Boarding School Matters

Sarah Capewell and Melissa Hatton

Choosing a boarding school is one of the biggest decisions a family can make. But how do you get beyond the glossy prospectus and discover what boarding life is really like? Boarding School Matters is the podcast that gets underneath the brochure, bringing you honest conversations, expert insight and practical advice about UK boarding schools. Hosted by Sarah Capewell, a boarding school consultant, former Head of Boarding and parent of two boarders, and Melissa Hatton, former Head of Admissions and Marketing, boarding school parent and former boarder herself, the podcast explores every aspect of boarding life from the perspectives of parents, pupils and the professionals who know it best. Whether you're considering boarding for the first time, comparing schools, navigating admissions, or supporting an international family through the process, each episode provides clear, impartial guidance to help you make informed decisions with confidence. Expect conversations about: • Choosing the right boarding school• Full, weekly and flexi boarding• Admissions, scholarships and bursaries• Boarding houses and pastoral care• Student wellbeing and school culture• International boarding• Life as a boarder, parent and house parent• Interviews with heads, admissions teams, pupils and education experts If you're looking for honest advice about UK boarding schools from people who've lived and worked in the sector, you're in the right place.

Episodes

  1. 6 Aug

    05 - Opening Doors: Bursaries, Boarding & Changing Lives with Roo Hanrahan

    In Episode 5 of Boarding School Matters, Sarah and Melissa welcome their first guest, Roo Hanrahan - an experienced boarding school leader whose own life was transformed through a scholarship and bursary. Roo shares his remarkable journey to building a successful career in independent education. Together, they discuss why widening access to independent schools matters, the role of organisations like Springboard, and how bursaries can change not only an individual child's future but entire communities. The conversation also explores what makes a successful boarding experience, the importance of finding the right school for each child, pastoral care, resilience, internationalism, and why independent schools have a responsibility to create opportunities for talented young people from every background. Whether you're a parent exploring bursaries, an education professional, or simply interested in the power of education to transform lives, this is an inspiring and thought-provoking episode. Boarding School Matters is produced and edited by Mike Roberts at Making Digital Real, helping podcasts sound exceptional and reach the audiences that matter.

  2. 31 Jul

    04 - Are Boarding Schools Still Relevant? Modern Boarding, Opportunity & Character

    In Episode 4 of Boarding School Matters, Sarah and Melissa explore a question many parents are asking today: what role does boarding school play in the modern world? From resilience, confidence and pastoral care to opportunities beyond the classroom, they discuss why boarding continues to appeal to families from the UK and around the world. They also explore the differing expectations of British and international families, the rise of flexi-boarding, and why understanding a school's boarding model is so important before making a decision. Along the way, they touch on fascinating boarding school history, including the origins of Millfield School, and reflect on how today's boarding schools aim to develop not just academic success, but kindness, compassion and character. Whether you're considering boarding for your own family or simply interested in how boarding education has evolved, this episode offers an honest and thoughtful discussion. Key Topics  Why boarding schools remain relevant today  Confidence, resilience and character development  Pastoral care and student wellbeing  British and international family perspectives  Flexi-boarding vs full boarding  Choosing the right boarding environment  The importance of admissions teams  Why opportunity sits at the heart of modern boarding educationBoarding School Matters is produced and edited by Mike Roberts at Making Digital Real, helping podcasts sound exceptional and reach the audiences that matter.

  3. 23 Jul

    03 - Single-Sex or Co-Ed? How to Choose the Right School for Your Child

    Should your child attend a single-sex school or a co-educational school? It's one of the biggest questions families ask when choosing a school, but there isn't a one-size-fits-all answer. In this episode of Boarding School Matters, Sarah Capewell and Melissa Hatton explore the advantages, challenges and misconceptions surrounding single-sex and co-educational education. Drawing on their own experiences as former pupils, parents and education professionals, they discuss how the school landscape has evolved, why more schools are changing their models, and how families can look beyond reputation to find the right environment for their child. Rather than focusing on league tables, Sarah and Melissa explain why school culture, personality and long-term fit should sit at the heart of every decision. In this episode:  Single-sex versus co-educational schools  How independent schools are changing  The impact of recent school mergers  Confidence, leadership and pupil voice  Academic outcomes and school culture  What parents should ask before applying  Why finding the right fit matters more than reputation Whether you're considering boarding or day school, this episode will help you ask better questions and make a more informed decision. Boarding School Matters is produced and edited by Mike Roberts at Making Digital Real, helping podcasts sound exceptional and reach the audiences that matter.

  4. 15 Jul

    02 - What Is Boarding School Really Like? A Former Pupil Shares Her Experience

    In this episode of Boarding School Matters, Sarah Capewell and Melissa Hatton are joined by a very special guest - Sarah's daughter, Tilly, who spent five years as a full boarder at Repton School. From first-day nerves and homesickness to lifelong friendships and discovering independence, Tilly shares an honest account of her boarding school experience and reflects on how it prepared her for life beyond school. Together they explore daily life in a boarding house, the role of house parents and matrons, the friendships that develop, and the life skills that boarding can nurture. Whether you're considering boarding school for your child or simply curious about what life is really like behind the boarding house doors, this episode offers an authentic student perspective that parents rarely get to hear. In this episode:  What it's really like to start boarding school at 13  A typical day in a boarding house  Making friends and overcoming homesickness  The importance of house parents and matrons  Life beyond the classroom  The confidence and resilience boarding develops  Would Tilly choose boarding school again?Boarding School Matters is produced and edited by Mike Roberts at Making Digital Real, helping podcasts sound exceptional and reach the audiences that matter.

  5. 5 Jul

    01 - Full Boarding, Weekly Boarding or Flexi Boarding? Understanding the Different Types of Boarding School

    What does boarding school actually look like today? In the very first episode of Boarding School Matters, hosts Sarah Capewell and Melissa Hatton introduce the podcast and explain why they've created a show dedicated to helping families navigate the often confusing world of UK boarding schools. Drawing on decades of combined experience in boarding education, admissions, marketing and parenting, Sarah and Melissa explore the different types of boarding available today, including full boarding, weekly boarding and flexi boarding. They discuss how boarding has changed, why the terminology can be confusing, and the questions every parent should ask before choosing a school. Whether you're a UK family considering boarding for the first time or an international family exploring British boarding schools, this episode provides practical insight beyond the glossy prospectus. In this episode: * Meet Sarah Capewell and Melissa Hatton * Why this podcast exists * Full boarding vs weekly boarding vs flexi boarding * What parents often misunderstand * How boarding schools have evolved * Questions to ask on every school visit * Why understanding a school's boarding culture matters Next episode: Sarah is joined by her daughter Tilly, who shares what boarding school was really like from a student's perspective. Boarding School Matters is produced and edited by Mike Roberts at Making Digital Real, helping podcasts sound exceptional and reach the audiences that matter.

  • 5 Episodes

About

Choosing a boarding school is one of the biggest decisions a family can make. But how do you get beyond the glossy prospectus and discover what boarding life is really like? Boarding School Matters is the podcast that gets underneath the brochure, bringing you honest conversations, expert insight and practical advice about UK boarding schools. Hosted by Sarah Capewell, a boarding school consultant, former Head of Boarding and parent of two boarders, and Melissa Hatton, former Head of Admissions and Marketing, boarding school parent and former boarder herself, the podcast explores every aspect of boarding life from the perspectives of parents, pupils and the professionals who know it best. Whether you're considering boarding for the first time, comparing schools, navigating admissions, or supporting an international family through the process, each episode provides clear, impartial guidance to help you make informed decisions with confidence. Expect conversations about: • Choosing the right boarding school• Full, weekly and flexi boarding• Admissions, scholarships and bursaries• Boarding houses and pastoral care• Student wellbeing and school culture• International boarding• Life as a boarder, parent and house parent• Interviews with heads, admissions teams, pupils and education experts If you're looking for honest advice about UK boarding schools from people who've lived and worked in the sector, you're in the right place.

Information

  • Creator
    Sarah Capewell and Melissa Hatton
  • Years Active
    2026
  • Episodes
    5
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © 2026 Boarding School Matters