wild Child.? Another said: ?My elder brother loved boarding so I knew it would be okay.? Dealing with reservations and changing perceptions
Downe House School
Sometimes the path to boarding can be paved with pragmatism too, from considering the value of reduced commutes to being able to participate more fully in co-curricular activities after school, there are many pros and cons to consider. Of course, some parents and children will also have their reservations about moving from day to boarding, so it is worth che...