Figure 1.--Prep schools are located all over Britain. Many boarding schools like this school are located in eural areas which provide plentu of romm for sports as well as in this case gardening. |
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Location plays a key role in the success of any school. Many schools were initiatlly founded in rural areas which were seen as healthy sites affording many opportunities for outdoor activities. The increasing tendency of parents to select day schools has means that the schools have to be located close to home. But even those parents selecting boarding schools generally want schools close to home. Boarding schools located in Scotland and England's northern counties in particular have declined as they have also been affected with the general economic malaise of the industrial north, Britain's version of the American rust belt. Schools located in the Midlands' or especially near London, however, have been much more successful. Counties located in the London area have large numbers of prep schools. Surrey, for example, has more than 60 schools. Many northern counties like Durham, Nothhamptonshire, and Staffordshire have only a handful of schools.
Many prep schools were initiatlly founded in rural areas. Here some manor houses and surrunding grounds could be purchased for a fraction of what similar facilities would cost in cities or even areas near cities. A rural setting with expansive grounds and stately tress was seen as healthy sites affording many opportunities for outdoor activities. This was deemed especially important for boarding schools. It should be remembered that until fter World War Ii, London and other English cities had very serious pollution problems. London was notorious for its fog. In the country the children benefited from glorious fresh air. Sometimes a bit to much of it as the dormitories were generally not well heated nor was their a lot of hot wter for bathing. For years English children said their goodbyes at train stations where they were sent off to often distant boarding schools.
The increasing tendency of parents to select day schools has means that the schools have to be located close to home. But even those parents selecting boarding schools generally want schools close to home. This is in part because some parents do not want to board children when they begin at about age 8 years, but may switch to boarding when the child is a little older. Rural locations have become increasingly less advantageous for modern schools. Parents are increasingly unwilling to send their children to distant schools and want them within a short drive. Schools located within a short drive make it possible to visit for athletic and other activities as well as to picking up the children for weekend exheats.
A major factor affecting school location is transportation. Britain has an eficent transportation infrastructure. This affects where schools can be located and prosper. The calculation is essentially that locations near London or other big cities provide larger numbers of prospective families. Tis is ofset by the fact that realestate and other costs in such locations tend to be very expensive. Trains used to be a major way that children arrived at boarding school. This has changed and now most children are driven to school by their parents dor each new term. The same is true for day children, although here public transportation is important at some schools with large numbers of day students. These changing transport trends affect the viability of different locations. Many foreign students tend to attend the schools near London. Britain has, however, several different airports along with road and rail links. Thus it is not really necessary for foreign parents just to consider London-area schools.
Quite a number of boarding schools were located in northern England and Scotland. These schools in particular declined with the economic problems of the 1970s. They have also been affected with the general economic malaise of the industrial north, Britain's version of the American rust belt. Headmasters at many fine schools in the north have had trouble maintaining their roles. Ths is especially the case with boarding schools located in small towns and rurl areas. The shift away from noarding has been a major factor here. Day schools in the more populated south have fared much better. Many of the schools that survived the 1970s are now on a much better financial foting, but the dclining boarding roles has been a continung proiblem. Here the largest drop has been in the younger age groups, espcially the early prep school years.
Being located in the Home Counties is a destinct advantage. Schools located in the Midlands' or especially near London, however, have been much more successful. Counties located in the London area have large numbers of prep schools. Surrey, for example, has more than 60 schools. Many northern counties like Durham, Nothhamptonshire, and Staffordshire have only a handful of schools. Even in the south, however, some school located in isolated areas have had trouble finding sufficient pupils.
Boarding schools are not always located in rural areas. Some schools are located in small towns. These are generally boarding schools. These schools tend to have a substantial impact on the towns, depending on the size of each. By definition these are towns in basically rural areas. Here we find both prep schools and colleges and academies with boarding sections. The same is true of public (elite private) schools. Here the schools may be as well known, if not bettern known that the town itself. The schools usually attract a number of day students from the town or surrounding area. In some cases rivalries develop between the students and local children.
There are also quite a number of prep schools located in London and the other major cities. Here there are both urban and suburban schools. Most of these schools are day schools. Most of the urban schools have rather limited grounds which of course affects the prep school program. The surban schools are usually more fortunate. Some were established before the sprawling suburbs grew up around them. This affects the atmpsphere of the school and in some ways the school program. Most prep schools give an important emphasis to sports and for this games fields are needed. Some schools solve this problem, at least in part, by using nearby parks. This is an approach taken by many urban state schools. During the day, crocodiles of children on nice days move back and forth from the school to and from the parks for outdoor phyical education and sports.
Northern England and Scotland
The Home Counties
Small Towns
City Schools
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