When Bea first considered sending her daughter, Isa, abroad for a year of study, she was driven by one central goal: to give her a new environment where she could grow, explore, and regain confidence in her education. She briefly considered the United States, but politics, distance, and her own instinct kept pointing her elsewhere.
“It was clear that if Isa went abroad, it would have to be the UK. The British education system has a great reputation.”
What ultimately gave Bea the confidence to choose Itchen College was a personal reference: her teenage niece had studied there previously and returned home with glowing feedback and an adult mindset. Because of that first-hand recommendation, Bea didn’t shop around — she only considered Itchen College.
The challenge, however, wasn’t choosing the destination. It was taking the leap.
Sending a child abroad is an emotional decision, and applying independently — without an agent as a guide — can feel daunting. Bea had questions about everything: the application form, subject choices, accommodation, and especially, the visa process. Fortunately, she never felt alone.
“Sam was always super available and supportive, even if I was a pain with all my questions sometimes! But for one year you need to be sure that this is the right place for your kid.”
With real-time guidance from the admissions team, what could have been an overwhelming process became manageable and reassuring, even more so when confronted with the visa application (which was surprisingly straightforward!).
The adjustment wasn’t easy from day one. Isa left behind family, friends, and familiarity. Homesickness appeared early on, but slowly, confidence replaced uncertainty.
“Isa actually really wanted to go on this programme, but we needed her to know what she would be on her own,” Bea remembers. “We didn’t want her to have any regrets. I reminded her in the first week that, even if she wanted to give up, she had to be resilient and see it through.”
Bea immediately noticed the difference between Isa’s previous education experience in Italy and the environment she found in the UK.
“The Italian system is very rigid; it’s not for everyone, and it puts a lot of pressure on students. Now that Isa has experienced the UK system, she feels a lot less pressure as she has the freedom to explore different subjects.”
For Isa, discovering a system that values autonomy was transformative.
“She discovered that there’s plenty of work to do in lessons, and the teachers treat you like adults – this was the big difference. So the teacher arrives, gives the lesson, gives the assignments, but the students have to organise themselves to get it done.”
The UK system not only challenged Isa academically — it empowered her personally. One milestone stands out clearly in Bea’s memory. During half-term, Isa travelled back home alone for the first time.
“When Isa came home for a week over half-term, it was the first time she had to take a flight on her own. She took the bus to Heathrow, changed terminals, got on the plane. She was nervous, but she did it, and that one step built her confidence!”
Little by little, Isa wasn’t just adapting — she was transforming.
Her academic goals shifted too. Back in Italy, she had been on a science-focused track. But thanks to trying new subjects at Itchen, she discovered a passion she didn’t realise she had.
“She knows she doesn’t like the Italian system. And as she’s studied Drama and Theatre at Itchen, she’s decided she wants to enrol in an artistic school when she comes back home. And that’s all because she had the opportunity to try something new.”
Looking Back: No Doubts, Only Gratitude
At the end of the interview, when asked whether she would make the same decision again, Bea didn’t hesitate. She feels proud of Isa — not just for how she’s doing academically, but for how she’s growing as a person.
A year abroad wasn’t just about education. It was about independence, resilience, and discovering new paths.
For Bea, the initial nervousness has given way to certainty.
She took a leap of faith, applied independently, and found that the personalised support, flexibility, and student-focused approach at Itchen College made all the difference.
