Figure 1.-- Boarding school and day school classes have many similarities. There is, however, a noticably different atmoshere in the boarding school classrooms. Here a boy at a boarding school explains a math problem to one of his classmates. |
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The boarding school classroom is not fundamentally different than the prep school day school classroom. This is particularly true in modern schools where even at boarding schools there are often quite a number of day children. This varies from school to school. Many boarding schools restict day boy numbers, but the general trend has been for increasing numbers of day boys. While the classrooms are very similar, there are differences. The physical facilities can be different. Many boarding schools have classrooms in buildings that were not purpose built schools. They have converted rooms in an old manor house or other facilities for classroom use. This varies a great deal from school to school. This has been done to various degress of success. Some have been converted to very comfortable teaching spaces. Sone look rarher rough or decrepit. Most successfil boarding schools have upfated the classroom spaces or are in the process of doing so. Size is another factor. Boarding schools tend to have smaller classes than day schools which often have class sizes closer to the state syste,. The size of the classes of course affects the spaces than can be used for class rooms. And this affects the classroom atmposhere. The relationship the teacher develops with the children also tends to be different at boarding schools. This comes from familiarity and the time together. Unlike day schols, the relstionship is not just a classroom relatioinship. Of course this is difficult to capture un a photograph. The children live together becoming more like brithers and sisters. And the teacher is an adult that the children encounter in many other activities outside the classroom. Thus the relationship is based on much more than academics. And the teachers get to know the children much more intimarely than just as an academic instructor. This is of course an important part of the prep school experience which has carry on benefits in the classroom.
Many preparatory day school classrooms look much like state school classrooms with modern looking classrooms and furniture. The modern furniture tends to be lighter and more easily moved. The classrooms varied a great deal from school to school. Some schools are centered on old homes while others have like sate schools, purpose-built buildings. The boarding schools in particular often had some older looking classrooms and furniture, but this was rapidly changing in the 1980s. The boarding school classroom is not fundamentally different than the prep school day school classroom. This is particularly true in modern schools where even at boarding schools there are often quite a number of day children. This varies from school to school. Many boarding schools restict day boy numbers, but the general trend has been for increasing numbers of day boys. It is not possible to tell the difference between day and boarding school classrooms by looking at these images.
While the classrooms are very similar, there are differences. The physical facilities can be different. Many boarding schools have classrooms in buildings that were not purpose built schools. They have converted rooms in an old manor house or other facilities for classroom use. This varies a great deal from school to school. This has been done to various degress of success. Some have been converted to very comfortable teaching spaces. Sone look rarher rough or decrepit. Most successfil boarding schools have upfated the classroom spaces or are in the process of doing so. Size is another factor. Boarding schools tend to have smaller classes than day schools which often have class sizes closer to the state syste,. The size of the classes of course affects the spaces than can be used for class rooms. And this affects the classroom atmposhere. The relationship the teacher develops with the children also tends to be different at boarding schools. This comes from familiarity and the time together. Unlike day schols, the relstionship is not just a classroom relatioinship. Of course this is difficult to capture un a photograph. The children live together becoming more like brithers and sisters. And the teacher is an adult that the children encounter in many other activities outside the classroom. Thus the relationship is based on much more than academics. And the teachers get to know the children much more intimarely than just as an academic instructor. This is of course an important part of the prep school experience which has carry on benefits in the classroom.
