You live in Phuket? Then why on earth would you send your child to a boarding school in another province or country? Let me share the upsides of boarding that students in Phuket have discussed with me over the years.

Firstly, boarding provides access to opportunities not all day-students get — access to facilities and to Academic, Sports and Arts Scholarships, which require daily interactions with teachers are just a few.

Secondly, boarders benefit from special friendships. When parents work long hours or when the student is an only child, boarding offers round-the-clock support from staff and fellow students and creates friendships that last well beyond the last day of school.

Structure and routine are also crucial. Young people might try to avoid them, but this “scaffolding” helps them navigate their way through unpredictable teenage years. In boarding, a structure is the norm and students get used to it and find it beneficial.

Finally, boarding builds self-reliance and teaches students to be independent in and outside of school. House Parents are always around to guide them, but students become increasingly independent as their boarding school life continues — it really is no wonder that some of the most influential people across the globe spent at least a part of their school days in boarding. The self-reliance that boarding can provide is the bedrock of success, beyond the realm of the classroom. Interested in boarding at BISP? Contact the Head of Boarding and Admissions Officer at cdonovan@bisphuket.ac.th.