Dear Members,

This week the Scottish government announced the aspirational return to school on February 22 for P1-3 pupils and part-time return for selected senior students (details to be confirmed on February 16). 

BSA and SCIS are working with the Scottish government on the updated boarding annex section of the school guidance, who have made it clear that it would not be appropriate for any pupils to travel to boarding schools in advance of any formal confirmation 

This week we also hosted our BSA Boarding Conference and welcomed over 200 delegates to the virtual gathering. The event, supported by headline sponsors Engage and BSA Gold Certified Suppliers Witley Jones, explored leadership, crisis management, marketing, prep boarding, and much more. It is clear from the emails BSA has received that while we were not in person, the event was still valued for bringing together boarding colleagues to share ideas and best practice.

Our next conference 'Supporting international students in British independent schools' will take place on March 11 in partnership with BAISIS. The event is suitable for staff working to support international students in British independent schools, from recruitment to 'graduation': marketing, admissions, EAL provision, Guardians, Agents, and members of SLT/SMT. This one-day event will bring together the marketing, pastoral, academic, and recruitment elements of ensuring our international students, and their families, feel supported and valued.

Click here to find out more and book now.

Term date survey

We would like to understand the general picture across member schools about their plans for after half-term or changing term dates. Our survey closes on Friday, February 12 and we will share results with members. BSA is aware that IAPS is also surveying its members on this topic.

To take the survey please click here

BSA Inclusion Lead training

This new, comprehensive, two-day course has been put together to support Inclusion Leads of staff with specific responsibility for equity, diversity and inclusion in boarding schools.

The BSA Inclusion Lead course brings together subject leaders from a wide range of backgrounds who will share knowledge and experiences to both support you with this important work, and challenge your thinking to enable professional, and personal, growth.

Over the two study days, delegates will cover:

• Identity and belonging
• Use of language
• Empowerment
• Intersectionality
• Legal and inspection requirements
• Compassionate leadership
• Creating sustained change.

Study dates: Friday, April 30 and Monday, May 17, 2021. To book this training, please click here. 

COVID updates

 Covid testing in schools and colleges: grant funding
The DfE updated this guidance on 2 February and to access the guidance please click here. The scope of the guidance includes:

 “These grant conditions relate to the allocation schools and colleges will receive to support the costs associated with testing activity between 4 January 2021 and February half term. This includes: 

• Rapid one-off testing on return of all vulnerable students/pupils and children of critical workers attending educational settings. This assumes that all pupils/students will receive 2 Lateral Flow Device (LFD) tests, 3-5 days apart; and
• Weekly testing of staff up to twice a week.

UK: Quarantine for International boarders
As stated in our update of January 25, the Home Office has confirmed that, in the event of compulsory quarantining for international arrivals, international boarders in the UK will be able to self-isolate in their boarding houses rather than in a hotel.

We have also had confirmation from the DfE that boarders may go to their guardians for the February half term in England. 

With regard to the return to school on March 8, BSA is in conversation with the DfE and have been told that arrangements will be clarified nearer the time for the return of international boarders not currently in the UK.

England: Vulnerable students guidance
Following BSA's letter to the government, the DfE has confirmed:

The definition of vulnerable children and young people includes children who have a social worker, an education, health and care plan (EHCP) or who may be vulnerable for another reason at local discretion (“otherwise vulnerable”).

School may therefore consider the mental health of international students when reading this guidance.

West African Elites’ Spending on UK Schools and Universities report

Thank you to colleagues at ISBA for sharing a Carnegie Endownment for International Peace report on 'West African Elites’ Spending on UK Schools and Universities: A Closer Look'. Click here to read the report.

BSA Awards 2021 - entries now open

The annual BSA Awards are our chance to celebrate the achievements, hard work, and dedication of schools and individuals in boarding. We're delighted to announce that nominations are now open for this year's awards, which will be announced at our BSA Annual Conference for Heads 2020-21 on May 4-5. 

For more information on this year's categories and how to enter, please visit the Awards page on our website. The deadline for submitting any entries is Friday, March 26.

Best wishes, 

Robin Fletcher
Chief Executive, BSA and BSA Group

BSA Certified Supplier Scheme

The 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
• Pearson: A technology and publishing company
• Witley Jones: Designers, manufacturers and installers of quality school furniture for BSA boarding schools

BSA Certified Suppliers

• Careers software: Unifrog
• COVID disinfectant: Safe Tech
• COVID fogging machine: Hurricane
• COVID HK pre-flight certification: Belgravia
• COVID pre-flight certification: Elite Anglo-Chinese Services
• COVID pre0flight certification: Fortress Direct
• COVID safeguarding software: Assetpool
• COVID sanitiser: Clearwater Hygiene
• COVID sanitiser and tunnels: PTC Xtrasan
• COVID testing: Biograd
• COVID testing: Latus Health
• COVID testing and tracking: Sirkka Networks
• COVID testing and tracking: Taylor Education
• Face masks: Funky Face Masks
• Face masks: Goldprp Face Masks
• Face masks: Kaia Trading Ltd
• Maths software: Sparx Maths / Hegarty Maths
• 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

• 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)
• Barbara Glasmacher Internationale (Germany)
• BeGo Education (China)
• Better School! Internatsberatung (Germany)
• BOSSS UK (China)
• Britannia StudyLink (Hong Kong)
• British United Education Services (Hong Kong)
• 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)
• i-Learner (Hong Kong)
• IQ Consultancy (Russia)
• ITEC (Russia)
• J3 Group (HK)
• JD Consultancy (China)
• Mark Brooks Education (Ghana, Nigeria, worldwide)
• Overseas Personal Development Services (China)
• Panoba (Nigeria and Saudi Arabia)
• 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 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)
• 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
• Elite Anglo-Chinese Services 
• English Country Guardians 
• Gabbitas
• Genesis Education Planning
• Guardians International Support
• High Schools International
• Hostlink UK
• 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
• 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.

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. For more details on our Certificate courses, please click here.

Listed below are a selection of our upcoming courses - to find out more, or to book your place, please click on the course title. If you need any further information about our Accredited Training programme, please contact Liz McDonald, Senior Training Manager, at liz@boarding.org.uk.

• NEW - Online Certificate in International Boarding
  Dates: February 25, 2021 and May 27, 2021.
• NEW - BSA Certificate in Professional Practice - Mental Health First Aid & Wellbeing
  Dates: March 11, 2021; April 20, 2021 and May 19, 2021.
• BSA Spring Diploma in Boarding Practice - Leadership
• Dates: March 18, 2021; June10, 2021 and Day 3: October 14, 2021.

Virtual conferences

• BSA / BAISIS Conference: Supporting international students in British independent schools: March 11, 2021
• BSA / SACPA Conference: Learning from the IICSA investigation into residential school settings: April 28, 2021
• Annual Conference for Heads 2020-21: May 04-05, 2021
• Annual Health & Wellbeing Conference 2020-21: July 06, 2021

Virtual day seminars

• ​Virtual day seminar: State of the Boarding Nation: February 09, 2021
• Virtual day seminar: Supporting senior boarders: February 10, 2021
• Virtual day seminar: Understanding adolescence - teenage girls: February 11, 2021
• Virtual day seminar: Secretaries and PA's boarding update: February 25, 2021
• Virtual day seminar: Shaping strategy: February 26, 2021

BAISIS virtual day seminar: Flipped learning in the context of online learning: February 22, 2021
Exploring ways that flipped learning might be successfully employed in the online classroom, with EAL learners in mind, this seminar will demonstrate some the advantages of moving instruction out of the classroom and spending more time on engaging with learners in the online classroom.

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. Dates: March 08 and July 08. 

Sacpa Safer Recruitment Training: This training will enable you to meet statutory responsibilities referenced in Keeping Children Safe in Education and Working Together to Safeguard Children, and required by OFSTED. The course is suitable for staff in the role of designated safeguarding lead (DSL) and deputy designated safeguarding lead (DDSL) as well as members of management teams with recruitment responsibilities, including HR and Governors/Trustees. Date: May 13.

Webinars

• BSA webinar: Are you ready for...Women's History Month: February 08, 11:00-12:00
• Sacpa webinar: County Lines - understanding risks and preparing for post-lockdown: February 11, 11:00-12:00
• BSA/AGBIS webinar: Foundations for boarding school Governors - collective governance: February 17, 17:00-18:00
• Sacpa webinar: Safer Recruitment - lessons from an independent boarding school: February 22, 13:00-14:00

To see the entire 2020-21 training programme, click here.

Become a BSA Accredited Boarding Practitioner

BSA Accredited Boarding Practitioner status 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:

• Safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children
• Achieving the best boarding practice and the best outcomes for boarders
• Reflecting on practice and undertaking regular training
• Working collaboratively with other boarding colleagues.

Find out more here.

Other news

A boarding school parent is scoping a new project to take pressure off families where children wish to return to school but other members of the families are shielding.

She seeks boarding schools who would consider offering temporary boarding places to children until Covid-19 vaccines have been rolled out across vulnerable groups. 

If you are a school with capacity to offer a local child a boarding space to enable them to attend school while keeping vulnerable family members safe, or would be interested in discussing how such a project could be effective, please contact lucycarlyle@gmail.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 - Aileen Kane
• Director of Safeguarding, Professional Development and Accreditation - Dale Wilkins
• Member Services Director - Chris Ryan
• International Director - 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
• Member Services Co-ordinator - Chantelle Howell-Walker.

T. +44 (0)207 798 1580
E. bsa@boarding.org.uk
W. www.boarding.org.uk