While the historic abuses committed at boarding schools are many and we are perhaps only now scratching the surface, much has changed (Letters, 22 March). I have had the privilege to work in two boarding schools for over a decade and, along with my colleagues, am proud to contribute to the warm and comprehensive pastoral care of the young people in our care. The health, happiness and confidence of our students is paramount and at the forefront of everything we do.
Most of our pupils are on generous bursaries of 80% or more of their boarding fees, with many being fully funded, so it is not the case that boarding is always the preserve of the wealthy, nor that it is for parents who wish to foist their children on others.
All of my students are at boarding school to pursue the vocational aspects it offers, and not because their parents don’t want them, as was historically the case for some pupils and as is implied by almost all accounts from “boarding school survivors”. Boarding has changed, and for many young people it is an incredibly enriching experience.
William Rowsley
Houseparent, Elmhurst Ballet school
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