Edited by Amanda Ferrari Boarding Schools Expo Australia
It may seem simple but is often overlooked: don’t be afraid to ask.
In the lead-up to becoming a new boarding family at a school, you consider it a real privilege that your child has been given a spot and you’re often immersed in completing a myriad of forms and getting ready for all the opportunities.
For many families, the financial commitment of boarding school can put a grey cloud above the whole situation, but it doesn’t necessarily need to.
Most schools have funds available to ensure diversity in their cohorts through investing in prospective and current students with the offer of scholarships and bursaries. While it may not be easy to find on a school’s website you can definitely find out via Boarding Schools Expo Australia’s website where there is a comprehensive list of each school’s offerings and closing dates for applying.
The Australian Boarding Schools Summit available on demand via Boarding Expo 365 had an entire segment dedicated to the financial implications of sending a child to boarding school – there’s some absolute gold in that. Watch it.
Just know that there is no shame in asking for financial support. The worst a school can say is ‘no,’ though even then, I would respectfully challenge it.
Position your child as their authentic self – resist the urge to create a ‘box ticking’ application.
Focus on your child’s true character, their values, the things they love doing and are interested in, the things that bring them joy, the things that challenge them and the way they interact with family, peers, teachers and other members of the community.
If the school asks for a personal statement written by your child, please let them write it.
Schools can tell almost instantly when parents have tried to write the letter from the perspective of a 12-year-old. Whether they write about how much they care about the climate crisis or John Deere tractors, let their individual flare convert to paper so the school can get a genuine understanding of your child.
Make sure you focus on what your child will bring to the school, not just on how they will benefit from the experience.
You may need an accountant for the finer details for some scholarships & bursaries.
Your accountant may need to provide details on your personal financial position for certain types of bursaries. There are many bursaries and scholarships that are provided to families who otherwise would not be able to send their child/ren to the boarding school of their choice. Things like your assets and liabilities; your profit and loss; your statement of position. All things your accountant will be across. Ask the school you’re enquiring to about their requirements for financial assistance.
Ensure your application is specific to the school you’re applying to.
Just like applying for a job, you want whoever’s reading the application to know that you’ve done your research.
They don’t want to know how much your child wants to be a boarder as much as they want to know how much your child wants to be a boarder at their school.
Within your application some of the things you could address include :
- How your child’s personal values and your family values align with the school values;
- How the teaching style will compliment your child’s natural learning ability;
- How the physical environment and facilities will be of benefit to their growth;
- What kind of leadership opportunities you feel your child would embrace;
- What school-specific events or activities you believe they would want to be involved in;
- Why your child would take pride in being a student at the school.
Talk about the process and the financial commitment with your child.
Where appropriate, don’t be afraid to involve your child in the conversation.
It can be a good opportunity to make them aware of the financial sacrifice of sending a child to boarding school without making them feel fearful or guilty.
Having an ‘adult’ conversation about it with them may make them feel better-informed and trusted with the information.
For more information check out our Australian Boarding Schools Summit 2022 panel discussion, But how are we going to pay for it? Now available on-demand at Boarding Expo 365 (our Virtual Expo open 365 days). Jen Cowley OAM speaks with representatives from education foundations, Indigenous scholarship providers, investment companies helping you plan and the schools themselves.
PANEL: Alana Moller – Federal President of the ICPA, Waverley Stanley – Yalari Director, Alistair Edmunds – EdStart, Jo Grinham – The King‘s School