Expat schools | Boarding school Vs international school

Expat School Options: Boarding School at Home vs. International Scholl Abroad

Making the decision to live and work abroad as an expat will impact your entire family. A challenge for many new expats, especially those with older children, is where to send them to school? You may be considering two options:

Boarding school in your home country
International school in the country you are moving too

There are pros and cons to both, some of which are shown below, however, it is by no means an exhaustive list. Ultimately it is a personal decision for your family based on the needs of you and your child. Discover more advantages and disadvantages of boarding school and international school to ensure you make an informed decision with all the information available to you:

Boarding school

Pro

Get to stay in your home country

This could be a big plus if your children are teenagers with an established network of friends and an active social life. The opportunity to stay close to friends and extended family may make boarding school more appealing.

Immersive education

A boarding school education offers your child an immersive experience, while most day schools end at 3pm or 4pm, boarding school provides children with access to activities away from the classroom. There is a focus on extracurricular sports and activities in the evenings and weekends that may help your child develop skills like leadership and teamwork.

Your children will be part of a community at school that will stand them in good stead as they embark on life outside of school. As they will learn with their classmates, they are highly likely to make friends for life during those formative years.

Stability

It is likely your child is going to experience homesickness at some point. This is difficult for both parent and child, especially when separated by long distance.

Con

Homesickness

Boarding school in your home country might be a good option if multiple international moves are on the horizon, while your child is at school. Moving from country to country may negatively impact your child’s social development as well as their academic achievement. Make sure to watch out for Expat Child Syndrome when moving abroad to help your child adjust to changes happing in their life.

You give away some of your parental duty

While your child is at boarding school many aspects of their life will be taken care of by someone else. For example, deciding what is good and bad behaviour, disciplining and rewarding your child, looking after them if they become sick will all be done by someone else. Of course, you will be kept informed and consulted when necessary, but on a day to day basis, staff at the school will be responsible for this.

Separation from family

If your child is away at boarding school, they are not as involved in family life. Although staying in touch is much easier today via Skype and FaceTime, it will not be the same.

Financial commitment

Sending a child to boarding school is a significant financial commitment, not only in fees. Most boarding schools also have expensive uniforms, sports uniforms and equipment, school trips and a range of other costs that need to be considered when choosing a school.

International school

Pro

Experience living abroad

At an international school your child gets to experience living abroad, which has been shown to have a positive impact on children later in life. Third culture kids who have experienced life abroad, may be multi-lingual and are comfortable around culture that is not their own, are becoming increasingly attractive to international employers as adults.

Diversity

Living abroad and attending an international school will open your child’s eyes to the diversity in the world. They are likely to develop cross cultural relationships with other expat and, hopefully, local children in your new country. As they build these friendships, they are likely to learn many valuable skills that are difficult to teach in a classroom setting like flexibility and respect for difference.

Languages

There is nothing like total immersion to learn a new language. If your children are younger, there is an even better chance they will return from life as an expat with a good grasp of the local language, once they are exposed to it on a daily basis. If their education is through English or another popular language, consider enrolling them in local language classes after school, you will be amazed how quickly they will pick it up. In a short time, they may be helping you.

Not as expensive

Even if you choose a private international school, chances are the overall cost will not be as much as a boarding school at home, with a few notable exceptions such as Switzerland and Asia. Research should allow you to find a school that works well for your child and budget. Usually sports facilities and equipment are the compromise in less expensive international schools. If you are happy to access these outside of school, there is likely to be an international school that works for you.

Con

Curricula

Most international schools cover the syllabus of US, UK or the international Baccalaureate so if you want your child to be taught a syllabus outside of this, you may have difficulty. Use forums and expat websites to find international schools that may follow the curriculum of your preferred country.

Childcare

Depending on the age of your children, you may have to factor after-school childcare into consideration, particularly if both you and your partner will be working full time while you are abroad. You may not have access to family and friends to help look after them, as you do in your home country.

The other option if you bring your children with you on assignment is to send them to a local school. Although careful research will be required, they can be of very good quality and offer your child an authentic experience of life in your new country.

Boarding school versus international school?

Ultimately it is about choosing the best option for your child. Involve them as much as possible in the decision-making process. Make sure to ask questions, question what is important to you as a family and for your child, question if each school delivers on what you want. Find more questions here to ask when choose a school overseas to help you make this decision. Agree a shortlist of schools and see if it is possible for your son or daughter to have a ‘taster visit’ to understand what school life is like there before they enrol. By focusing on their needs rather than your own, you will obtain the best possible outcome for your child.

With all the preparation for your move, don’t forget to look after the physical health of your family while you are away with an expat health insurance plan tailored to you.

Are you moving abroad?

Before venturing to another country, make sure you have a health insurance plan you can rely on.

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Meet the author

Allianz

At Allianz Partners, Health, our blog is crafted by a team of experts dedicated to providing valuable insights and guidance on global health and insurance topics. With a focus on expatriates, international businesses, and individuals navigating healthcare abroad, our authors bring a wealth of knowledge and experience to every article.

We aim to deliver practical advice, industry updates, and actionable tips to help you make informed decisions, whether you're exploring international health insurance, managing employee health plans, or staying informed about the latest healthcare trends. Trust our blog to be your go-to resource for navigating the world of global health and insurance.

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Boarding school Vs international school: what is the best option?

Table of Contents

Expat School Options: Boarding School at Home vs. International Scholl Abroad

Boarding school

Pro

Get to stay in your home country

Immersive education

Stability

Con

Homesickness

You give away some of your parental duty

Separation from family

Financial commitment

International school

Pro

Experience living abroad

Diversity

Languages

Not as expensive

Con

Curricula

Childcare

Boarding school versus international school?

Are you moving abroad?

Meet the author

Allianz

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