Figure 1.-- The form rooms at boarding schools tend to be more important than at day schools. The boading children tend to spend more time in them. Often they have comfortanle chairs and a variety of games the children can use to amuse themselves. |
|
The facilities at a boarding school are much the same as at a day school. Thre classroom facilities are likely to be essentially the same. Sporting facilities are also likely to be similar, although boarding schools tnd to have somewhat more extensive facilities. This is somewhat affected by the location of the schools. There are, however, some important differences. Recreational facilities are much more important at a boarding school because the children spend so much more time there.
A major advantage of a boarding-school education is the greater amount of time available for extra-curricular activities and in particular sport. And facilities are needed for these activities.
Sports facilities are only one aspect here. Dining facilities also tend to be more extensive, obviously because the children eat all their meals at the schools. The form rooms and the commons rooms tend to be more extensive because boarding children use them so much more. Many boarding schools also have their own chapel for religious services. Thee most obvious difference between boarding schools and day schools is obviously the dormitory facilities where the children sleep. Many schools we visited had rather spartan facilities. There were only a few schools that had large dormitories with rows of beds. Almost all of the schools had small group dorms. Normally this meant romms with anout 5-10 bunks, bt usually little furniture. This in part reflected the use oif old mannor houses with many rooms of different sizes. Some schools used bunk beds. Normally the boys had a chair by their bunk to help dress and lay out clean clothes for the next day. Some schools had begun to upgrade these dorms adding furniture allowing the boys drawer space. This was much more common in the senior schools. Generally the girls had more elaborate dorm rooms and this is probaly one reason why the sgools were also upgrading the boys rooms with niceties like tugs.
Improvements in the boarding facilities are some of the major changes made at the schools during the 1990s. This of course makes the schools look better to boith prospective parents and their children. Assessing the quality of the boarding facilities can be misleading in making a jugement about the schools.
The facilities at a boarding school are much the same as at a day school. Thre classroom facilities are likely to be essentially the same. There are some differences. The art and music facilities tend to be more extensive at boarding schools, in part brecause the children have nore time to persue these activities. Also the facilities have recreational uses.
Sporting facilities are also likely to be similar, although boarding schools tnd to have somewhat more extensive facilities. The boarding children have more tome to persue sport than day children. Thus the needed facilities are more important. This is somewhat affected by the location of the schools. Boarding schools which are commonly located in rural areas have room to expand and can afford to ourchase relatively inexpensive real estate. Day schools are almost entirely sity or suburban schools. Often there sinply is no room to expand and even if real estate is available, it is likely to be very expensive.
There are, however, some important differences. Recreational facilities are much more important at a boarding school because the children spend so much more time there.
A major advantage of a boarding-school education is the greater amount of time available for
extra-curricular activities and in particular sport. And facilities are needed for these activities.
Sports facilities are only one aspect here.
Dining facilities also tend to be more extensive, obviously because the children eat all their meals at the schools. <>br>
The form rooms and the commons rooms at boarding schools tend to be more extensive than at day schools because boarding children use them so much more. Of course there are substantial differences from school to school. The boading children tend to spend more time in them. Often they have comfortanle chairs and a variety of games the children can use to amuse themselves.
Boarding schools in Britain significany improved the facilities and amenities for boarders during the 1970s and 80s. One area which was not significantly improved was the libraries. Here we noted many prep schools with rather limited libraries. In many cases there was not really a substantial facility at all, but a small collection in a room, often a multi-purpose room. This actually was a sitiation we observed in both boarding and day schools. Of course a limited library was a particular defecit in a boarding school as the children did not have easy access to the local public library or books in their home. This situation included well-run schools with impresive facilities in other areas. It also contrasted with state schools which commonly had well-socked libraries. The schools did attempt to deal with the situation in a variety of ways, but with children at school as boarders, the lack of access to a well-stocked library seemed a serious weakness.
Many boarding schools also have their own chapel for religious services.
The most obvious difference between boarding schools and day schools is obviously the dormitory facilities where the children sleep. Many schools we visited had rather spartan facilities. There were only a few schools that had large dormitories with rows of beds. Almost all of the schools had small group dorms. Normally this meant romms with anout 5-10 bunks, bt usually little furniture. This in part reflected the use oif old mannor houses with many rooms of different sizes. Some schools used bunk beds. Normally the boys had a chair by their bunk to help dress and lay out clean clothes for the next day. Some schools had begun to upgrade these dorms adding furniture allowing the boys drawer space. This was much more common in the senior schools. Generally the girls had more elaborate dorm rooms and this is probaly one reason why the sgools were also upgrading the boys rooms with niceties like tugs.
Improvements in the boarding facilities are some of the major changes made at the schools during the 1990s. This of course makes the schools look better to boith prospective parents and their children. Assessing the quality of the boarding facilities can be misleading in making a jugement about the schools.
