The choice is yours
When it comes to UK boarding education, parents have an array of fantastic schools to choose from.
A UK boarding school education is a popular choice for Hong Kong students. Such schools offer a learning experience that is valued internationally, and the qualifications obtained can lead to a wide range of options in higher education and future careers.
UK boarding schools undoubtedly provide a first-class education. But Ann Johnson, head of Abbots Bromley International College and admissions at Abbots Bromley School, believes they do much more than that. One overlooked advantage of a boarding school is that it gives students the time to explore their personal interests. This can make an important contribution to their overall development.
“Students from Hong Kong, and other Asian countries, feel less pressured in a boarding school environment,” says Johnson, a panelist at the UK Boarding Schools Festival. “A boarding school allows them to try new things, and gives them the opportunity to do the things they are passionate about.” Abbots Bromley School has 225 students, including 22 from Hong Kong.
The panelists note that another overlooked benefit of boarding is the time students save from travelling, which can instead be spent productively. And, Johnson says there’s plenty to keep students busy when they are not studying; with horse riding and dance being just two of the many activities available at Abbots Bromley’s 52-acre site.
Hong Kong students who embark on the UK boarding school journey are seldom alone. According to data from the UK Independent Schools Council, collected from over 1,200 British private schools, says that 20.9 per cent of all non-British pupils whose parents live outside of the UK now come from the mainland, while 17.6 per cent come from Hong Kong.