4 boarding schools producing independent, responsible graduates through well-rounded education

Academic preparation for university, however superior, is no longer enough to succeed in today’s increasingly complex and interconnected world. To get a competitive advantage, students require a variety of spiritual, service, creative, and athletic programmes. These, and more, are available at boarding institutions.

The best boarding schools are built on the pillars of opportunity, offering a rigorous academic atmosphere in which achievement is both modelled and expected, as well as numerous possibilities for students to pursue their creative curiosities and athletic prowess. The result? Individuality thrives, success is within reach and lifelong friendships are formed.

The boarding school setting is also a melting pot of various cultures that serves as an ideal learning platform. Young minds are prepared for a more globalised world, armed with a multicultural perspective on life. Here are four boarding schools in Europe with a track record of producing well-rounded graduates:

Chavagnes International College

A rounded education for the whole person can take you places. Chavagnes International College offers a chance to go further. It starts in small classes and specialist subjects with some of the most dedicated teachers you’ll ever meet. From there, ideas expand and borders start to break down: between maths and languages, for example, or between science and music, or between the campus community and the world at large.

Source: Chavagnes International College

Here, students achieve academic excellence through coaching and leadership training.  Located in the Vendée, in the beautiful Pays de la Loire region of the west of France, the all-boys Catholic boarding school provides a classical education that sparks spiritual, moral and intellectual growth — the very kind that forms the leaders needed by Europe and the world in the 21st century.

This is complemented by an environment that develops self-reliant and effective team players. Chavagnes students carry with them the bonds they form here for life. Forged from its international environment of aspirational, kind and conscientious young men, they have a solid network of friends for the future as well as a team that learns together.

Only the best of British and French education is offered here. By the time you graduate from Chavagnes, you’ll be more than ready for what’s next. Students have achieved great success in Cambridge Assessments, GCSEs, and A-Levels. Many continue to top universities — such as Oxford, Cambridge as well as leading French, Spanish and American universities — before taking on leadership positions in business, law, journalism, diplomacy or public service. To learn more about the school that “successfully draws on and offers the richest traditions of Western civilisation” as described by the National Catholic Register, click here.

International School of Milan

At the International School of Milan, you will find the most progressive thinking linked to strong academic standards. This premier international IB school is renowned for its high educational standards and caring environment. Here, students from ages two to 18 study alongside an international community with over 50 nationalities.

IS Milan classrooms encourage collaboration and mutual support. The PYP, MYP, and IB Diploma programmes at the school properly prepare pupils for continued study in a variety of settings around the world, including at some of the world’s most prestigious universities.

Source: International School of Milan Facebook

The IB curriculum consists of six discipline-based subject groups — Studies in language and literature; Language acquisition; Individuals and societies; Sciences; Mathematics; The arts — as well as the Theory of Knowledge (TOK); Creativity, Activity, Service; and Extended Essay.

IS Milan is not just a school, it is the largest campus in Italy, located only a few kilometres from the centre of Milan. The school provides state-of-the-art facilities, with an indoor swimming pool and auditorium. Parents are assured of their children’s safety with dedicated houseparents and 24/7 supervision and security.

Sotogrande International School

At the Sotogrande International School, students learn through an innovative hybrid system. They get the best of both worlds by experiencing in-class learning and live online lessons.

The school has one goal: to create extraordinary educational experiences for all students, providing opportunities for them to explore their gifts and talents.

Located in Cádiz, Spain, Sotogrande allows students make the most of the beautiful weather and surroundings. Lessons here often take place outside and students often get to learn by doing, making it easier to absorb and understand information. How is this achieved? Through educational excursions, interactive lessons and the creative use of technology. Here, students from 50 countries gain a challenging, nurturing and academically rigorous international education.

Source: Sotogrande International School

Sotogrande is an IB World School, offering the Primary Years Programme (PYP), Middle Years Programme (MYP) and the Diploma Programme (DP). The school understands that getting ahead of the curve means adapting to technological advancement. Curriculum are frequently updated to incorporate the latest in edtech.

The school’s Global Citizenship Programme, which is guided by UNESCO and the Council of International Schools, empowers students to tackle and overcome global concerns. This encourages students to assume active roles to create a more peaceful and sustainable world.

TASIS The American School in England

 If you want the best of both sides of the Atlantic, head to TASIS The American School in England. This is where students can benefit from an American education in the UK, with multiple academic pathways open to them: the American high school diploma, Advanced Placement (AP) courses, or the International Baccalaureate Diploma Programme.

The TASIS approach fuses personalised learning, a diverse campus with 60 nationalities represented, and a four-year College Counselling programme. The result? An admirable 96% of graduates receive offers from their  first- or second-choice universities. In a typical year, 40% join US universities, 40% UK universities, and the rest are spread around the world — they can be found at over 50 of the Times Higher Education Top 100 universities worldwide.

Source: TASIS The American School in England

Life at TASIS England is a rich tapestry of ideas and opportunities. At this stunning 46-acre campus, just 35 minutes from central London and 15 minutes from Heathrow airport, pupils form friendships and connections with peers from around the world as well as the local community.

The School’s Academic Travel Programme also enables students to extend their learning beyond the classroom with staff-supervised trips around the UK and to European destinations such as Portugal, Spain, Germany, Austria, Croatia, Romania, Italy, and Greece, as well as to simply have fun skiing together in Switzerland.

“TASIS England inspires a passion for learning throughout our day and boarding programs,” says Bryan Nixon, Head of School. “At TASIS England they will gain independence, responsibility, respect, and a sense of creativity through the development of relationships that will transcend their time at our School. Quite simply, we are developing the leaders of the future by going above and beyond in every aspect of school life.”

*Some of the institutions featured in this article are commercial partners of Study International