www.boarding.org.uk No images? Click here Dear membersAlongside our normal CPD and online event programme, BSA yesterday held its first virtual one-day conference called 'Boarding Future' attended by over 170 participants from the UK, Ireland, Switzerland, USA, Belgium and Russia and involving 15 speakers.Our next one-day conference, for state boarding schools, will be held on June 17. Please click here to book now. Black Lives MatterThe BSA has developed a Black Lives Matter resource hub for members, which 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. English SchoolsOn Thursday, we circulated to English schools DfE guidance on Y10 and Y12 which stated:
We know many schools already have plans for the return of boarders in these year groups based on their own risk assessments and agreement with insurers, and would highlight that ‘we do not envisage’ does not means schools cannot accommodate boarders. DfE issued an additional helpful clarification that:
COVID-Safe Charter and logoOver 100 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, a logo and a template letter for parents can be found on our website. Investment opportunityBSA has been approached by an investor interested in buying (wholly or share of) a boarding school in Greater London, the South or South East England. If your school is interested please email robin@boarding.org.uk for further information. National Boarding Week sponsored by Squadkit Now in its 5th year, we will again celebrate National Boarding Week from Monday 22 - Sunday 28 June. This year, the week is set to celebrate the importance of health and wellbeing in boarding life in collaboration with our generous sponsors, Squadkit, a unique brand that offers high-quality sportswear to many of our member schools. 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 #iloveboarding #squadkit. Ideas include:
BSA Certified GuardiansDemand for the BSA Certified Guardian Scheme has been very high and I am pleased to announce Academic Families has now joined the growing list of BSA Certified Guardians:
BSA Certified AgentsWe are delighted to announce two more educational agents have joined the BSA Certified Agent Scheme, they are Academic Families and Connexcel. Welcome to the BSA family:
Best wishes
BSA AcademyDiploma in Boarding Practice (Leadership) Autumn 2020/21This course is aimed at senior boarding staff. Candidates may have previously completed the BSA Advanced Certificate Course and/or be suitably experienced to benefit from this leadership course. Strategic aspects of boarding, including the statutory framework, leading the team – how to get the best out of your boarding team, managing quality – evaluation and preparing for inspection, managing conflict - a key facet of the senior staff role, staff development, appraisal and performance management and marketing – a whole team approach. Please click here to download the application form. Virtual day seminarsCreating a culture of wellbeing Improving induction Chaplains' CPD WebinarsMobile phones in schools BSA and AGBIS joint webinar: COVID-19: Updated implications and issues for boarding school Governors and Senior Leaders To see more webinars, please visit our Events calendar. ConferencesAnnual Conference for Heads (rescheduled from May 2020) Boarding House Staff Conference SAVE THE DATE: Deputy Heads and Heads of Boarding Conference 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 NewsPassword English Language TestingThe BSA has partnered with Password English Language Testing to assist the many international pupils in UK boarding schools affected by the closure of IELTS and other test centres. Many Year 13 international boarders, who had not met the English language requirement for their university choices before their enforced return home, are now struggling to find a way to prove their level of English in order to secure the conditional offer places they hold. As IELTS test centres across the world are currently closed, many until further notice, your UCAS Advisor, Director of Studies, or Head of EAL may have been contacted for advice about this situation. To support these pupils and your staff and school, Password and the BSA have created a co-branded version of the Password Skills test which is known and used by many UK universities in place of IELTS. The test is CEFR aligned, and fulfils all UKVI requirements for tier 4 visas. This special version of the test can be delivered and invigilated remotely by BSA schools’ staff. Schools running the Password Skills for BSA Schools test will have access to results and certificates in their own private results area. The collective results of all the BSA member schools taking part in the scheme will be in a BSA Results Area with an online validation system for use by universities. Tests can be run whenever and wherever required and results and certificates are available within 5 working days of tests being taken. The cost of the test is less than a quarter of the price of other independent tests such as IELTS, offering value for money in addition to the quality assurance of being designed and academically overseen by the world-leading research body, CRELLA. For more details of the scheme and to sign up please contact Dr. Helen Wood, Head of School Partnerships at Password (helen.wood@englishlanguagetesting.co.uk). 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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