I am sure you know that running a boarding school is not a small thing if you've ever attemped to do it. It’s like managing a miniature city, with students, staff, and systems all requiring attention. Over the years, I’ve seen some common mistakes boarding schools make that end up costing them—sometimes financially, but more often in trust, reputation, and student outcomes.
Let’s talk about five of these costly mistakes, how I’ve seen them play out, and what we can do to avoid them.
1. Neglecting Proper Staff Training
I once visited a boarding house where the staff were passionate but clearly overwhelmed. They weren’t equipped to handle the unique challenges of boarding house life. And what do you think the result was? Inconsistent discipline, emotional burnout, and frustrated students.
The mistake here is assuming that a teacher or support staff member can automatically handle boarding house responsibilities without specialised training. Staff need to be trained in areas like pastoral care, conflict resolution, and time management, supervision, emotional intelligence, and more. When they are not, mistakes happen, and those mistakes can ripple across the school community.
In my own time as a school administrator in a boarding school , I invested heavily in training my team. We had regular workshops to equip them with the skills needed to handle the emotional and academic needs of our students. It made all the difference.
2. Ignoring Student Well-being
A boarding school is more than a place for academic achievement—it’s home for the students. Unfortunately, some schools focus solely on academics and neglect the emotional and psychological well-being of their students.
I recall a heartbreaking case where a brilliant student began withdrawing socially because no one noticed she was struggling with homesickness. It wasn’t until I introduced weekly one-on-one check-ins with a counselor that her mood and performance improved.
Prioritising well-being means creating spaces where students feel heard, valued, and supported. A strong pastoral care system is not a bonus; raher, it is essential.
3. Overlooking Communication with Parents
Parents trust boarding schools with their most precious treasures—their children. When communication is poor, trust breaks down. I’ve seen schools where parents were only contacted when something went wrong. No updates, no good news; just complaints or requests for payments.
At my school, I made it a point to communicate regularly with parents through newsletters, progress updates, and even celebratory calls when their children achieved something noteworthy. In addition, I introdcued the end of therm boarding house report on each studnet, which was sent to their parents. It built a sense of partnership and reduced the number of angry phone calls to my office!
4. Failing to Create a Strong Boarding Culture
A boarding house without a clear identity and culture is like a ship without a compass. Students need to feel like they’re part of something bigger, like a community with shared values and traditions.
In one boarding house I visited, the students seemed disconnected, and there was no sense of camaraderie. Compare that to another school where weekly house meetings, shared traditions, and team-building activities created a tight-knit community.
During my tenure as an administrator, I introduced cultural nights, mentorship programs, ICT Evenings, and even a “house anthem” to instill pride and belonging. We aso had times when we brought in the day students to have sleepeovers in the hostels. When students feel like they belong, they’re more likely to respect the rules and engage positively with their peers.
5. Overloading Students with Rigid Schedules
While structure is essential, too much of it can stifle creativity and create resentment. I’ve seen schools with schedules so packed that students barely had time to breathe. Over time, this leads to fatigue, rebellion, and even health issues.
In my experience, the best schedules balance academics, extracurricular activities, and downtime. At my school, we introduced “free choice hours” where students could pursue hobbies, read, or simply rest. Some of them used the time to paint, draw, knit or engage in something which they enjoyed doing. The result? We had happier, more productive students who appreciated the structure rather than resented it.
Avoiding These Mistakes
These five mistakes (neglecting staff training, ignoring well-being, poor communication with parents, lack of culture, and overly rigid schedules) are avoidable with the right mindset and strategies. It takes effort, but the rewards are worth it as you will ahve thriving students, happy parents, and a boarding house you can be proud of.
If you’re ready to take your boarding house administration to the next level, I’d like to invite you to my Boarding House Administration Training Cohort 9, taking place online on the 4th and 5th of January 2025. This two-day training will equip you with practical tools and strategies to avoid these costly mistakes and create a boarding house that truly thrives.
For inquiries, call or send a WhatsApp message to the mobile phone number +234-803 5880367 or email pezusmithconsulting@gmail.com. I look forward to seeing you there!
In case you did not know, Nancy is tha author of the book Effective Boarding House Administration which ahs been used by a lot of baording schools in Nigeria. Get uour e-book version here:
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