Is Boarding the Future of Education? | Dominic Tomalin | TEDxBasant Nagar
In an age obsessed with AI tutors and online classrooms, are we forgetting the most human part of education—learning how to live together? Dominic Tomalin argues that boarding schools are not relics of the past, but blueprints for the future. They nurture empathy, resilience, independence, and deep teacher-student relationships that accelerate learning. By reclaiming wasted time and building communities of “serious fun,” boarding schools prepare young people not just for exams, but for life. Dominic Tomalin’s journey spans the army, business, and education — proving leadership has no single path. A former Captain in the British Army’s Corps of Royal Engineers, he went on to lead multinational projects before finding his true calling in education. Starting as a teacher of economics, business, mathematics, and physics, he rose to leadership as Vice Principal and later Principal at CATS Cambridge, UK. Today, he is the Founding Headmaster of Shrewsbury International School India in Bhopal, a pioneering 150-acre institution inspired by the holistic British model. Guided by his philosophy, Floreat, Dominic champions whole-person development through critical thinking, creativity, sportsmanship, and empathy. At Shrewsbury, he blends global standards with India’s cultural richness to nurture future-ready students. With his family as part of the school community, Dominic’s journey reflects that education is not just about careers, but about shaping lives and futures with purpose. This talk was given at a TEDx event using the TED conference format but independently organized by a local community. Learn more at https://www.ted.com/tedx
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