The decision to send your child away to boarding school is not an easy one – and many parents go through a lot of soul-searching before they’ve finally made up their minds. How to choose a boarding school can be a tough task – you need to make sure your child will thrive academically and have the opportunity to grow personally and gain independence while also having a strong support system.
In this post, we’ll look more in detail at some of the factors to consider when choosing a boarding school – and what The Global College can offer, as one of the leading IB schools in Spain.
What is a boarding school?
A boarding school, like The Global College, is essentially a school with a hall of residence where boarders live and stay. Students live in the residence throughout the academic year and attend lessons with non-boarding students.
One of the key benefits of a boarding school in Madrid is the international environment that students experience. At TGC, our borders come from all over the world. Experiencing a bilingual education as part of the IB curriculum, and having the chance to socialise and mix with fellow students from across the world, makes their time with us truly enriching and helps foster a love for learning.
What are the advantages of boarding school?
There are many advantages to choosing a boarding school in Madrid. At The Global College, in their two year pre-university experience, students will get the opportunity to develop their social, academic, and professional skills thanks to the all-round education they receive.
Our staff are all experienced in teaching the IB programme. However, in addition to years of teaching, they have also working across different sectors and industries, and share their experiences and knowledge with the students as they begin their journey towards choosing a university degree and launching their own careers.
Being based in Madrid, our boarders will have the chance to experience one of the most attractive European capital cities and all the cultural, gastronomic, and sporting advantages it offers, from the famous Prado and Reina Sofia museums, the Retiro Park, to watching a game at the world famous Santiago Bernabeu stadium.
What to consider when choosing a boarding school?
There are many things you should consider when choosing a boarding school – you will have plenty of questions along the way. But as a starting point, these are some of the things you should bear in mind:
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- Location: The location of the school will directly impact the quality of the boarding experience. Located in the very heart of Madrid, in the Salamanca district, The Global College offers the chance to really experience the city. We are a short walk from the Retiro Park, the green lungs of Madrid. Nearby, you can find world famous art museums. And just north of us is the Santiago Bernabeu, home to 14-time Champions League winners, Real Madrid.
- Facilities: The spaces where students spend their time will determine the quality of their activities. Having comfortable spaces is key to a positive learning experience. Our residence offers top-class facilities for students to feel like they are at home. And our campus has been designed for them to benefit from collaborative learning and making the most of technology.
- Pastoral care: While ensuring students receive a thorough and rigorous education via the IB curriculum, ensuring they have the support required during their time with us is vital. Students will have a tutor to accompany them, and we also have a wellbeing programme at the college.
- Academic quality: As well as following the IB programme, the academic experience at The Global College is enriched thanks to our alliance with IE University. We often have professors from the university come and give talks and presentations, while students at TGC can also use the facilities at IE Tower, one of the most innovative educational hubs in Spain.
We hope that this post helps understand more about how to choose a boarding school. However, the best option is to come and see for yourself. Contact us to join one of our Open Days or organise a visit.
