If you are moving countries regularly or travelling a lot for work, boarding might bring some stability for kids and less stress of switching schools regularly for you.. There are also other benefits that come with boarding, including sports and extra curricular activities – and a higher standard of education than is on offer where you’re posted. We take a look at a life in a couple of boarding schools in Asia plus feedback from staff and boarders.
United World College of South East Asia – Singapore
For NICO, a student at UWC South East Asia in Singapore, the Dover campus is both his school and his home. He left Hong Kong at age 14 to embark on his boarding school journey; he’s now 16 and about to complete Grade 10.
“Both my parents and I think that my boarding experience will help better prepare me for living alone in the future,” says Nico. Helping students to become confident, independent and ready for university and life beyond are crucial aims of boarding life at UWCSEA. More importantly, the experience encourages lifelong friendships, understanding and an appreciation for different perspectives that cross socio-economic, cultural and geographical boundaries.
More than 300 boarders, including 110 scholarship students, live across the Dover and East campuses at UWCSEA, representing 77 nations with 80 spoken home languages. This level of diversity is unique among many boarding schools.
“Living with people from all around the world lets you form deeper bonds with them. The boarding culture is also very welcoming,” Nico says.
A day as a UWCSEA boarder
7am – Wake up: Students get ready for school and head to the Pavilion Canteen at Dover campus or the Santai Cafe at East Campus for a wide selection of breakfast dishes.
8am to 3pm – Lessons: Boarding houses on both campuses are “out-of-bounds” during the school day (Grade 11 and 12 students have more flexibility). Students take breaks and lunch along with the day students so everyone can mingle.
12.45pm – Lunchtime: “The lunch food is very, very good,” says Nico, “with lots of variety and almost every type of cuisine. My favourite is the lasagna.” Sometimes, students get involved in lunchtime meetings or activities.
3pm to 4.15pm – After-school activities: These can range from arts to sports or joining clubs, societies or language studies. When Nico came to UWCSEA, joining rugby and football teams was a way for him to conquer his shyness.
4.15pm to 6pm – Time to chill: Students touch base with their houseparent, hangout with friends, study, collect laundry, or message their parents. Students can go off campus if it’s pre-approved.
6pm to 6.45pm – Dinner time: Themed dinners allow students to share their culture through that most important of mediums, food. (Food is a major preoccupation for boarders!)
7pm to 9pm – Homework and study (“prep”): This period is supervised by assistant houseparents who are also teachers and can provide support if needed.
9.30pm – Technology time out: Grades 8, 9 and 10 hand in their phones and laptops during this wind-down period, and get ready for bed. Grades 11 and 12 can stay up a bit later.
12am – Wi-Fi is switched off.
The transition to boarding school at UWCSEA
Living away from home is challenging, but Nico said he found the transition period easy. “I never felt like I was alone; if I needed something, I could ask.” He says his Head of Grade would always stop and chat to find out how he was doing, and that boarding encouraged him to meet new people and try new things.
Boarders are surrounded with a robust network of care, with UWCSEA teachers and staff taking on roles as houseparents in charge of student wellbeing. They also regularly meet their “house family” – students from different grades along with a houseparent who together are responsible for the wellbeing of their “family”.
Nico will go on to do the IB Diploma Programme after the summer break, returning to life as a residential student. He says of his home for another two academic years: “The campus is large and very green. So it feels like you aren’t really in a school.”
East Campus: 1 Tampines Street 73, Singapore
Dover Campus: 1207 Dover Road, Singapore
uwcsea.edu.sg
Marlborough College Malaysia – Johor
Two HK students tell us about their boarding school experience at Marlborough College Malaysia, just north of Singapore.
Sofia Ho, 17
Lower Sixth/Year 12
Favourite subjects
Music and Design Technology.
Favourite thing about boarding
Boarding overseas can be challenging at the start, but it gets easier as you get to know others around you, forming bonds to create that feeling of another home. You end up bonding with them like siblings! Boarding has also taught me to be more independent in almost every aspect of life.
An insight into life as a boarder
After school, I spend time with my friends in the common room; it’s nice chatting with students I’m not so familiar with, too – you get to learn and experience more from different cultures within this small community. We also have team-building activities ranging from sports to music; at first they can seem a bit tough, but they end up being lots of fun.
I do choir as a co-curricular activity – we’re currently working on a medley from La La Land. Anyone and everyone can join, there are no requirements.
Academic support as a first-year IBDP student
There are always teachers available to ask for help, including subject teachers on duty within different boarding houses. They’re very accessible to students who might quickly need help with something.
Matthew Lok, 15
Year 11
Favourite subject
Maths – it’s challenging and fun!
Favourite thing about boarding
I enjoy the independence I get from boarding; I learn new skills and also have a better focus on academics as it’s easy to access all my materials and revision notes. It definitely helps me do more work. There are great facilities at Marlborough College, too, like the gym and swimming pool.
An insight into life as a boarder
I enjoy having a room where I can go back to at break and lunch to get my books needed for lessons – it means I don’t have to lug heavy books in my bag the entire day. After school, I hang out with friends and then we have designated prep time at night; we then use the sports hall or play on the football pitch. Pupils across boarding houses will join us to play basketball or other sports.
Typical weekend
I’m a weekly boarder, so I go back home (now Singapore) every Friday afternoon. The transport system is very efficient and laid out, and the staff plan all the travel details, so there’s no stress.
About Marlborough College Malaysia
Established in 2012, Marlborough is located in Johor Bahru, on Malaysia’s southern coast, with easy access to Singapore’s Changi Airport and the four-hour flight to Hong Kong. The campus is a lush 90 acre estate with a lake for water sports, an organic farm, rugby and football pitches and an Olympic-sized swimming pool. Students from the six boarding houses on campus can use all of these facilities.
The College follows the UK curriculum and is based on British standards and content, enriched with a global perspective. It offers the IGCSE qualification for 16-year olds and the International Baccalaureate for 18-year-olds.
Many teaching staff and their families live on campus, and teachers are readily available to assist with homework, while visiting tutors offer subject specific help during evenings and weekends.
Marlborough College Malaysia is a sister school of Marlborough College UK; the two institutions are closely connected, with a shared history spanning over 175 years.
Marlborough College Malaysia is at Jalan Marlborough, 79200 Iskandar Puteri, Johor, Malaysia.
marlboroughcollegemalaysia.org
