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‘State education’ and ‘boarding’ are words that don’t often appear together, but recently the ‘state’ has realised what a gem it has in the 35 schools that are, in fact, state boarding schools. In these schools, parents pay for the boarding element and the government pays for the education. This means that, typically, parents pay between £8,000 and £10,000 per year for a state boarding education while this might be the termly figure in some independent schools.

So, state boarding schools offer the benefits of a boarding education but at a third of the normal price. Is there a catch? Not really, for the 35 schools are among the highest-performing state schools in the country judged by the raw score of GCSE and A-level results, and also by the measure of ‘adding value’ – students do better in a state boarding school than their previous achievements would lead people to believe. A better education can be measured many ways, but the state boarding sector does well in all of them.

In the last two years the government has recognised this fact by investing over £20 million in new boarding facilities. Demand for places is high in state boarding (five applicants for every place in some sixth forms) so the new places that will be created (over 300 at the last count) will give more parents the opportunity to send their children to these popular schools. The sector is also varied, with schools ranging from single-sex grammar schools to the largest mixed boarding school in Europe. There is also a school that specialises in rural technology and attracts 50% of its students from the world of farming. The evening activities in welding, engineering and blacksmithing are something not found in many schools, so even the practical boys are catered for in state boarding – but, as this is my school, I won’t go on about it too much!

Living and working together is part of the adult world, so state boarding rightly claims that it prepares its student for real life and, of course, real work. The facilities at state boarding schools often match those of the independent sector, but it is the ethos that is so obviously shared. Responsibility and caring for others are integral to how boarding schools operate. Working and playing hard are essential ingredients, but so is the caring relationship that is formed between staff and students. The stability offered by state boarding gives parents the comfort of knowing that their children are cared for, working within the national curriculum and gaining the benefits of growing and learning with their friends.

The State Boarding Schools Association (SBSA) website (www.sbsa.org.uk) has all the details and I can guarantee that not many of your friends know that state boarding schools exist. Now that the government knows and has invested so significantly, it won’t be long before everyone knows – so get there first!