International Boarding Schools

What actually matters in a boarding school

Fees and curriculum are only the start. What actually separates boarding schools is the care structure — whether it's full boarding (children stay at weekends too) or weekly boarding (home on weekends); the boarder-to-day-pupil ratio (a fully residential community feels nothing like a school where most pupils leave on Friday); and how guardianship, medical and pastoral support are arranged. These rarely show up in rankings, yet they shape a child's actual daily life more than anything else.

• • Guardianship — many countries require an appointed local guardian for international boarders.
• • Full vs weekly boarding — and how many boarders are actually there at weekends.
• • Accreditation and inspection band — what we tier on; placement is always flagged 'school-reported, unverified'.