Presenter: This is Education Today. Hello and welcome! In our studio today is William Chandler, founder and CEO of Boarding Best, the agency that will help your child find the best boarding school. Good morning, Mr. Chandler! Thank you for joining us today!

William Chandler: Good morning! Thank you for inviting me.

Presenter: So. A boarding school in the 21^st century. Is it really a thing? Isn’t it something from the Victorian era  — if not earlier? Or, for that matter,  — a fantasy book?

William Chandler: Well, yes and no. The first boarding school appeared in Britain in the 14^th century. That was Winchester College. Sixty years later, in 1440 Eton College opened its doors. And then some others. But the boom of boarding schools was, of course, in the 19^th century, as you have mentioned. The industrial revolution generated lots of money. Many industrialists could afford an expensive education for their children. Boarding schools for boys and for girls were thriving.

Presenter: I’m sure this changed in the 20^th century.

William Chandler: It did. By the end of the 20^th century boarding schools became less popular, and the number of boarders in Britain fell considerably. But now we see a true revival, even though everything comes at a cost.

Presenter: What do you mean?

William Chandler: Well, British boarding schools have always been quintessentially British, but today they are suffering from an identity crisis. Over 40% of their pupils come from other countries. And only 2-⁠5% of British children are full boarders at boarding schools.

Presenter: Really? That’s incredible! Why is that?

William Chandler: Several reasons. First of all, prices have gone up in the last 10 years from about £23,000 per year to an average of £35,000 now. Many British middle and upper-⁠middle class families who used to send their children to boarding schools, no longer can afford it. Whereas the growth of wealth in Asia combined with concerns about the quality of local education created a huge demand from overseas students. Another reason is that in the West, there’s recently been a change in attitudes towards children, their upbringing and education which made boarding schools less attractive to parents.

Presenter: I can understand that. I wouldn’t want to send my children away and miss watching them grow up. I would certainly want to be an influence in their upbringing.

William Chandler: Today many parents think the same way. But now you can find a reasonably good school locally, while in the previous centuries there were very few of them. Education was not compulsory, and only wealthy families could afford it and, for that matter, were interested in giving their children a good education. So, a boarding school was their only option. Besides, for centuries public schools were viewed as the place where a true English gentleman was raised. Parents would send their boys off to boarding schools hoping they would grow up less spoiled, more self-⁠disciplined, and considerate of others.

Presenter: There is truth in that. I’ve heard many rich people say that it is a lot more difficult to raise a child when you are wealthy than if you are poor. It’s hard not to spoil them. Of course you can be a very strict parent, but then  — how do you maintain good relationships with your children? It’s easier to delegate this mission to a school. But then the question is  — how traditional are modern British boarding schools in that sense? There are many books written about their horrors and their fearful, cruel headmasters and headmistresses disciplining children.

William Chandler: I’m happy to say all that is in the past. Modern British boarding schools are extremely competitive. They have to be. Old ways are out of fashion now, and schools need a good reputation to get their students. So, no need to worry about that... (fading out).