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In this episode of the Anglotopia podcast, host Jonathan Thomas interviews Naomi Kent, a British expat and CEO of the Boardroom Company, about her experiences growing up in British boarding schools. Was it like Hogwarts from Harry Potter? The reality is much more fascinating! Naomi shares her journey from living in various countries to attending a traditional girls’ boarding school in England. The conversation explores the daily routines, rules, friendships, and unique experiences that shaped her into a successful businesswoman. Naomi also discusses the misconceptions about boarding schools, the importance of social hierarchies, and the educational benefits of such an environment. The episode concludes with Naomi’s transition to life in America and her reflections on her boarding school experience.
Links
- The Boardroom Company
- The Boardroom Company Live Podcast
- British American Business Council Chicago
- Petworth National Trust
- Queen Anne School, Caversham/Reading
- Cheltenham Ladies College
- British Education: Explaining O-Levels and A-Levels: Why Are They Important to British Education?
- Exploring The History of the Great Public Schools of England, Harrow, Eton, Winchester, and More!
- Do You Know Your GCSE’s from your Primary School? An Anglophile’s Guide to the British Education System
Takeaways
- Naomi Kent shares her unique journey from boarding school to business.
- Boarding schools in England have a rich history and tradition.
- Daily life at boarding school includes strict routines and rules.
- Friendships formed in boarding school can last a lifetime.
- The importance of discipline and rules in a boarding school setting.
- Food at boarding school is often better than stereotypes suggest.
- Health and sanitation are taken seriously in boarding schools.
- Social hierarchies exist among students, affecting friendships.
- Education at boarding schools is rigorous and encourages ambition.
- Naomi’s experiences have shaped her perspective on education and success.
Sound Bites
- “All I remember was saying, oh, that sounds really interesting. That sounds like a great experience. And she was sort of shocked at my response, right? But my thought was, great, no parents around, we can have fun and we can mess around.” – Naomi’s reaction to being told she was going to boarding school at age 11.
- “I tried twice to get into that school and failed twice. So we ended up going to different schools, but I basically wasn’t smart enough to go to her school.” – On not getting into the prestigious Cheltenham Ladies College like her sister.
- “We would just stick a book in the door so it didn’t close… we just walked to the end of the road and hung out in the street. I mean, that’s all we did. And then of course, we got caught a couple of days later.” – The simple rule-breaking that got her expelled.
- “There was one time there was a girl and she was just sleeping in her bed and she was one of these deep sleepers, right? So we just sort of dragged her bed out of the bedroom and into the hallway.” – A classic boarding school prank from weekend boredom.
- “I’d say it really hurts when I do this. Don’t do that. Oh. So she would talk you out of your sickness, first of all, to try and get rid of you.” – About the intimidating school nurse at the “San” (sanitarium).
- “We would often have like competitions to see who could eat the most number of pieces of toast and who could put the most butter on it and the most Marmite. Again, we’re bored, right?” – The simple pleasures and competitions of boarding school life.
- “When you’re at boarding school, you’re sort of frustrated, you’re a teenager, you’re angry, you’re being locked up and all of these things. But now I actually went back… and I was just blown away by how beautiful the buildings were.” – Her changed perspective returning as an adult.
- “Everything had my name on it. So we had to sew my name into my socks, my underwear, my tops, my shirts, my everything had my name in it.” – The reality of communal living and shared laundry.
- “Are they emotionally strong? Are they emotionally strong kids? If they are, they’re going to really enjoy boarding school and it’s actually going to improve their emotional intelligence.” – Her advice for parents considering boarding school.
- “The minute I touched ground in New York, I knew I wanted to be and live in the United States… it was like the reverse. You’ve gone to the UK and you’ve fallen in love with the UK. I came to the USA and I fell in love with the USA.” – On her unexpected love affair with America after her British upbringing.
Chapters
- 00:00 Introduction to British Boarding Schools
- 04:17 Naomi’s Journey to Boarding School
- 11:28 A Day in the Life at Boarding School
- 16:38 Rules and Regulations of Boarding School
- 20:17 Transitioning to a New School
- 21:55 House Systems and Rivalries
- 24:03 Food and Meal Times at Boarding School
- 26:05 Health and Wellness at Boarding School
- 26:32 The Role of the School Nurse
- 29:31 Social Hierarchies and Class Divisions
- 32:11 Friendships in a Boarding School
- 34:33 Life Lessons from Boarding School
- 37:00 Educational Experience and Curriculum
- 38:45 Rule-Breaking Adventures
- 41:06 Discipline and Punishment
- 42:21 Coping with Homesickness
- 45:21 Favorite and Least Favorite Subjects
- 47:07 Explaining Boarding School to Americans
- 49:35 Life After Boarding School
- 53:18 anglotopia-podcast-outro.mp4