www.boarding.org.uk No images? Click here Dear Members,We've had a busy schedule of virtual conferences, seminars and webinars taking place this week, and I'd like to thank all of the delegates and guest speakers who've joined us for all of these events. We were especially pleased to see so many of you joining us for our COVID Conference on Wednesday (18/11) - nearly 60 delegates tuned in for this late addition to our events programme, and we hope you found it useful and informative. Don't forget that the vast majority of our sessions are recorded, so if you weren't able to join us for a particular event, you can still purchase a copy to watch at a time that suits you. You can view our events recording archive by clicking here, or you can email us at bsa@boarding.org.uk for more details. Visas and immigration updateGOV.UK has updated its guidance on how to apply for a Tier 2 or 5 sponsor licence and how to sponsor a migrant worker to include new sponsor guidance documents for Workers and Temporary Workers. The updated guidance can be viewed here - the supporting sponsor guidance appendix has also been updated and can be viewed here. We’ve also been contacted by a number of state boarding schools about BN(O) passport holders coming over to the UK. The DfE is in the process of updating its guidance on the admission of overseas nationals to explain BN(O) rights and expects to publish this imminently. It is expected to say:
However, if BN(O)s move their family to the UK before the end of 2020, they gain a right to access education under an immigration status called ‘leave outside the rules’. These children can be recruited by state-funded schools. For the latest COVID-19 updates, please see the next section of the newsletter. ISBA TPS updateThe Independent Schools' Bursars Association (ISBA) has published a new TPS briefing note. You can view a copy of the briefing by clicking here. Events and trainingThe end of the year is fast approaching, but we still have a number of virtual events taking place between now and the end of the calendar year, with some of the highlights listed below. On Accredited Training, places are also still available on a selection of our Boarding Management and Pastoral Care course, which all begin before the end of November. Further details can be found in the BSA Academy section and you can also see our full 2020/21 training calendar for an up-to-date list of all our events. Sacpa Conference: Peer-on-peer abuse, spotting the signs NEW - BSA webinar: Key boarding themes for 2021 Boarding School Magazine, Spring 2021 - send us your newsThere's still time to send in any contributions for the spring 2021 edition of Boarding School magazine, which is due to be published in February 2021. If you would like to submit an article for the next edition, please email bsa@boarding.org.uk with your contributions by Friday 8 January 2021. New BSA website - please send us your imagesMany thanks to all of the schools who've sent in photos for possible inclusion on the new BSA website - we've received some excellent images so far. If you have any images, you would like to send in, please send them to Andrew Gray, Communications and Partnerships Manager. If you have multiple large file images to send, please send them via file sharing services such as WeTransfer or Dropbox. On a related note, please be aware that you may be contacted on our behalf by our colleagues at Inner Media, who are helping us to build the new site. They will be in touch to check that your existing school profile information is up-to-date, ahead of it being transferred over to our new site. School PlacesWe’ve teamed up with Bulldog Publishing to launch Schoolplaces.org, a dedicated live information resource for schools, parents, and education agents. Schoolplaces.org is designed to help agents and families easily find available school places, all in one location. And it’s also the ideal platform for schools to showcase themselves and let parents and agents know what they are offering. If you’re interested in getting your school listed on Schoolplaces.org, please email hello@schoolplaces.org. Revised national guidance for child protection in Scotland - consultationA reminder that the Scottish Government has launched a consultation into the revised National Guidance for Child Protection in Scotland which runs until January 17. The guidance references independent schools, boarding, and both SCIS and BSA. BSA office moveAt the beginning of next month, BSA Group will be moving to new offices sharing quarters with colleagues at the ISC. From December 1, 2020, Our new address will be:
Our main contact telephone number, +44 (0)207 798 1580, will remain the same. Best wishes,
COVID-19 updateCOVID testing update We know that some member schools have been using Oncologica as a supplier of COVID-19 PCR tests and would like to draw your attention to the fact that its UKAS accreditation was suspended on Wednesday November 18 (https://www.ukas.com/services/other-services/sanctions/organisations-under-sanction/). We believe that this suspension will only be temporary but please be aware that, until the suspension is rescinded, your international boarders may not be able to use Oncologica tests to get home. England We remind member schools that Government guidelines state that boarders suspected of having COVID-19, whether symptomatic or not, must not leave the school premises to go to their family, guardian or host family other than in accordance with the guidance or if expressly advised by Public Health England. Links to the most up-to-date testing guidance for pupils travelling to the following locations are available from our website: Scotland A summary of the latest evidence on coronavirus (COVID-19) in schools has been published by the Scottish Government. The paper, from the COVID-19 Advisory Sub-Group on Education and Children’s Issues, looks at the risks posed by the virus to pupils and staff, and the benefits to children and young people of schools remaining open. You can view a copy of the paper by clicking here - our thanks to our colleagues at SCIS for sharing this with us. BSA COVID-19 supplier listBSA has a list of suppliers of vital equipment on our website, and the list continues to grow. BSA does not officially endorse any of the products listed. Schools are urged to perform their own due diligence checks on any company they plan to approach:
For more detail on each of the suppliers, please visit the BSA COVID supplier page here. Partner newsBAISISThe British Association of Independent Schools with International Students (BAISIS) is now a member of the BSA Group. BAISIS’s mission is to define and share best practice in academic and pastoral provision for international students in British independent schools and colleges. To learn more about how BAISIS supports schools with international students, please take a look at our website. As a member of BSA, we are delighted to offer your school membership of BAISIS at £295 per annum, which is a 50% reduction in the annual subscription of £590. To take advantage of this offer, please email chris@boarding.org.uk. For more on forthcoming BAISIS training and events, please see the BSA Academy section below or visit the BAISIS website. SacpaAlso a member of the BSA Group is The Safeguarding and Child Protection Association (Sacpa), which champions excellence in safeguarding and child protection. Sacpa is the voice of safeguarding, providing a channel to government and other key agencies. The association represents organisations, associations, agencies and individuals involved in safeguarding the welfare of children and vulnerable adults in the UK and overseas. Sacpa offers three different types of membership: Professional, Charity and Organisation. A 50% discount is available to BSA members (schools or individual staff) who wish to join meaning membership prices start from £55 – please email chris@boarding.org.uk if you would like to become a member. Sacpa runs a comprehensive training programme, inviting experts from across the safeguarding sector to speak on important and current topics relating to safeguarding, child protection and the care of adults at risk. The next Sacpa webinar is 'Making the most of professional supervision', which takes place on Monday (23/11). For more on forthcoming Sacpa training and events, please see the BSA Academy section below or visit the Sacpa website. 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 AgentsWe are delighted to announce that IQ Consultancy has joined the BSA Certified Agent scheme. Welcome to the BSA family!
For more information on the BSA Certified Agent scheme, please visit our website. BSA Certified GuardiansWe are delighted to announce that Edinburgh Guardians Angels and UKGuardianship have 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. 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. LAST CHANCE TO BOOK
MORE COURSES
Virtual conferences
Virtual day seminars
Webinars
To see the entire 2020-21 training programme, click here.Become a BSA Accredited Boarding PractitionerBSA 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 Find out more here. Member ServicesRegional forum meetings (Virtual) The final remaining regional forum meeting taking place this year will be:
Members will receive calendar invitations and joining instructions ahead of the meeting. 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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