Boarding might have changed significantly but educators believe it still teaches some timeless lessons.

"Boarders develop resilience and independence at an earlier age," says principal of Wenona School, Dr Briony Scott. "It's not that they grow up quicker but they definitely do become more independent.

"Boarders learn to look after themselves really well. They learn to look after their things and take responsibility for their time."

Boarding is a vastly different experience to that of boarders just a generation ago, according to Dr Peter Miller, principal at The Geelong College.

"They are much more human places than they were years ago," he says. "We're much more focused on expectations rather than rules."

At Wenona, nightly "prep" is still very much a part of the boarding experience, says Dr Scott. "The girls get into a very well-established routine in the afternoons with their 'prep' time and those routines are often a lot harder to establish in a home environment."

Routine, independence, tolerance, resilience and a school life rich in extracurricular activities are some of the benefits of boarding life, according to the Australian Boarding Schools Association.