Alistair Roland, Director of Boarding at leading boy’s comprehensive school, Shore, champions the multitude of benefits afforded to students while dispelling the preconceived notions of the traditional boarding school.
Despite preconceived ideas of boarding schools being overly authoritarian, for families in the Southern Highlands they are increasingly becoming the preferred choice as they place great value on a well-rounded education that nurtures comprehensive development.
At Shore, an all-boys school in North Sydney, 60% of its boarding enrolments are from regional locations. Surveyed parents cite higher education outcomes, greater independence and self-reliance and increased preparedness for post-school environments to be the top reasons for opting to send their children to boarding schools.
Alistair Roland, Director of Boarding at Shore in North Sydney says that widely held notions of boarding schools stand in contrast to modern boarding education of today.
"It struck me recently how outdated the public's perception of boarding schools can be. I had a conversation where someone mentioned the old threat, ‘If you don't behave yourself, I'll send you off to boarding school.’ And it hit home that the perception still lingers, but it couldn't be further from the truth,” Roland said.
“As boarding educators, we must actively work to dispel the myth and negative narrative surrounding boarding school, as the promise and positivity it holds are large.”
Roland is passionate about boarding education and the wealth of opportunities and benefits Shore Boarding extends to its students.
“The boarding school of today is a far cry from its historical reputation. It's an environment filled with kindness, support, and a myriad of activities aimed at comprehensive development, both inside and outside the classroom. Essentially, it's their normal routine students would have at home, but enriched with a sense of community and camaraderie,” he said.
With the growing demands facing students, particularly in their final years of high school, many parents have found that the structured environment of boarding school is one of its strongest assets, especially for students in the crucial last four years of high school.
"Weekly boarding offers a balanced lifestyle, allowing students to stay at the school from Monday to Friday and spend weekends at home. This balance is becoming increasingly appealing to parents, particularly those who find it challenging to assist their children academically as the curriculum becomes more complex," Roland said.
Above all, the wellbeing of students at Shore is paramount. In fostering an enhanced sense of well-being among students, Shore ensures students are engaged in communications in varied settings from classrooms and sports fields to casual outings. Having an overall sense of well-being sets up students for success ensuring their enthusiasm and engagement both inside and outside of the classroom.
“Shore places great emphasis on multi-faceted interactions allowing for a deeper understanding of each student’s needs and challenges. This close relationship is particularly crucial in a boys’ school setting where students might not always express their concerns openly. By engaging with them across various platforms, we can more easily identify any issues they may be facing and provide appropriate support,” Roland said.
Shore students on campus
Ensuring boarding students’ overall well-being is supported and complemented by a multitude of offerings. The vertically structured boarding houses at the North Sydney campus serve as communities that cultivate meaningful interactions across different age groups, naturally fostering a culture of mentorship and mutual learning. The around the clock access to on-duty staff and academic and IT means students can focus on their studies in a conducive environment.
And while for some students the transition from a rural or regional to a bustling urban setting can be overwhelming with them having to adapt to interacting with a larger group of peers than they are ordinarily used to, Mr Roland believes this is counteracted with sports and extra-curricular activities.
"Engaging students in team activities helps them find their community and feel more at home. It's up to the schools to facilitate this process, perhaps by promoting clubs and activities where these students can find like-minded peers,” Roland said.
Along with the delivering the best in academic excellence and offering an extensive and varied extracurricular offerings, Shore Boarding is committed to supporting students to excel in every aspect of their academic and personal development through a world aware approach.
"I believe there's an increasing need for boarding schools to be more globally aware. I think it's crucial for any boarding school to be reflective of what the world truly is, including the diversity found in Sydney," Roland said.
The above article was contributed by Shore, a leading comprehensive Day and Boarding School located in North Sydney.