Melanie Butler on the benefits of boarding

The strongest sector in UK ELT, according to inspection reports, are the boarding school operations.

The mean average of the overall UK ELT industry is five net areas of strength. Half of all schools nationally score five or below and the most common score is three.

In the boarding sector the most common score is ten net areas of strength and half of all schools in this category score nine points or above. None score below three.

Many accredited operations use boarding school campuses in the summer, but most of these are not boarding schools. Legally, the term applies only to residential educational institutions teaching a full-curriculum year round to students aged under 16.

They must by law pass an inspection by the educational authorities. British Council inspection is optional.

A wide range of them are BC accredited. Some accredited summer courses are run by historic foundations like St Edmunds College and Stonyhurst, whilst others are family-owned, like Buckswood Overseas Summer School (BOSS).

There are schools, like Bishopstrowe, which specialize in international students year-round. Others, like Concord College, run high schools year round and take younger learners in the holidays. St Clare’s Oxford operates a year-round adult language school, the King’s group runs four.

Britain’s great boarding tradition bestrides the field of EFL.