Emma Thompson Says No Boarding School for Daughter

When it comes to her 8-year-old daughter Gaia Romilly‘s education, Emma Thompson says she’s happy to blaze a different trail.  "It’s very British to send the children off to boarding school," the 49-year-old actress tells Parade, "but over my dead body."  Instead, Emma says, "[Gaia] lives at home and goes to day school."

Emma also revealed that Tindyebwa Agaba — the 19-year-old Rwandan refugee she adopted with husband Greg Wise — is also in school, focusing his studies on political science.

Source: Parade; Photo by WENN.

Comments

While Im not that familiar with boarding school Im guessing that you send your child off and they stay in a dorm and go to school, almost like college but when they are young? I totally agree with Emma, I cannot imagine sending my child off.

- dsmom on July 28th, 2008

Very British, really? It’s a minority that go to boarding school here in the UK, but she’s making it sound like everyone packs up their children and sends them off! Most kids go to normal comprehensives.

Also, Emma’s use of the word “day school” suggests to me that her daughter does attend a private boarding school, just not as a boarder. You wouldn’t call a normal school a ‘day’ one.

- Rachel-Jane on July 28th, 2008

Does anyone know how old Tindyebwa Agaba was when they adopted him? That’s really great, especially if he was older when he was adopted!

- Shelby on July 28th, 2008

Shelby- He was 16 years old. If you wikipedia emma thompson and view her personal life, then there is a link to an online article about her adopted son.

- Maz on July 28th, 2008

wow, I don’t think I’ve ever seen a picture of her daughter (do you have a bigger, clickable version?), as Emma is such a very private person.

- Gemma on July 28th, 2008

Thanks, Maz. I always seem to forget about Wiki, which is kind of ignorant of me. oh well!

- Shelby on July 28th, 2008

I don’t know a single person who went to, or has a child in, boarding school in the UK!

I think it’s mainly the preserve of the very upper-classes and military children these days.

- Ruthella on July 28th, 2008

I’m Welsh & I know of 3 boarding schools in a 50 miles radius of where I live but the fees are so high it is mostly very wealthy people who send their kids there so I don’t see how it’s “typically British”. Makes it sound like everyone in Wales, Scotland, Ireland & England send their kids to boarding school!!

- Adele on July 28th, 2008

Interesting, I would say boarding school is not at all popular these days. I boarded from 11-18 and was the only one from my prep school who did, all the other girls went to one of the local private schools.
DSmom – yes it’s a bit like college – you sleep in a dorm and go to school during the day but it’s also a lot of fun. There were loads of extra-curricular stuff at my school and I had a great time with my friends. Like I said I boarded from 11 but there are schools that take younger children, definately from 7 for prep and there may be ones from 4 for pre-prep but I don’t know of any.

I agree with Ruthella and Adele though, mainly a preserve for the upper-classes (guilty as charged) and children of military professionals it’s not a very British institution really although I think a lot of people think it is. Harry Potter has a lot to answer for!!

- Ellie on August 2nd, 2008