www.boarding.org.uk
No images? Click here
Member newsletter
Issue 216
Dear Members,
Yesterday (July 1), we issued an Immigration update to UK members after schools in England received an email from the DfE on Wednesday (June 30), which indicates that study for less than six months at an independent school will no longer be possible through a visitor visa, with a Child Student Visa being required instead from October 2021. A full version of the update can be viewed by clicking here.
BSA requested urgent clarification from the Home Office and DfE, and the Home Office has advised the following:
“I can confirm that the policy behind study at an independent school as a visitor has not changed, and this is still permitted for courses of six months or less with a school that meets the definition of an accredited institution. We’re speaking with DfE officials to have a correction sent out from their comms team. Thanks again for bringing this to our attention.”
The Home Office team is now in discussions with DfE and we expect a statement imminently which we will share with members once received.
Hong Kong update
Earlier this week, the Hong Kong government announced all passenger flights from the UK would be prohibited from landing in Hong Kong from 0.00am on July 1 (Hong Kong time).
Our update on this announcement can be viewed by clicking here - where they can, our BSA Certified Guardians are available to support any students affected (for more information about our Certified Guardian scheme, please click here).
Following the announcement, we urgently contacted the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office regarding the situation and have now received a response, which can be viewed by clicking here.
UKVI verification codes
UKVI technical teams are working on a range of alternatives for students who do not receive verification codes, however in the meantime, if a student does not receive their text verification code, they can contact the UKVI support centre to obtain it:
UK Visas and Immigration contact centre
Telephone: +44 (0)300 790 6268
Monday to Friday (excluding bank holidays), 8am to 8pm UK local time
Saturday and Sunday, 9:30am to 4:30pm UK local time
If you cannot contact UK 0300 numbers, use +44 (0)203 875 4669.
Schools to be able to decide on COVID rules from September under Welsh government plans
Schools and councils will be able to decide for themselves the rules around major issues like mask-wearing and self-isolating under new Welsh government plans.
To read the story in full, please click here.
Welsh government written statement: Sexual harassment and abuse in education settings
On June 16, Jeremy Miles, the Welsh Minister for Education and Welsh language, issued a statement on sexual harassment and abuse in education settings. Below is a summary of some of the points mentioned in the statement, but please do read the statement in full:
- The Education Minister will request that Estyn conducts a review into culture and processes in schools to help protect and support young people better.
- Every school, and Local Authority, should have a designated lead responsible for supporting learners with relationships and sexuality education. Officials will establish whether that is currently the case.
- A short training module will be created to further embed the 'sharing nudes and semi-nudes: Responding to incidents and safeguarding children and young people' guidance as part of the Keeping Learners Safe suite.
- The Keeping Safe Online area of Hwb continues to support online safety in education, providing information guidance and resources.
- There is a ‘Step Up, Speak Up' toolkit available for schools which was made together wtih Childnet International. This includes a series of lesson plans and activities that address online sexual harassment amongst young people. A ‘Just a Joke?' toolkit will also be made.
- There is other extensive guidance available: Keeping Learners Safe, Violence against women, domestic abuse and sexual violence guidance for governors and a toolkit for education staff.
- The new Curriculum for Wales, rolled out from 2022, will have a crucial role in this area. Relationships and Sexuality Education (RSE) will be a statutory part of the curriculum for all settings.
Training and events
Next week, we'll be holding our final conference of this academic year. There's still time to book your place at our Annual Health and Wellbeing Conference, which takes place on Tuesday, July 6. We do hope you can join us for the event, which is developed in collaboration with our Nurse Advisors. The conference content will be relevant to pastoral staff specifically tasked with student wellbeing, Matrons and School Nurses, so please do let any of your team members know who may be interested.
And don't forget, if you can't join us live at the conference, remember you can make a booking to receive the recordings to review at your convenience.
Please click on the link to book your place. For more information on our forthcoming CPD, training and events - including dates for our Accredited Training programme in 2021/22 - please scroll down to the BSA Academy section.
Save the date: International Student University Fair, September 29, 2021
BSA and BAISIS, in association with UK Education Guide, will be holding an online information and recruitment university fair, aimed specifically at international and ex-pat students, which will run from 11:00-17:00 on Wednesday, September 29.
The fair will specifically address feedback from over 30 member schools who attended a forum on May 5 on how UK Universities could better support international and ex-pat students as they transition from school to Higher Education. It will offer:
- 20 UK Universities (both high and low tariff) at virtual booths to meet prospective students individually and answer their questions
- Presentations addressing key challenges faced by International students and schools including Q&A sessions with current international undergraduates and reviews of course options
- 1:1 high-quality advice sessions for pupils on topics such as Personal Statement development, IELTS and general university advice.
The event is aimed at Year 11, 12 and 13 students as well as Heads of Careers, HE advisors and Heads of EAL. Universities attending will include University of Exeter, University of Sheffield, University of Liverpool and University of Nottingham.
This event is free for schools and students - to secure your place, please book here.
National Boarding Week - thank you!
A huge thank you to all staff and students who took part in this year’s National Boarding Week, sponsored by Limitless. It was great to see you all getting into the spirit of the week and holding so many health and wellbeing-related events.
Special thanks to everyone who got involved in our #boardersgogreen challenge. For the challenge, which launched at our Annual Conference for Heads back in May, we asked you to walk the equivalent of the distance across Africa - approximately 7,500km - by undertaking a series of tasks, which would equate to a distance walked.
Together, you covered an incredible 18,718.98km - more than double the original target. The challenge really did capture the imagination, and we especially loved seeing this from the staff and boarders at St Swithun's School's Le Roy House, who chronicled their contributions to the challenge on canvas!
Award success
We’re thrilled to announce our recent Annual Conference for Heads received a Mark of Excellence at June's Virtual Events Awards! Here's some of the feedback we received from the judges:
"This event was a major development from the previous year with a big focus on interactivity and strong content. The team are to be congratulated for putting together a strong programme, on a new platform with good engagement for sponsors and delegates."
"I thought the #boardersgogreen challenge was inspired and shows what can be achieved with creative thinking and using virtual in innovative ways."
"A strong event incorporating a conference, exhibition and awards ceremony. Good feedback from delegates and BSA clearly worked hard to deliver to their sponsors."
Thank you to the judges, and all our delegates, guest speakers and event sponsors who helped make it such a success!
Home Office open consultation: Protect Duty
The Home Office is seeking views on how the Protect Duty can make the public safer at publicly accessible locations.
This is a UK-wide consultation and is targeted at venues, organisations, businesses, local authorities, public authorities and individuals who own or operate at publicly accessible locations or others that a ‘Protect Duty’ would potentially affect.
More on the consultation can be found by clicking here - the deadline for responding is 11.45pm tonight (Friday, July 2).
School Sport Research Foundation (SSRF)
We're lending our support to the School Sport Research Foundation (SSRF), a newly formed non-profit research foundation set up to promote and facilitate research into the physical, mental and social aspects of school sport.
Membership of SSRF is open to all schools who have a desire to influence the direction this research takes. Schools who choose to become members of SSRF will be showing their commitment to engage with research that will allow continued improvement in their sector. Members will be able to propose research projects, seek the support of SSRF to run studies and have early results from research so that they can start implementing change. As part of this initiative, BSA will be undertaking a research project into sports injuries in schools.
If you are interested in hearing more about SSRF and the potential of your school being involved, please complete the form that can be found here, or please contact Mr Richard Finch, Director of Sport at Harrow School and Head of School Partnerships at SSRF by emailing richard.finch@ssrf.org.uk.
Best wishes,
Robin Fletcher
CEO, BSA and BSA Group
BSA Academy
Accredited training
The 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 booking is now open for the 2021-22 accredited training courses!
Certificate Course
You can now reserve your place on the 2021-2022 Advanced Certificate Course. These courses are run online, and give practitioners all the necessary skills and knowledge to be successful in a boarding environment. This is a two-year modular course is aimed specifically at staff working in and around boarding. Over the last 20 years approximately 3,000 House Tutors, Matrons, Support Staff, School Nurses, Assistants and Houseparents have completed this Award. Find out more or reserve your place here.
Online BSA Certificate in Professional Practice - Mental Health & Wellbeing
Study dates for this course are: September 22, 2021 / November 23, 2021 / May 14, 2022
This module is comprised of three tutor-led study days featuring guest speakers, interactive morning and afternoon sessions. Breakout groups allow for discussion and time with the course tutors.
Study day sessions will include:
- Understanding the impact of trauma and adverse life experiences, Dr Hayley Watson Clinical Psychologist PhD Clin Psych, MA Clin Psych, MA Transpersonal Psych, PG Dip Psych, BA Criminology
- Looking after yourself: building personal resilience and wellbeing
- First Aid for Mental Health, Jane Graham, MSc, BSc, Dip Ed., R.S.C.N, BSA Nursing Advisor
- Looking after the team : building healthy high performance
- Positive psychology : developing an emotional literacy toolkit, Dr Jody Walshe, Educational and Child Psychologist
- Managing resilience and wellbeing in the boarding context.
Click here to reserve your place.
ONLY SEVEN PLACES LEFT: BSA Advanced Certificate in Boarding Practice (School Nurses)
Study dates for this course are: November 03, 2021 / January 11, 2022 / March 08 2022 / May 16, 2022
The course is tutor-led and will consist of four separate live online study days spread over a full academic year. The sessions on each study day will be a mixture of presentations often with an external expert, and group discussions. Find out more or reserve your place here.
BSA Certificate in International Boarding
Study dates for this course are: December 08, 2021 / January 26, 2022 / March 17, 2022
This three-day course will cover key elements in International Boarding, including the strategic nature and importance of the international boarding market, why international students seek a British education, induction, culture shock and integration as well as considering cultural identity, values, and differences. All of this contributes to identifying and meeting the pastoral and academic needs of international students. Find out more or reserve your place here.
BSA Certificate in Professional Practice - Inclusion Lead Training
Study dates for this course are: Tuesday, November 09, 2021 and Thursday, November 25, 2021, 10:00-16:15
This bespoke, comprehensive two-day certificate course has been put together to support Inclusion Leads or staff with specific responsibility for equity, diversity and inclusion in boarding schools.
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 diploma level course is recommended for senior boarding staff and is now open for booking.
Dates:
- Day 1: November 10, 2021
- Day 2: March 09, 2022
- Day 3: May 17, 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
Study dates for this course are: November 19, 2021 / January 13, 2022 / March 22, 2022 / May 12, 2022
Sessions for this course include:
- Perspectives on Pastoral Care
- An Afternoon on Disordered Eating, Guest Speaker TBC
- Understanding Adolescence & Meeting the Needs of Children & Young People
- Equity, Diversity and Inclusion, Ammy Davies-Potter, Director of Guardianship and Inclusion, BSA Group
- Emotional Health Issues & Building Resilience
- Promoting well-being
- Partnership with Parents
- Communication skills
- Conflict management
- Supporting Vulnerable young people; what works
- Safeguarding and information sharing, Dale Wilkins, Director of Safeguarding Professional Development and Accreditation
- Putting into practice what you’ve learned, moving forward
- Assignment and course reflection.
Click here to reserve your place
If you need any further information about our Accredited Training programme, please contact Liz McDonald, Senior Training Manager, at liz@boarding.org.uk.
Virtual seminars and specialist training
Sacpa DSL Training: This training will enable you to meet statutory responsibilities referenced in Keeping Children Safe in Education and Working Together to Safeguard Children. The course is suitable for staff in the role of designated safeguarding lead (DSL) and deputy designated safeguarding lead (DDSL).
It is delivered by an NSPCC-accredited trainer and qualified social work manager of 20 years. Date: July 08.
To see our latest training programme, click here.
Index (Inclusion and Diversity Excellence)
Following our inaugural inclusion conference in October, 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).
Our second Index (EDI) conference will take place on September 28, 2021 – a number of exciting speakers have already been confirmed for the event. You can find out the latest by visiting the event page on our website, with more details to be announced soon.
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 Scheme
The organisations below are members of the BSA Certified Supplier Scheme, which aims to connect members and organisations.
BSA Gold Certified Suppliers
- Password: Providers of world-leading online English language and Maths assessment
- Schoolblazer / Limitless: School uniform and sports kit supplier
- Witley Jones: Designers, manufacturers and installers of quality school furniture for BSA boarding schools
- Engage: A powerful and flexible platform delivering effective communication, control, reporting and insight across your school.
BSA Certified Suppliers
- Boarding software: Boardingware
- Boarding software: Reach
- Careers software: Unifrog
- COVID disinfectant: Safe Tech
- COVID fogging machine: Hurricane
- COVID HK pre-flight certification: Belgravia
- COVID pre-flight certification: Fortress Direct
- COVID Testing and pre-flight certification: Elite Anglo-Chinese Services
- COVID safeguarding software: Assetpool
- COVID sanitiser: Clearwater Hygiene
- COVID sanitiser and tunnels: PTC Xtrasan
- COVID testing: Biograd
- COVID testing: Wren Healthcare
- COVID testing and tracking: Sirkka Networks
- COVID testing and tracking: Taylor Education
- Energy Management: Cost Advice
- Face masks: Funky Face Masks
- Face masks: Goldpro Face Masks
- Face masks: Kaia Trading Ltd
- Financial services: Quantum Advisory
- Maths software: Sparx Maths / Hegarty Maths
- Safeguarding: Corporate Safeguarding
- Safeguarding software: MyConcern
- Thermal temperature camera system: Eclipse Strategic Security Ltd.
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 Guardian and Agent schemes
The BSA Certified Guardian and Agent 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 Agents
We're delighted to announce that Carfax Consultants has joined the BSA Certified Agent scheme. Welcome to the BSA family!
- Abby Plumb Education Guardian Service (China and Hong Kong) (Certified Agent and Certified Guardian)
- Academic Asia (China)
- Academic Families (worldwide) (Certified Agent and Certified Guardian)
- Aston Education (Hong Kong)
- @School-in-UK (Russia)
- Baltic Council for International Education (Latvia, Lithuania, Estonia & Poland)
- Barbara Glasmacher Internationale (Germany)
- BeGo Education (China)
- Better School! Internatsberatung (Germany)
- Beyond Education (Spain)
- BOSSS UK (China)
- Britannia StudyLink (Hong Kong)
- British United Education Services (Hong Kong)
- NEW: Carfax Consultants (Worldwide)
- Chamberlain Educational Services (Hong Kong and China)
- Cherry Education Consultancy (China)
- Connexcel (China) (Certified Agent and Certified Guardian)
- Crest Education (China)
- Dickinson School Consulting (Germany and worldwide)
- Edukatus (China, Hong Kong, Singapore)
- Genesis Education Planning (China) (Certified Agent and Certified Guardian)
- Global Education Tumulka (GET) (Germany)
- i-Learner (Hong Kong)
- InterGreat Education Group (China)
- IQ Consultancy (Russia)
- ITEC (Russia)
- J3 Group (HK)
- JD Consultancy (China) (Certified Agent and Certified Guardian)
- Mark Brooks Education (Ghana, Nigeria, worldwide)
- Meridian Group (Latvia)
- Overseas Personal Development Services (China)
- Panoba (Nigeria and Saudi Arabia)
- QED Education Group (China)
- Rise Smart Overseas Education Centre (Hong Kong)
- Sarah Jochums Internatsberatung (Germany)
- School Britannia (France)
- Sino-UK Arts & Cultural Bridge Ltd (China)
- The Independent Education Consultants (worldwide)
- The Watanabe Office (Japan)
- UK Academics & Guardianship (UKAG) (China)
- UK Education Guide (Middle East, worldwide)
- UK Tuition Services (China) (Certified Agent and Certified Guardian).
For more information on the BSA Certified Agent scheme, please visit our website.
BSA Certified Guardians
- Abby Plumb Education Guardian Service (Certified Agent and Certified Guardian)
- Academic Families (Certified Agent and Certified Guardian)
- Access UK Education
- Alpha Guardians
- Amber Education
- Belgravia Guardians
- Berkeley Guardians
- Boarding Schools Ireland
- Cambridge Guardian Angels
- Clarendon International Education
- College Guardians
- Connexcel (Certified Agent and Certified Guardian)
- Cotswold Guardians
- Edinburgh Guardian Angels
- Education and Exchange in Europe (provisional)
- Elite Anglo-Chinese Services
- English Country Guardians
- Gabbitas
- Genesis Education Planning (Certified Agent and Certified Guardian)
- Great British Guardians
- Guardians International Support
- High Schools International
- Hostlink UK
- International Student Guardianship Ireland (ISGI) (provisional)
- JD Consultancy (Certified Agent and Certified Guardian)
- Overseas Personal Development Services (Certified Agent and Certified Guardian)
- Redoor Education (provisional)
- Regent Guardians
- St George’s Guardians
- Scottish Overseas Guardianship Association (SOGA) (provisional)
- See World (provisional)
- Study Links
- The Guardian Family Network
- Trusted Guardianship
- UK Guardians
- UKGuardianship
- UK Tuition Services (Certified Agent and Certified Guardian)
- Ying Lang Guardian, Glamour Edu Ltd
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.
Partner news
Accommodation request: IntoUniversity is an education charity supporting disadvantaged young people to gain a university place or another chosen ambition. The charity is looking for London-based accommodation in July and August 2022 to enable older students from other cities to participate in programmes in London, and for new graduate staff during their initial training period:
Big City Bright Future: Three-week paid internship for Year 13 students with 24 firms in London.
Sunday, July 04 - Saturday, July 24, 2022 (20 nights, 45 people).
Academy of Enterprise: One-week entrepreneurship week for students at university.
Sunday, July 25 - Saturday, July 31, 2022 (six nights, 25 people).
Staff Training: Accommodation for regional staff during their initial training period in London.
Sunday, August 8 - Saturday, September 24, 2022 (20 people)
Further details
- Student programmes will have IU staff present
- Most students with be 18+ (all are over 17)
- Catering not required
- Close to transport links (ideally within one hour of the city)
- Single rooms but can share bathroom/kitchen.
IntoUniversity runs 34 learning centres, located in the heart of disadvantaged neighbourhoods in 16 towns and cities, where students are supported from age seven with an innovative, impact-driven programme. The charity has partnerships with several independent schools. www.intouniversity.org
If your school could possibly help, please contact Jack Hall on 07593 136591, or email
jack.hall@intouniversity.org
Celebrating Partnerships - case study request: Our colleagues at ISC have asked us to share the following request with you for this year's Celebrating Partnerships booklet:
The ISC is planning for this year’s Celebrating Partnerships booklet and we are keen to hear from schools about their recent partnership activity.
We understand the pandemic has forced many partnerships to be put on hold but we are also aware that schools have been able to adapt their activity to ensure pupils and staff continue to benefit from joint working.
We want to hear from all schools – big and small, prep and senior – about the projects they have been involved with during the coronavirus crisis. And because the primary audience for the booklet is politicians, we are particularly interested in examples of partnership activity that focus on educational disadvantage and learning recovery.
If your school is playing a part in projects that benefit pupils based in any of the Government’s ‘opportunity areas’, please do let us know. We would also like to hear about ‘online partnerships’, where your school is working with schools in different parts of the country for the benefit of pupils and staff outside of your local community.
Of course, partnerships vary greatly in scale and nature, so whatever activity your school has been involved with, please do share your good news stories with us – simply send examples and case studies to press@isc.co.uk.
We look forward to hearing from you.
Appointment of Chair of ISEB: The Independent Schools Examinations Board (ISEB) is seeking to appoint a new Chair to succeed Durell Barnes who will retire from this role on the appointment of his successor. This part-time position would suit someone who has a strong track record in senior leadership and strategic planning, together with a good understanding of the current educational landscape. Highly developed negotiating and presentation skills, alongside experience of senior governance will also be required. Working closely with the CEO, Julia Martin, the role involves providing entrepreneurial leadership to the company, setting strategic aims and promoting ISEB’s values and standards. It is intended that the new Chair will take up this post in the spring of 2022, though some flexibility over the start date may be possible.
Interviews are due to take place in August with a closing date for applications of July 22.
For further details and an application form, please contact Andrew Nott (andrew@aneconsultancy.com / 07799 411406). Durell Barnes would also be happy to discuss the position with prospective candidates (durell.barnes@iseb.co.uk).
Temporary staff needed for Bishopstrow College summer camps: Bishopstrow College in Wiltshire is looking for temporary staff over the summer holidays for summer camps. The college needs four people for two weeks from July 15-24 for its summer programme. The posts will either be at Bishopstrow College near Warminster, or at Padworth College near Reading.
If you are interested, please email Stuart Nicholson, Principal, at principal@bishopstrow.com.
Keep in touch
Please 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:
- Chief Executive - Robin Fletcher
- Chief Operating Officer and Director, Sacpa - Aileen Kane
- Director of Safeguarding, Professional Development and Accreditation - Dale Wilkins
- Member Services Director - Chris Ryan
- International Director and Director, BAISIS - Caroline Nixon
Director of Guardianship and Inclusion - Ammy Davies-Potter
- Head of Member Services - Beth Waddington
- Senior Training Manager - Liz McDonald
- Communications and Partnerships Manager - Andrew Gray
- Finance and Administration Manager - Danielle Cuthbert
- Business Support Manager - Ellie Reed
- Business Support Executive - Claire Scrimgeour
T. +44 (0)207 798 1580
E. bsa@boarding.org.uk
W. www.boarding.org.uk
