British boarding schools: why French families are making the leap

British boarding schools seem to become an increasingly attractive option for French families looking for a different educational experience. 

A recent Le Figaro ranking of 37 British boarding schools aimed at French pupils showed this growing interest in spending a term, a year or even longer in the UK.

The decision is usually tied to learning English through total immersion, discovering another way of teaching and helping children become more independent. 

Charlotte Lestienne, founder of The Way To The UK, an agency that helps French-speaking families place their children in British boarding schools, has seen this demand first-hand.

“The first objective is to have better English,” she told The Connexion. “It is one of the best ways to do it because you are completely immersed with English students.”

Families are also looking for a different experience of school and daily life.

“The second objective is to go and see something different: a different education, a different way of teaching, a different way of living,” Ms Lestienne explained.

For some children, the move can also offer an alternative if they are struggling with the French education system.

“Sometimes the French system is not adapted to the student, and they want to try something else,” she said.

Ms Lestienne highlights what she sees as a more positive approach to education in the UK.

“It’s always ‘well done, well done, well done’,” she said. “Even students who can struggle in France sometimes find a way here not to struggle.”

She also pointed to differences in marking and in the relationship between teachers and pupils. The aim, she said, is not simply to focus on grades but also to encourage students and build their confidence.

The difficult first weeks

The transition is not always easy. Children arriving at a British boarding school are suddenly faced with a new language, new classmates, a new school system and a completely different daily routine.

“The first two weeks are always a bit more difficult because you don’t know anyone, it’s not your language, it’s not your culture,” Ms Lestienne said.

There are small cultural adjustments too. “You eat at 18:00, you have to wear a uniform, everything is new.”

But, in her experience, the initial anxiety usually fades quickly.

“After the first two weeks, the students realise that maths is maths, physics is physics, chemistry is chemistry,” she said.

Once they understand what is happening in lessons and get used to the routines, they generally begin to feel at home.

In fact, many do not want to leave.

“Some would like to stay all their life,” Ms Lestienne said. For many families, however, the main obstacle is the cost. British boarding schools can cost tens of thousands of euros a year.

A French family that has already taken the leap

For Vanessa Dusaintpère, the experience was positive enough that she is now preparing to send her second son to the UK.

Her eldest son, Nathan, went to England at the age of 15 in 2023 for six weeks at St Joseph's College in Ipswich.

“He went to a boarding school in England to improve his English and to give him a European experience,” she told The Connexion.

Nathan soon settled in. “He said it was difficult at first, but very quickly he felt comfortable.”

The experience also delivered the result the family had hoped for: Nathan's English improved significantly. After completing his French Baccalauréat, he reached almost C2 level and is now preparing to study at McGill University in Canada, entirely in English.

“We are convinced by the experience of going abroad,” Ms Dusaintpère said. “Whether it is boarding school, summer school or a school trip, it’s great.”

Now, her younger son, now also aged 15, is preparing to follow in his brother's footsteps.