Boarding Schools Association: Will Hutton addresses state boarding schools conference

On Saturday 7 June, the BSA published its first general advertisement for boarding. I hope you noticed it in the Daily Telegraph, at the top of one of the pages in what they had billed as a 'Boarding Supplement', and which certainly contained an interesting article from Max Davidson about how life has changed for boarders since his own days at boarding school.

We are so used to news stories about bad experiences of boarding in what now seem like the Dark Ages, it was quite refreshing to read that Max recalled boarding in the 1970s as 'basic but without any Dickensian brutalities. . . a certain monastic simplicity about the dormitories. . .a no-frills establishment, typical of the time.'

On the other hand, I think he's right to notice that these days schools are in a highly competitive market, and presenting the right snap-shot of the whole school experience, when parents and pupils visit to make choices and decisions, can be easier if the school really does offer some kind of 'Wow!' impact at first sight.

The whole business of consumers seeking 'an experience' from every supplier was a major element in the address given to the State Boarding Schools' Association Annual General Meeting on Monday 9 June by Will Hutton, Chief Executive of The Work Foundation and one time Editor in Chief of The Observer.

He urged Heads to ensure that pupils leave schools well equipped with the 'soft skills' so necessary for the knowledge economy into which they are growing up. Good grades are no longer enough - school leavers today need a wide repertoire of confidence, presentation skills, people skills including the ability to lead and the ability to work well as part of a team when you're not the leader (one could wish would-be Apprentice stars could have heard him).


Hilary Moriarty
National Director
Boarding Schools' Association
020 7798 1580
Fax: 020 7798 1581
Mobile: 07770 262929