Chris Liston, director of boarding at Ashford School, explores the benefits of staying Monday to Friday
Nirvana has arrived! It?s an end to the daily grind of combining our busy working lives with getting the kids to school and activities across London, and the battle of homework. Is this really possible"
?Tuck and movie night?, fun on the sports field after school, playing with friends and, yes, the odd dorm raid. And that?s just a small selection from the list reeled off by my friend?s 10-year-old son when I asked him why he chooses to live at school during the week.
Weekly boarding is rising in popularity, in particular with busy London parents wanting to protect their child from the rat race. And it?s easy to see why. The shortage of school places in the capital heightens competition and consequently the pressure that is placed on the child to win that all-important place. Often, the schools being competed for will offer an outstanding education, with academic potential being the highest priority. What is harder to find is a school with space, where your child can grow in a safe environment, where expectations are high and the adventure is there to be enjoyed. All these benefits and more are available to the weekly boarder. Increasingly, parents are waking up to the opportunities provided by the excellent train links into London and the schools, such as Ashford School, which provide accompanied travel to and from school. It offers a breath of fresh air for pressur...