www.boarding.org.uk No images? Click here Dear Members,Welcome to this week's edition of the BSA member newsletter. For those of you who are already on half term, we hope you're having a relaxing break, and for those members who are about to enjoy a well-earned rest, we hope you're looking forward to your time off. Throughout the half term break, the BSA team will be continuing to work on organising the two upcoming conferences we have in November: the joint BSA and Sacpa Annual safeguarding conference (November 18) and our Irish boarding conference (November 24). We'll also be continuing to plan two of our main conferences for 2022, the Annual BSA Boarding Conference, which takes place from February 1-2, 2022, in person at the Hilton, London Heathrow, and our Annual Conference for Heads, which will be held on May 3-4, 2022 at Oxford Town Hall. To book a place at any of the four conferences, please click on the links above, or if you need any further information, please don't hesitate to contact the BSA Team via bsa@boarding.org.uk. Refreshed points-based system introduction guide for employersThe Home Office has refreshed its points-based immigration system introduction for employers to ensure employers are aware of how they can recruit talented individuals from around the world. The guide provides an overview of the points-based immigration system work routes and sets out the steps employers should take to access the system. Updates to the guide include the latest on temporary worker routes and conducting right to work checks. The Home Office continues to encourage employers to first consider domestic recruitment options within the UK, and this guide provides examples of programmes available to employers who are considering hiring employees, offering work experience or upskilling their existing staff. If you are interested in learning more about the points-based immigration system, the Home Office continues to deliver explanatory events regarding the system. If this is something you would be interested in, please contact the Home Office here. International students – second half of Autumn term and Christmas holiday arrangementsWe would like to thank school members for the support they are giving to international students and to highlight, with the increasing numbers of COVID-19 in schools, the importance of contingency planning for COVID-19 positive pupils during term time, exeats and the Christmas holidays and communicating these plans at an early stage to parents, guardians and students. We appreciate the difficulty of staffing at this time but would remind all schools that their duty of care for self-isolating students extends to holidays where the pupil is already in school at the relevant time. Therefore schools need a contingency plan for exeats and the end of term. As always, if you need any advice or support please do contact the team via bsa@boarding.org.uk. Changes to A Level requirements for university entrance in GermanyThe German education authority (Kultusministerkonferenz or KMK) has published new guidelines for the recognition of A Levels for entry to German universities, which will make it easier to get into German university with A Levels. The new guidelines will replace the current ones from Summer 2024 and, between now and then, applicants can choose between the current or the new guidelines, whichever is more favourable in their particular case. This is good news for member schools with German boarders and details can be found here. BSA leadership team roleBSA Group is looking to appoint an additional director or associate director to its group leadership team from September 2022 to support service delivery to BSA member schools. The role would suit an experienced senior HM, director of boarding or deputy head pastoral with responsibility for boarding. For more information and to arrange a confidential conversation, please email Robin Fletcher, CEO BSA and BSA Group, via robin@boarding.org.uk. Ballet/performing artsA diplomatic family is looking for an all-round boarding school with a strong ballet/performing arts programme. If your school is interested in following this up, please email Anne-Marie Cole of the Diplomatic Families Services Association via Anne-marie.cole@fcdo.gov.uk. CPD, training and eventsOur first events following the half-term break will be the Hieda-led Emergency First Aid at Work (EFAAW) training course, and a webinar, Leading a small boarding team (for African boarding schools), both taking place on November 5. As mentioned above, our next conference will be the joint BSA and Sacpa Annual safeguarding conference, which takes place on November 18, followed by our Irish boarding conference on November 24. Places are still available at both events, so please click on the links above to book. And there's also our full Accredited Training Programme, which is open for bookings. Our next course, BSA / Hieda Advanced Certificate in Boarding Practice (School Nurses), begins on November 3, closely followed by BSA Certificate in Professional Practice - Inclusion Lead Training, which gets under way on November 9. For more information on our forthcoming CPD, training and events, please scroll down to the BSA Academy section. BSA ForumsThe latest round of Regional Boarding Forums got under way last week. Please see below the dates and times for the remaining forum meetings:
If you haven’t received an invite to any of the forums and would like to join us, please email bsa@boarding.org.uk. Dates and times are still to be confirmed for our International, East of England, London, Wales and Prep Forums and will be announced soon. BSA Group Gold Membership SchemeThe BSA Group Gold Membership scheme for BSA schools which want joint membership of BSA, Sacpa (Safeguarding and Child Protection Association), BAISIS (British Association of Independent Schools with International Students) and Hieda (Health in Education Association) is generating lots of member interest. Schools pay an additional £450 (+ VAT if applicable) for Gold Membership and will automatically be enrolled in Sacpa, BAISIS and Hieda, as well as BSA. Schools joining as Gold Members will also be sent a logo they can use on their websites. Any schools interested in becoming a Gold Member should email Chris Ryan, Head of Membership. Chris can also discuss how individual schools which would like to upgrade their existing Sacpa, BAISIS or Hieda membership into full Gold Membership. Please note that there will be no BSA member newsletter next week - the next edition will be published on Friday, November 5. Best wishes,
BSA AcademyAccredited trainingThe BSA's programme of Professional Development and training is the most comprehensive CPD package offered to staff in boarding schools. It includes a series of professional practice Certificate courses specifically designed to meet the practical needs of boarding staff and provide an internationally-recognised qualification in Boarding Education. We are delighted to announce that bookings are now open for the 2021-22 accredited training courses! Certificate Course BSA / Hieda Advanced Certificate in Boarding Practice (School Nurses) To begin your qualification in November 2021, please click here. Study dates for the November module are: November 3, 2021 / January 11, 2022 / March 8, 2022 / May 16, 2022. To begin your qualification in December 2021, please click here. Study dates for the December module are: December 7, 2021 / February 9, 2022 / May 9, 2022 / June 23, 2022. BSA Certificate in International Boarding BSA Certificate in Professional Practice - Inclusion Lead Training Participants will receive high-quality training and support from a range of experts to further develop the skills and confidence needed to establish, embed and sustain equity, diversity and inclusion work in their school. Throughout the two days there will be opportunities to meet, collaborate and discuss with other participants and to learn from case studies and good practice from other schools. Click here to reserve your place. Autumn Diploma in Boarding Practice (Leadership) - 2021 - 2022
This is comprised of three, tutor-led study days, with interactive morning and afternoon sessions that allow for discussion. Find out more or reserve your place here. BSA Certificate in Professional Practice for Pupil Welfare & Support 2021-2022 Sessions for this course include:
Click here to reserve your place If you need any further information about our Accredited Training programme, please contact Liz McDonald, Head of Accredited Training, at liz@boarding.org.uk. Conferences - 2021-22We look forward to welcoming you at our range of one-day conferences, running throughout the year. To help with CPD planning, here are the events we are running in the autumn term:
In addition to the one-day conferences running in the autumn term, we are delighted to publish the dates for a number of our other conferences for 2021-22. Please do 'save the dates' in your diaries and if you'd like to register interest, please email us.
Safeguarding training - 2021-22Safeguarding is everyone's responsibility and the start of a new academic year provides a clear marker to ensure that all staff have received appropriate training relating to safeguarding and their responsibilities. The virtual sessions below will be appropriate for most practitioners working in education settings:
Other training and eventsPlease see below a selection of other training and events taking place this month:
To see our latest training programme, click here.Index (Inclusion and Diversity Excellence)Following our inaugural inclusion conference in October 2020, BSA Group launched Index, a programme of support to help members in this area. This includes the BSA Index Framework and Toolkit - guidance documents to promote the values of equity, diversity and inclusion (they can be accessed here via the EDI area). Inclusion Leads/Staff with an EDI Leadership role - we are collating names and email contact details of anyone in a BSA school with an EDI leadership role. Please email bsa@boarding.org.uk with your full name, school and full job title/role. For more information about our Index programme, please email Ammy Davies-Potter, BSA Group Director of Guardianship and Inclusion. BSA Certified Supplier SchemeThe organisations below are members of the BSA Certified Supplier Scheme, which aims to connect members and organisations. BSA Gold Certified Suppliers
BSA Certified Suppliers
For more detail on each of the suppliers, please visit the BSA Certified Supplier Scheme page on our website. Please note: The suppliers listed are not endorsed by BSA, nor does the association accept any liability for the quality of the goods/services listed on this page. All suppliers below have entered into a commercial arrangement with the BSA to promote their goods/services. Certified Agent and Guardian schemesThe BSA Certified Agent and Guardian schemes continue to grow, providing reassurance for schools and families. The schemes' training and certification programmes assure BSA boarding schools that they are dealing with educational guardians and agents who have the highest standards in the safeguarding of children, safer recruitment and training of staff and host families, and careful liaison with parents and schools. The schemes are a clear demonstration to BSA boarding schools of the quality and intention of the educational guardians and agents who reach certified status. BSA Certified AgentsWe are delighted to announce that EduExcellence Consulting Services has joined the BSA Certified Agents scheme. Welcome to the BSA Family!
For more information on the BSA Certified Agent scheme, please visit our website. BSA Certified GuardiansWe are delighted to announce that Carfax Guardians has joined the BSA Certified Guardians scheme. Welcome to the BSA Family!
For more information on the BSA Certified Guardian scheme, please visit our website. We have also had a number of requests from schools for our BSA Certified Guardian logo to use on admissions information or school websites - you can access a copy of the logo by clicking here. Other newsStudy Travel magazine annual survey of UK secondary schools: Study Travel magazine has asked us to make members aware of its annual survey of UK secondary schools that actively recruit international students. Any schools completing the survey will receive a FREE annual subscription to StudyTravel Magazine and membership into its ST Stats Club which will give you advanced access to all of its survey results, as well as an invitation to the ST Stats Club lunch held at selected ST Alphe conferences during 2022. The survey can be completed by clicking here - the deadline is Monday, October 25 (results of Study Travel's previous secondary school surveys can be found on its website). The China-Scotland Business Awards 2022: Applications are now open for the 5th annual China-Scotland Business Awards, which will be recognise and celebrate achievements in trade and investment between Scotland and China. The winners will be announced at a special ceremony during the Chinese-Burns Supper on February 2, 2022, in Edinburgh. For more information, or to enter, please click here. Future Leaders Project - two free events in November: Ivy House has asked us to make members aware that the The Future Leaders Project will be holding two free live events in November for schools and students:
For more information, or to register for either event, please click here. Keep in touchWe love hearing from members, so please keep in touch via +44(0) 207 798 1580 or bsa@boarding.org.uk. You can also contact the team directly:
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