Is boarding school the right choice?
Before starting to look for a good boarding school, it needs to be clarified whether a boarding school is actually an option. Only then does the search begin.
When families think about boarding schools for the first time, they are confronted with many prejudices. There are uncertainties and questions:
- Won't my child feel deported?
- How will we as parents cope with the temporary separation?
- What will neighbours, friends, relatives and siblings say?
Usually, you are left alone with your questions. Often you are even met with hostility. Please do not let this unsettle you. Such criticism rarely comes fromfirst- hand experience, but from hearsay. Those who have been to a boarding school themselves usually report positively.
It is best to contact a reputable boarding school consulting service such as Toechter und Soehne at an early stage. The counsellors will first discuss with you whether boarding school is the right choice for your child. They will listen to your questions and concerns and talk to you about your child's entire educational path.
Then you can decide and, where appropriate, look for the right boarding school for your child.
The decision has been made.
The search can begin
You have probably heard of one or the other boarding school, or friends and acquaintances have contributed their experiences. These can be decision-making aids. They are usually not accurate and up to date.
If you want to be sure to find the perfect boarding school for your son or daughter, then you need up-to-date information about the strengths and weaknesses of the various boarding school options.
Toechter und Soehne has been observing and evaluating boarding schools for more than twenty years. During this time, we were able to look behind the scenes of most of the relevant boarding schools. We are very familiar with the strengths and weaknesses of the individual institutions.
Not every boarding school meets our strict quality criteria. We have made a selection and concentrate our advice on the boarding schools that we have identified as the best. It needn’t necessarily be an expensive boarding school, but it must deliver outstanding performance in its field, and in the long term. Only then will we include it in our portfolio.
We will then gladly use our experience to help you choose a boarding school for your child.
- We explain how to find the best boarding school for your child
- We explain why you should treat boarding school rankings with caution
- We introduce you to different types of boarding school (such as boarding schools for grammar school pupils or secondary school pupils, but also elite boarding schools, boarding schools for gifted or athletic students)
- and you find out how much a stay at a boarding school would cost.

Why boarding school counselling makes sense
The sheer number of boarding schools in Germany is mind-boggling. And when the option of going abroad comes into play, advice becomes necessary. Otherwise, it is almost impossible for parents to maintain an overview.
The consultants at Toechter und Soehne are in constant contact with the boarding schools and continually update all important information. We regularly visit the boarding schools - including those abroad - and meet the head teachers and admissions office staff at workshops around the world
Based on this knowledge, we make a pre-selection and find the boarding school that best suits your child. Our pre-selection process means that you benefit from the wide range of boarding school options.
Find out how we can help your child and you as parents to find the right boarding school: Call us without obligation on 0611-180 58 82, send us an email, or contact us directly with a specific inquiry. In addition, you can also find out more about the cost of our consultancy service.
Benefit from our many years of experience to make your decision.
Why we recommend boarding schools - and not others or:
Who makes it into our portfolio
Since we at Toechter und Soehne have been observing the boarding school market for more than 20 years, we have gained a profound knowledge of the differences between the individual schools: their focus, their strengths, their weaknesses.
Over the years, this has resulted in a portfolio of recommended boarding schools. Schools with very different focuses and pedagogical concepts.
Before a boarding school is added to the Toechter und Soehne recommendation list, we take a very close look at it. Only if we are well informed about the boarding schools we recommend, can we know whether your expectations and those of your child are compatible with / match what a boarding school has to offer.
We can then tell you why a particular boarding school is perfect for your child and another perhaps not at all. We are happy to share our wealth of experience with you and your children in our boarding school consultation.
How to recognize a good boarding school
Before we recommend a boarding school to you - no matter where in the world - we demand quality from the school. We expect a holistic educational concept, the will and the ability to educate young people, but also to convey lasting values to them.
Size matters
Unfortunately, many institutions that call themselves boarding schools are merely dormitories. They are too small to establish a classic boarding school culture; for that at least 80 - 100 pupils are required in the boarding school. A serious boarding school consultancy must pay attention to this.
In very rare cases, it may make sense for a boarding school to be small, and we will recommend it; but we will tell you this in advance and explain the reasons in detail. At the end of the day you as the parents decide.
The heart of a boarding school must beat from within
At a good boarding school, the boarding students should be the formative force. The pride of belonging promotes self-confidence and motivation and helps to overcome personal weaknesses and build on strengths. Of course, there will also be day students, but the heart of a boarding school must beat from within.
The school must also be part of the boarding school. If the children only live in the boarding house and go to a public school, a holistic education is extremely difficult. This applies regardless of whether you are looking for a boarding school in Germany or abroad.
Developing personalities
A good boarding school must be willing and able not only to provide education - which every school does - but also to educate; in other words, to give students opportunities to develop their personalities. This requires more than just a good school. It requires time and commitment.
school Visits!
Before you decide on a particular school, we will always encourage you to visit boarding schools with your child.
Such a trip is always worthwhile, even if it takes you abroad. Not only will you gain personal impressions of the school, but you will also see how your child reacts in a specific situation.
Our services

guidance
Find out more about boarding schools in Germany, the UK, Canada, Switzerland and the USA in a personal conversation with our consultants.

Application
Our counselors will support you and your family from the start, regardless of whether your boarding school is in Germany, Great Britain, Canada, Switzerland and the USA lies.

Beyond
If you want that, we will continue to support you in your educational career. During study counseling, potential analysis or continuing language courses.

Counselors' days
In a personal conversation with our consultants, find out more about boarding schools in Germany, Great Britain, Canada, Switzerland and the USA.
expenses
In a personal conversation with our consultants, find out more about boarding schools in Germany, Switzerland, Great Britain, Canada and the USA.
An initial consultation — whether over the phone, via the Internet or in person during our consulting days — is free of charge.
If you are looking for a boarding school in Germany, you will also not incur any costs for further advice.
Since support during the application process for boarding schools abroad, especially when a visa is required, is much more complex, we charge a fee. The exact costs depend on the destination and the intensity of the advice you want. The exact costs can be found in the two PDF's (Costs - Europe or Costs - overseas), which we always keep up to date.
But the initial consultation remains free of charge. First, check whether you feel that you are in good hands with advice from daughters and sons.
When we get to know each other, we want to focus on your concerns, you and your child. That is why we award fixed appointment slots at our consulting days. These are then limited to 50 minutes; even during this time, many things can be clarified. These calls, which we offer in your area, are free of charge for you.
If an appointment is not suitable, please contact us and we will find an alternative (online or live).
Of course, it makes sense that your child is there from the start. And if you send us the last two certificates in advance, we can prepare ourselves all the better for the interview with you and your child.
An overview of the Fees for a boarding school stay can be found here.
Sibling discount
By the way, if one of your children has already been admitted to a boarding school abroad through daughters and sons, we provide a discount for siblings who book the placement and/or coaching service. If two of your children have already successfully completed a boarding school stay arranged by us, our service for the third child is free of charge for you. Should a sibling wish to attend the same boarding school as the brother/sister, daughters and sons will accompany you free of charge.
Get to know our consultants
Each of the counselors at Daughters and Sons has an area in which she is particularly familiar. Make use of their expertise! If you are unable to contact a particular consultant directly, she is definitely on one of her regular inspection trips to boarding schools.