www.boarding.org.uk No images? Click here Dear membersThe latest BSA advice regarding the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) from March 23, 2020, can be found on our website here. Updated advice will be issued on Monday.If any pupil does become infected by the virus, please can you let me know (robin@boarding.org.uk) so we can track the number of cases. BSA Register of GuardiansFollowing many requests from members, BSA has today launched the 'BSA Register of Guardians'. BSA provides this as a support to schools who may wish to contact guardians themselves or pass on details to parents. While the details listed are part of the 'BSA Register of Guardians', in making these available to schools directly, or parents indirectly, BSA is not endorsing, certifying or accrediting any provider in any way. BSA recommends that anyone using the list should ask a number of key safeguarding questions which are detailed on the register. Please visit the member area of the BSA website to access the list. #BSAheroesThe BSA team is looking for examples of good community spirit during the COVID-19 outbreak. This can be carried out by pupils, staff or parents. Send your stories to bsa@boarding.org.uk or tweet @BSAboarding using the hastag #BSAheroes. DfE note to boarding schoolsThe DfE has shared with BSA a message to independent and state boarding schools covering the implications of COVID-19. This message is available to read here. UKVI updateUKVI has updated its guidance online for visa customers in and outside of the UK. The updated guidance can be found here, or via these factsheets: COVID-19 outreachThe government is clearly aware that there are now many empty beds in boarding schools. If your school is able to offer bed capacity to the NHS, please let us know by emailing Chris Ryan, Member Services Director, and he will share the information with the Crown Commercial Service, which is coordinating these efforts and provision.
ISBA daily bulletinISBA is now publishing a daily bulletin for members. ISBA has shared recent bulletins with BSA. Click through to see the updates from March 23, March 24 and March 25. Legal updateFarrer & Co has shared with BSA, ISC and ISBA its latest legal guidance note for schools. The fourth in the series, this one has a focus on fees. To read in full, click here. Resources and activitiesOne of the positive results we are already seeing in response to the widespread lockdown in response to COVID-19 is the range of free online resources and activities being made available. We're happy to share some that we've come across and if you know of any others and want to share, do let us know via bsa@boarding.org.uk.
Media callPat Moores from UK Education Guide is writing an article for The PIE on examples of great collaboration between independent boarding schools and state schools. She has plenty of good information about placements via Boarding School Partnerships, but is looking for other examples of collaboration e.g. Sharing of facilities? Oxbridge tutoring for state pupils? Invitations to state schools to attend University fairs at Boarding schools? Please email Pat if you wish to take part (pat@ukeducationguide.com). Best wishes
BSA AcademyConferences - BSA Boarding AwardsThe deadline for entries to the BSA Boarding Awards has been extended until the end of May 2020. Winners will be announced during the rescheduled Heads' Conference in September. For more information on the Awards please visit our website, and email Amy Wilson if you have any questions. WebinarsBSA is working to expand our webinar offering so that staff can continue to access useful information and resources to better support the young people in their care, and develop their own CPD. As such, we have organised a number of webinars in the coming weeks that we feel are of particular prevalence at this time. All our webinars are available indefinitely after their live stream. To see the BSA webinar series as a whole, visit the dedicated page on our website. From there, you can order a recording of any of our webinars at a small fee. Preserving professional adult/student boundaries Young people and
Gaming Workplace resilience and staff wellbeing The management and control of drug-related incidents Supervision: safeguarding the protectors To see more webinars, please check our Events calendar. The BSA Accredited Boarding Practitioner SchemeThe BSA Accredited Boarding Practitioner scheme, which recognises the experience and skills of boarding staff, now has more than 300 members from over 190 schools worldwide. It is an individual recognition of those boarding staff who are making a personal, professional commitment to best boarding practice. To be considered, all applicants are expected to meet the following core commitments:
There are four levels recognising staff who have completed at least one year in boarding and undertaken key training and met the key commitments (Level 1) to 12 or more years in boarding and has completed the BSA Diploma or equivalent and has made a significant contribution to boarding beyond their own setting, as a course tutor or similar (Level 4). For more information on applying for this scheme, or nominating a colleague, please email Senior Training Manager, Liz McDonald. More information is also available on our website, here. Educare coursesBSA provides two online courses through Educare for pastoral staff, An induction to Boarding and An induction to Boarding for International Schools. Both courses are designed to underline and reinforce the crucial core knowledge and skills that are so
necessary to any role in a boarding school, and the associated pastoral duties. Member ServicesPlease note the BSA office is now closed and the team is working remotely, if you would like further advice from the BSA, please email bsa@boarding.org.uk or contact the team directly:
|