Welcome back to another episode of Destination Boarding! This one is part of our special Summit Series, where we delve deeper into the topics from our Australian Boarding Schools Summit.
One of the big questions we tackled was: “Big or Small — does size really matter when it comes to boarding cohorts?” It’s something we hear about often from families, and the truth is, there are pros and cons on both sides. It really depends on your child and what kind of environment will best support their personality and growth.
Today, I’m joined by Danniella Yarman-Lalda, Director of Boarding at Assumption College in Victoria. Assumption is a large school with a relatively small boarding cohort, and Danniella shares how that setup can be a real advantage — fostering close-knit connections while still giving boarders access to all the opportunities a large school offers.
Now, full disclosure — this was one of my first recordings using a new platform, and I made the rookie mistake of thinking I could step out of the studio… My very enthusiastic dog Winnie decided this was all a bit too exciting and barked her way through a fair bit of the conversation. So if you hear a few yaps or if I sound a little distracted — that’s why! But I didn’t want to stop the recording because what Danniella had to say was too valuable to miss.
If you’ve ever wondered how smaller boarding communities within larger schools operate — and how they ensure boarders aren’t lost in the crowd — this is the episode for you.
