State boarding schools are opening their doors to answer that question, writes Caitlin Davies

Parliament

ARRIVING AT the National Tennis Championships at the end of a weary season, when the only matches of consequence involving Tim Henman and Greg Rusedski are due to take place in church, it is tempting to dismiss the state of the British game as two weddings and a breach of promise.

Bullying, cold baths and other privations have no place in modern boarding schools when the inspector calls. By Diana Hinds

At the dining-table children learn about the connections between food, feelings and family life

What Is It?

SCHOOLS' POLICIES for dealing with drugs vary widely. Some expel anyone found with cannabis; others go to immense lengths to deal with incidents through counselling. Independent schools tend to be tougher than state schools.

Musical: NYMPH ERRANT; MINERVA THEATRE, CHICHESTER

Gay and lesbian people who become adoptive parents could never, ever, take children for granted

Sir: Bill Bryson is baffled by some of the words thrown up by his computer spell-checker (Bryson's America, 12 July). "Internat" exists in French and German, and means "boarding school". What it's doing on his spell-checker, I cannot imagine. "Falx", as I'm sure you know, is "the sickle-shaped fold of the dura mater on the midline of the brain between the cerebral hemispheres". Alas, I can find no trace of "phose". Any offers?

Australia 22 England 15

THE HEAD teacher of the country's most famous progressive school vowed to fight any government moves to close it.

Chelsea 3 Everton 1

`Fainting' is not the only release from boredom in boarding schools. Nor is it new.