Bermuda versus Boarding Schools: The Advantage of Staying Home
Best-in-class schools of international standing are here at home in Bermuda. As the Private School Heads Association, we are all too aware of the boarding school marketing campaign that has increased post-COVID. Advertising fairs, promotional materials, social media, and newspaper articles do not accurately compare the well-established and outstanding educational offerings on island. Internationally recognized and historically successful schools are right here, preventing the need to uproot your child.
Bermuda’s private schools offer a variety of ‘buy Bermuda’ benefits which we encourage parents to seriously consider.
Curriculum Variety - There are multiple options on the island including the International Baccalaureate Programme, Advanced Placement, A-Levels, BTEC, Alberta Curriculum, I/GCSEs, MYP and Montessori.
First-Choice College/University Acceptances Rates - Our rates of students being accepted into their first-choice colleges or universities are on par with other schools abroad.
Superb Preparation - Alumni often recount how well prepared they are relative to their peers when they arrive at college/university. This is a testament to the readiness students learn locally, before embarking on their tertiary educational journey.
Representative Diversity - Our well-rounded school populations demonstrate Bermuda’s diversity including students who learn differently.
Competitive Tuition- Our tuition price points are internationally competitive, and in most cases considerably less expensive. The hidden cost of boarding school can quickly add up when you consider travel costs, outfitting dorm rooms, extracurricular, attending parent events, etc.
Internationally Accredited Standards - Our schools are endorsed by organisations such as the Canadian Association of Independent Schools (CAIS), the Council of International Schools (CIS), and the New England Association of Colleges and Schools (NEASC).
More Time at Home - The benefit of having your child at home without the pressure of having to send them off island - why rush emptying the nest.
Overall Risk Reduction - Remaining at home circumvents the disruption children experience through the process of settling in, making new friends, getting to know new teachers and sometimes, even a new culture.
Students may have misconceptions about attending boarding schools.
I need to get off the island to further my experience and to be ready for university.
Simply put, there is no evidence that this has an impact. What we know is that every next step in a child’s academic pathway, whether on island or off island, comes with growth that readies them for university. Moreover, Bermuda’s students have access to apprenticeships and internships unavailable elsewhere.
My friends are going, and I don’t want to be left behind!
Most of those who opt for boarding schools do not end up at the same schools as their friends.
I need to go to a ‘top’ school!
It really depends on what ‘top’ means to you. Schooling is about the most appropriate fit rather than the concept of ‘top’. Again, we believe that the academic institutions on island all offer appropriate (‘top’) options for you.
If I don’t go to the football academy/school now, I’ll lose out!
Students at schools on island are able to achieve representative teams in Bermuda, access talent scouts, and overseas training opportunities during holiday periods. When looking into football academies, be sure that they can provide what you seek athletically, academically, socially, and emotionally.
While there might be a specific reason why an overseas option may work for your child, with the multitude of excellent schools in Bermuda, we believe this is the exception rather than the rule. We strongly advocate that you do your research about the boarding school experience and consider the benefits of a local education.
