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.

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 education

Boarding School Matters is produced and edited by Mike Roberts at Making Digital Real, helping podcasts sound exceptional and reach the audiences that matter.

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.