Privileged deprivation

A qualitative study of the perspectives of designated safeguarding leads responding to child protection concerns in fee‐paying schools

“…It is important to note that the DSLs in the boarding schools were unconvinced by prevalent claims that the boarding school experience caused psychological harm to some children (Sullivan et al, 2021; Turner, 2019). They were particularly resistant to the accusation that boarding school environments constitute a form of child abuse, sometimes referred to as ‘normalised parental neglect’ or ‘privileged abandonment’ (Duffell & Basset, 2016; Schaverien, 2004; Schaverien, 2015), and that for some pupils boarding schools increase psychological distress (Sullivan et al, 2021; Turner, 2019). Conversely, they suggested that where children were exposed to abuse and neglect in their home environment or had emotionally absent parents, boarding school can be a place of safety and stability, and indeed may protect such children from neglectful parental behaviours.…”

“…Most of the available studies looking at children from high socio‐economic backgrounds tend to focus on the emotional neglect of children in affluent families (Felitti et al, 1998; Luthar et al, 2013; Luthar & Becker, 2002; Luthar & Latendresse, 2006; Luthar & Sexton, 2004; Turner, 2019). Emotional neglect is defined as carers who are unresponsive to a child's basic emotional needs, including failing to interact or give affection, and failing to nurture a child's self‐esteem and sense of identity (Howarth, 2007).…”