Letters: Boarder control

We were surprised and disappointed that the usually sensitive and astute Nancy Banks-Smith wasn’t more sympathetic to the plight of the four eight-year-old girls portrayed in the moving documentary Leaving Home at 8 (Last night’s TV, 12 February).

While April’s reaction to the rupture of her attachment to her mum was the most extreme, it clearly affected all the girls. It was also clear that April’s older brother Alex had “coped” by cutting himself off from his feelings and his family.

Over the last few years Boarding Concern has been in touch with and helped hundreds of ex-boarders who have been scarred by their premature separation from home and the institutional life of boarding. The question raised by April’s mum about possible permanent damage is not to be dismissed lightly. Unfortunately, there is plenty of anecdotal and clinical evidence (Family under the microscope, Family, 6 February) that sending kids off to board so young is harmful to their emotional development.

Perhaps boarding school for some families is unavoidable, but in general we believe that it is time to phase out boarding for those under 14.

James Foucar

Director, Boarding Concern