In the past, boarding school was a sign of discipline, or sometimes a punishment to your troubled children. However, modern-day boarding schools have become a place where children can nurture themselves through education and activities with their friends under care and guidance from both parents and caretakers.
For parents with children in Thailand, modern boarding schools are also available in Thailand. They are a good option for providing quality education and unforgettable life experience for your children. This article will give you a piece of information about boarding schools and how you can find a good one in Thailand?
What is Boarding School? What makes it different from traditional day school?
A boarding school is a school where students live within the perimeter while being given a formal education. Most boarding schools follow the traditions of British boarding schools, using the house system, which separates residential houses either within the school grounds or in the surrounding area. The house is under the control of the housemasters, who take quasi-parental responsibilities after regular school hours.
Many boarding schools are available on three options: full-time – students remain at the school full-time, including weekends; part-time – students stay at the school only on school days; flexible – students can choose when to board.
The main difference between boarding school and day school is what happens after the class end. In day school, students go back to their homes. In boarding school, students stay within the school perimeter after the class end. As a result, living within the school helps creates more prominent effects on student activities. In boarding schools, co-curricular activities became important as formal learning, causing most students to have plenty of time to spend on tutoring, sports, or group activities.
The higher intensity of after-class activities also led to another difference between boarding and regular schools. Boarding schools would have better facilities for supporting scholars’ living and after-class activities such as dormitories, canteen, gymnasium, and school grounds.
The benefit of enrolling your children in boarding school
Some elite schools in the world, such as Eton and Harrow, are boarding schools. Enrolling your children in boarding school will greatly benefit your children both for education and living, which is unavailable in ordinary day schools, including
Conductive Atmosphere
Learning occurs not only in a classroom but also occurs outside of them using experiments and real-world practices. Boarding school can aid your children with extra-curricular activities, including agriculture, arts and crafts, sports, and STEM, by providing more accessible facilities and encouragement from their caretakers and friends.
Personal Growth
Living away from home is a significant opportunity for developing the basic skills needed for maturing into adults: self-management, time management, work ethics, responsibility, and many more. Students in boarding schools are being trained to manage their own lives under guidance from teachers, housemasters, and senior students for their self-development through the years.
Social Maturity
Social within boarding schools is composed of students of diverse groups of ages, backgrounds, and personalities. Making it a great simulation of real social life they will face in later years. Enrolling in boarding school made them prepared before transitioning into the real world by teaching them a sense of belonging and how to deal with various opinions and disagreements.
What do you need to be concerned about when selecting a boarding school?
As your children need to be at a boarding school for most of their time, choosing a boarding school is somewhat required to be selective and concerned more than a day school. Here is a factor you need to bear when choosing a boarding school.
Value and Philosophy
Boarding school plays a significant role in the identity formation of your children. Hence, the value and philosophy of the school would define how they provide education, take care, and discipline your children. It is a lot better to choose a school that has a value matching with your and your children’s preferences to ensure that the school can serve your goals of development.
Academics
Academics are always an essential factor in choosing a school for your children. The first indicator which is easier to see is their preferred curriculum. The best option is to enrol on a school whose curriculum prefers academics, skill, and cultural perspectives. In the case of boarding school, you need to concern with additional factors, including time for independent study, access to tutoring or academic support, and assistance for a transition into different academic experiences.
Activities
One of the benefits of boarding school is plenty of time for your children to do activities. Another criterion for choosing a boarding school is the availability of extra-curricular and recreational activities. Also, there would be options of activities available, and efficient support from the school in providing and supporting student activities.
Teachers, Caretakers, and Staff
Boarding school would become a second home for your children, which turns teachers and caretakers into their second parents. In this case, teachers, caretakers, and staff would be able to provide your child guidance and support, not only in academics, but also in their daily living, social, and cultural development. Teachers, caretakers, and staff also need to provide and maintain a nurturing environment for their students and maintain communication with parents to aid in the development of the children.
School Facilities
Facilities became a major concern, especially with boarding schools. Four keys to consider are security, hygiene, comfort, and support. Security and hygiene are the must-haves for school and dormitories by seeing how they planned and managed their properties and activities, or asking them about plans for emergency events. In case of comfort, It would be okay for your children to live there for most of their time. For support facilities, the school would have facilities both for living (such as a mini-store, laundry, computer room) and activities (such as a courtyard, running track, library, music room)
Your Child Opinions
The last thing that matters is your children’s opinion of the school. Do not forget that your children are who have to stay and learn at a selected boarding school. Bring them to every school on your shortlist and ask them for their preference about schools you and your children have visited.
PBISS at Samui, your options for boarding school in Thailand
PBISS, a Cambridge international school located in the heartland of Koh Samui, is currently available as both a regular day school and an on-campus boarding school. At PBISS, our brand-new boarding school is providing your children with:
The Only Seaside campus available
Located in the Chaweng District of Koh Samui, one of the Paradise islands of Thailand. PBISS boarding schools are surrounded by a safe and relaxing environment, with a seaside just a few steps from the perimeter of our campus. Our boarding houses are located next to the campus, letting students use plentiful facilities, including a common room, common kitchen, study area, and other school facilities. Our boarding house also includes a bedroom with an en-suite bathroom, Wi-Fi access throughout the campus, Catering and Laundry Services, and 24-hours security with CCTV surveillance.
Cambridge x STEM+ Curriculum
Our crown jewel in providing education is the Cambridge x STEM+ Curriculum, designed under the guidance of Cambridge International Assessment and Cambridge Alumni with vast expertise in education. Cambridge x STEM+ is a curriculum under Cambridge Pathway which provides step-by-step development through the stage, in combination with the STEM+ approach across the curriculum through various subjects to promote active learning that improves students’ education in unique ways through different areas of education.
The never-ending list of activities
Extra-curricular activities is a major supplement for our students at PBISS. Our portfolio vastly ranges from STEM-based academics such as coding and robotics, art and crafts, product design, cooking, music, sports, and even board games. We provide instructors and facilities to help our students benefit from their activities.
Mentoring and Pastoral Care
Pastoral Care is also another strength at PBISS. We care not only about your children’s academic life but also their well-being and welfare. Our teachers and staff coordinate with parents to ensure that students’ developments continue through the guided pathways.
For boarding school students, we also enhanced our support to the student with academic tutoring and counselling to help them continue through a harder part of their education. Our instructor and caretaking are ready to provide our students with guidance and support, both for academic and their daily matters.
