www.boarding.org.uk No images? Click here Dear Members,Members must be aware that as of this morning (Friday, March 19), there have been changes to the “red-list” countries for entry into England. Pupils returning to boarding from Portugal and Mauritius no longer have to be quarantined under the “red-list” guidance, but Ethiopia, Oman, Qatar and Somalia have been added. The full list of red list countries is available here and the guidance for quarantining pupils from those countries is here. Schools have highlighted issues in following the guidance, and BSA would urge all schools to read the letter they received from the Secretary of State very carefully and follow the instructions contained within it (please note that each school must have their own letter from Secretary of State to give to the children). Two particular issues are as follows:
Furthermore, as mentioned previously, the DfE is not able to make any exceptions for students who were already 18 before September 1, 2020, who are NOT allowed to quarantine in boarding if they are from red-list countries. Any school which cannot find the letter email sent by the Secretary of State should search their servers for for it under education.gov.uk, approximately March 5, 2021 and if unsuccessful should contact Dale Wilkins, BSA Director of Safeguarding, Professional Development and Accreditation, at dale@boarding.org.uk. BSA envisages that there will be further clarifications soon from Scotland and Wales as to their own red-list policies. For additional COVID updates, please scroll down to the next section. Census 2021 - updateFollowing the Census update included in last week's edition of our newsletter (Issue 204), three member schools contacted us to advise they had been given conflicting information from the Office for National Statistics (ONS) regarding the minimum age of a boarding pupil who needs to complete their own individual survey. We requested clarification on this from the ONS, and also asked for guidance on how to manage international students who are required to complete the Census, but have not been able to return this academic year, or have had broken education here in the UK due to COVID, and cannot access the survey from their home country. We have received the following response from the ONS:
We would like to thank the member schools which have helped us to investigate this issue. BSA Awards 2021 - deadline next Friday (26/3/21)There's just one week left to enter this year's BSA Awards. If you haven't already sent us your submissions, you will need to do so by Friday, March 26. This year's event is the biggest to date with awards being chosen in 13 different categories:
This is a great opportunity to celebrate the achievements, hard work, and dedication of schools and individuals in boarding, so for more information on how to enter, please visit the Awards page on our website. Annual Conference for HeadsThe winners of this year's BSA Awards will be announced at the conclusion of our ‘Annual Conference for Heads’, which takes place on 4-5 May. The theme for the conference is “world class” and the aim is to inspire and empower attendees after an academic year like no other. We do hope you can join us - please click on the event link above to book your place. For more on the forthcoming CPD and training opportunities we have coming up, please scroll down to the BSA Academy section below. Survey of Chinese parentsIn partnership with British Council China and Connexcel, a BSA certified agent and guardian, the BSA is undertaking a survey of Chinese parents and potential parents about their perceptions of UK boarding school education. This is an opportunity to gain real insight into the current state of this valuable market and responses will provide useful data for member schools’ marketing and recruitment strategies. Members are invited to send any questions they would like to be included in the survey to Caroline Nixon, BSA International Director and Director, BAISIS, at caroline.nixon@boarding.org.uk by Friday, March 26. In House consultancy serviceBSA Group’s In House consultancy service on all aspects of boarding and safeguarding is currently proving very popular with members in the UK and overseas. This includes a boarding house facilities review service which we are now conducting ‘virtually’ with several schools via video footage and/or reviewing submitted images. Anyone interested in this, or consultancy of any kind at a discounted rate for members, please contact robin@boarding.org.uk. BSA BlogWe've launched a new BSA Blog, a regular feature where guests authors will share their thoughts on a variety of important topical subjects. If you would be interested in authoring a guest blog for us, please contact Andrew Gray, Communications and Partnerships Manager. You can read the BSA Blog by clicking here. BSA Research FellowshipThe BSA Research Fellowship launched by the Boarding Schools’ Association in 2016 gives an experienced senior member of the boarding community the opportunity to undertake a unique research opportunity. The successful applicant will visit three boarding schools of their choice and will collate their data in a research project analysing the different schools and their boarding provision. The fellow will present their finding a the Annual BSA Boarding Conference 2023. The deadline for applications is February, 2022. If you are interested in submitting a proposal for the BSA Research Fellowship (2021/22) please email chris@boarding.org.uk. ON BOARDSince January 2019, our ON BOARD Community Action Programme has been highlighting the work of boarding schools in their local communities. Its aim is to increase support for local communities from boarding schools and to highlight this to external stakeholders, including the Government and parents. To participate in the programme, BSA member schools must:
For more information, please visit the ON BOARD section of our website. Best wishes,
COVID updatesSCCIF inspections to resume in AprilOfsted Social Care (including boarding) has confirmed a return to inspection activity in England from April 12, as outlined in the following update from Yvette Stanley, Ofsted National Director, Regulation and Social Care:
Hong Kong and other international travelInternational travel is likely to remain very difficult for the forthcoming period, and BSA is monitoring developments, particularly with regard to pupils being able to travel home for the summer holidays and return in the autumn. There is a particular issue with Hong Kong, whereby travellers from the UK need to have been outside the UK for 21 days before flying in, and then to quarantine for 21 days thereafter. BSA is engaging with the Hong Kong authorities on this issue, and will feed back to members as appropriate. Summer 2021 grading and international boardersThank you to our colleagues at ISC for forwarding the following update from Ofqual on grading for boarders overseas:
Scotland: COVID-19 asymptomatic testingOur thanks to our colleagues at SCIS for passing on the following update regarding COVID-19 asymptomatic testing:
BSA Certified Supplier SchemeThe 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 Guardian and Agent schemesThe 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
For more information on the BSA Certified Agent scheme, please visit our website. BSA Certified GuardiansWe are delighted to announce that Access UK Education has joined the BSA Certified Guardian 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. 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. For more details on our Certificate courses, please click here. If you need any further information about our Accredited Training programme, please contact Liz McDonald, Senior Training Manager, at liz@boarding.org.uk. 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:
Study dates: Friday, April 30 and Monday, May 17, 2021. To book this training, please click here. For other EDI training opportunities, please visit our main calendar. To order recordings of previous webinars, please click here. Virtual conferences
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. 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. WebinarsTo see the entire 2020-21 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 on our website under the heading ‘Index Resources’ - BSA website username and password required) Our second Index (EDI) conference will take place on September 28, 2021 – more details will be available soon (for further EDI training opportunities, please see the Accredited training section above). 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. Other newsOur thanks to ISBA for sharing the following update from Farrer & Co regarding Everyone's Invited:
Our thanks to SCIS for providing the following updates from Scotland: Scotland: Non-Domestic Rates Following the passing of the Scottish Budget, on March 5 the Government signed The Non-Domestic Rates (Scotland) Act 2020 (Commencement No. 2, Transitional and Saving Provisions) Amendment Regulations 2021. This amends the schedule in the Non-Domestic Rates (Scotland) Act 2020 (Commencement No. 2, Transitional and Saving Provisions) Regulations 2020, in the entry for section 17 (charitable relief: independent schools), in column 3 (appointed day), for ‘2021’ substituting ‘2022’. Scotland: UN Convention on the Rights of the Child This Bill will progress to Stage 3 in the Scottish Parliament on March 16. At Stage 2, the Scottish Government lodged an amendment (9) to ensure that anyone undertaking a function under a contract, or other arrangements, with a public authority will have a duty not to act incompatibly with UNCRC requirements. The Minister provided examples of publicly funded early learning/childcare and independent and grant-aided schools, following reference to the 1980 Education Act. This was agreed to without division and means that judicial remedies are possible on certain issues. Keep 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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