www.boarding.org.uk No images? Click here Dear membersNext week from Monday until Sunday (June 22-28) we celebrate National Boarding Week, sponsored by Squadkit.Now in its fifth year, we encourage all members (including boarders at home) to take part in this celebration. This year's celebrations will focus on the importance of health and wellbeing. From home, we encourage everyone to get involved in fun and innovative activities that support mental health and wellbeing. Don’t forget to post all activities using the #nationalboardingweek #squadkit #iloveboarding. Ideas include:
Fellow boarding schools in Australia recently celebrated their #NationalBoardingWeek. Marist College Ashgrove produced a highly imaginative TikTok Video to celebrate boarding. Please click here to view the video. England: KCSIEThe September 2020 revision of ‘Keeping children safe in education (KCSIE): statutory guidance for schools and colleges’ has been released. Click here to view the updated guidance. In addition to the usual series of updates, it specifically refers to the guidance COVID-19: safeguarding in schools, colleges and other providers, and stresses the fact that a school’s full safeguarding duties continue throughout the pandemic and beyond. Annexe H of KCSIE contains a full schedule of changes from the September 2019 version. Updates include several new paragraphs on mental health, making it clear that both the mental and physical health of children are relevant to safeguarding and welfare. There are also updates to information on contextual safeguarding, GDPR and online safety including when learning at home. The guidance also updates references to the RSHE curriculum from September 2020, management of allegations, domestic abuse, CSE, child criminal exploitation, preventing radicalisation and County Lines. The guidance also explains a change on terminology from honour-based violence to honour-based abuse, to recognise non-violent forms of abuse. Please note this guidance will come into force on 1 September 2020 and at that point KCSIE 2019 will be withdrawn. Until then schools and colleges must continue to use KCSIE 2019. Black Lives MatterThe BSA has developed a Black Lives Matter resource hub for members, which is updated weekly and can be viewed here. If you have any items you would like to add to this list please get in touch via bsa@boarding.org.uk we'd love to hear your thoughts. COVID updatesEngland: In its fortnightly call with England schools’ minister Baroness Berridge yesterday, BSA raised a range of questions relating to unaccompanied children returning to the UK, segregating new arrivals, the status of weekly/flexi boarders, boarding houses used also by day pupils and mixing boarders and day pupils in classrooms. Lady Berridge and her key officials were unable to provide immediate answers but promised guidance soon. On the key issue of reopening for September, the minister authorised BSA to say that details on this would be released ‘before the end of the summer term’ alongside the results of the review into 2m social distancting. She said the government was working with other departments such as the Home Office and Department for International Trade to clarify arrangements as soon as possible, recognised the strain ‘not knowing’ was putting on schools and families, and thanked the boarding sector for its patience. Scotland (courtesy of SCIS): In her statement to Parliament yesterday, the First Minister announced the staged progression to Phase 2. As part of that, she indicated that, as of 29 June, outdoor playgrounds and sports courts could re-open. While there is a distinction between organised, registered outdoor education, and the informal use of facilities for training, we are seeking confirmation from the Government that school courts etc. can be used, in suitably distanced ways. Northern Ireland: Social distancing of 1m (just over 3ft) is "safe and appropriate" for children and young people at school, the Northern Ireland Executive has agreed. This is to allow "full classes to attend" school and the NI Executive has also set a target for full reopening from 17 August to 24 August. The full guidance is expected to be published today. UK Tier 4: The Covid-19: Guidance for Tier 4 Sponsors and Migrants and for Short term students: Temporary concessions in response to Covid19 policy has been updated. The guidance clarifies that new students can commence their studies by distance learning, provided they will transition to face-to-face learning as soon as possible and contains updated information about current availability of Visa Application Centres. ISC/International student lobbying: Members are encouraged to contact local MPs regarding the effect COVID-19 will have on our international student community. Members are welcome to personalise the attached template letter to reflect their circumstances and any existing relationship they have with their MPs. Any school which has questions about the letter, or would like a briefing in advance of a meeting with their MP, please contact matthew.dent@isc.co.uk. COVID-Safe Charter and logo: Over 130 BSA member schools have now pledged to support our COVID-SAFE CHARTER, and it is particularly pleasing to have had expressions of support from across the world. If you would like to let BSA know you are adopting the Charter, please click here. Translations in Chinese, German and Russian, alongside the charter logo and a template letter for parents can be found on our website. Outreach: BSA has run seminars for parents in Hong Kong and Germany this week and there has been a huge and positive response from educational agents across the world who confirm that the charter is helping to reassure parents that it is safe for their children to return to UK boarding schools in the Autumn. School uniforms: A number of schools have queried the best care for school uniforms. School Blazer has kindly produced a guidance document for members. Boarding for vulnerable pupils – preparing for re-openingRoyal SpringBoard is preparing guidance for the return of vulnerable pupils in the Autumn term. As you coordinate your re-opening plans, please liaise with the Royal SpringBoard team on issues to consider for pupils that face particular vulnerabilities.If you are interested in contributing to this guidance or to offer insights on the questions being considered by your school in relation to planning for the return of vulnerable pupils please contact the Royal SpringBoard team via ceo@royalspringboard.org.uk Consultancy supportA number of schools, both international and UK, have recently asked BSA for consultancy support on aspects of boarding. Our In House consultancy service, which is discounted for member schools, was heavily in demand before lockdown and if there any schools with projects needing BSA support please contact me so we can ensure diary dates and resources are identified and secured. Password / BSA university entrance testAn update on the Password English Language BSA test for use by BSA schools with Year 13 international pupils who cannot meet the IELTS score required for their university choices because IELTS test centres remain closed in many parts of the world, particularly China. The co-branded test has now been built and LSE, University of Leeds and University of Exeter have already been given their validation codes, with many more universities in the pipeline. The first school tests are being run on 1st July but schools may run them at any time convenient to them. For more details of the scheme and to sign up please contact Dr. Helen Wood of Password. Best wishes
BSA AcademyBSA Accredited Training Programme2020-2021 courses are now open and delegates are invited to book now:
WebinarsBSA and AGBIS joint webinar: COVID-19: Updated implications and issues for boarding school Governors and Senior Leaders Virtual day seminarsTier 4 sponsor workshop and returning to school in September Leading a Boarding Team Boarding essentials BSA Master's in Residential Education - Buckingham UniversityBSA's MA in Residential Education is a one-year, part-time course for those working in or with an interest in boarding schools. It is offered as a partnership between the BSA and Buckingham University. This course allows those with experience in boarding, who are keen to research, to write about a topic of interest to them relating to boarding. The heart of the MA is a 12,000-15,000 word
dissertation. Participants undertake a literature review, which informs their dissertation, and will learn about different research methods. Participants will be expected to read widely. The course starts in September. Applicants may be from state or independent boarding schools in the UK or abroad. To apply, please visit the University of Buckingham website. BSA Accredited Boarding Practitioner schemeThere are four levels recognising staff who have completed at least one year in boarding, have demonstrated a commitment to safeguarding and undertaken key training, such as a BSA day seminar (Level 1) to staff who have completed 12 or more years in boarding and completed the BSA Diploma, or equivalent qualification, and have made a significant contribution to the wider boarding community outside their own setting (Level 4). Levels 2 and 3 can be worked towards by completion of the BSA Advanced Certificate Course and BSA Diploma respectively. All readers of this newsletter are almost certainly eligible for one of the ABP Levels and now is a great opportunity to apply. If you've attended BSA training in the past, all you need to do to apply is click the applicable link below:
If you have any questions about an application or wish to nominate a colleague, please email Liz McDonald, BSA Senior Training Manager. Partner NewsBSA Certified AgentsWe are delighted to announce another educational agent has joined the BSA Certified Agent Scheme, they are J3 Group. Welcome to the BSA family:
BSA Certified GuardiansDemand for the BSA Certified Guardian Scheme has been very high and I am pleased to announce Amber Education and St George’s Guardians have now joined the growing list of BSA Certified Guardians:
A message from Bright Network"As you may have seen from Sky News, the BBC or LinkedIn, last week Bright Network launched a national initiative, in partnership with 100+ leading organisations (everyone from Google to Goldman Sachs), to drive social mobility and support young people through the COVID-19 crisis. Internship Experience UK offers a deep, immersive three-day learning experience to any student aged 18 or over who wants to connect with employers, improve their CV and boost their employability skills. "We’ve already had 25,000+ students sign-up, however it would be great to get the word out to as many students and their parents as possible, through social posts, newsletters and word of mouth.The link to the supporters' pack is here and will provide you with all the details." Member ServicesKeep in touchPlease 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:
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