www.boarding.org.uk No images? Click here Dear Members,We have been receiving many enquiries about visas and immigration, including questions about the changed status of EEA pupils and checks to ensure the students are genuine. It is important to understand the new Student and Child Student entry routes which replaced the Tier 4 system last October. Duties related to sponsorship of students can be found here. The BSA team works closely with the Home Office and represents the sector at the Educators Advisory group which meets regularly and at the APPG for International Education. We gather common themes and issues and share these with officials so they can adapt processes and policy. The latest Home Office advice for all UK boarding school sponsors can be found on our website here. Officials have asked us to share their latest message regarding COVID-19 concessions with members (please note not all concessions apply to boarding schools) and requested we collate feedback comments from members:
We strongly urge members to work with BSA certified agents (BSA Certified Agent Scheme) and guardians (BSA Certified Guardian Scheme) as listed on our website and keep up to date with recent changes to immigration law by attending our BSA virtual one-day conference: Immigration update on June 10, where representatives from the Home Office policy team and the operational UKVI team will be speaking. If you require any support with your sponsor duties, please contact Aileen Kane, COO, or Caroline Nixon, International Director. While we cannot provide immigration legal advice we can provide general support. Verification codes problemWe are aware that there is a problem with verification codes not getting through to German mobiles when parents are trying to apply for a visa for their children to attend UK schools. We have contacted the Home Office and hope that the problem will soon be resolved. If any school or agent is aware of a similar problem for other nationalities please contact Caroline Nixon, International Director. June one-day conferences - bookings openBookings are open for all five of the BSA Group virtual one-day conferences taking place in June. The first is our SBF Summer Conference 2021 on June 08, followed by our summer Immigration update on June 10, and our Boarding Future Project Conference on June 15. The following day (June 16), Sacpa and BAISIS will be jointly hosting Safeguarding International Students, with Sacpa leading our first-ever Safeguarding in Sport conference on June 24. If you haven't done so already, please click on the links to book your places. For more information on our forthcoming CPD, training and events - including dates for our Accredited Training programme in 2021/22 - please scroll down to the BSA Academy section. England: NMS ConsultationMembers have been contacting us regarding the consultation and introduction of the updated NMS. We have contacted the DfE and have been advised the consultation is being evaluated. Our understanding is that it is unlikely that the new standards will be in place for September 2021. We will update you on this if we receive any further information. BSA survey: Chinese recruitmentBSA has organised a survey on the drivers for Chinese recruitment and are asking for your support to send this out to Chinese parents and potential parents of pupils in your school. If your Marketing team has yet to receive an email from us but would be willing to help us in this research, please email us at bsa@boarding.org.uk. We would be delighted to tell you more about the survey, the information we hope to gain and how it will help your school with its future marketing and recruitment strategy. Scotland’s Boarding Schools' Virtual Fair this Saturday (22/5/21)BSA is lending its support to Scotland’s Boarding Schools’ Virtual Fair, taking place this Saturday (May 22). The event provides an opportunity for parents to meet key staff from Scotland’s leading senior boarding schools and discover the benefits of choosing Scotland for their child’s senior school education. For more information about the event, please click here. Limitless Challenge: #boardersgosgreenDuring our Annual Conference for Heads this month, we launched the Boarders Go Green Challenge. In partnership with Limitless, a unique brand that offers high-quality sportswear to many of our member schools, we're challenging schools to join together to walk the equivalent of the distance across Africa - approximately 7,500km. Schools can contribute to this by undertaking a series of tasks and completing them will equate to a distance walked. We've made an excellent start to the challenge, with more than 1,700km already covered. A massive thank you goes to staff and students at St Swithun's School, Sherborne Girls and Badminton School, who've helped us reach that figure. The challenge will end at the conclusion of National Boarding Week (June 21-27, 2021) and we'd love to see as many of you getting involved as possible. For more information, please visit our #boardersgogreen webpage. BSA ForumsThe next round of forums are nearly upon us and the dates are listed below. Please note that in last week's edition of the newsletter (Issue 210), an incorrect date and time was given for the Wales forum. The correct date is listed below - we apologise for the error and for any inconvenience caused: May
June
(*If you have yet to receive an invite and wish to attend please could you email bsa@boarding.org.uk) Best wishes,
COVID updatesScotland - Coronavirus (COVID-19): guidance on reducing the risks in schools - update publishedThe Scottish Government has published its updated Coronavirus (COVID-19): guidance on reducing the risks in schools guidance. Thanks to our colleagues at SCIS for providing the following update:
England: Coronavirus (COVID-19): grassroots sports guidance for the public and sport providers - updated guidanceThe Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport has updated its Coronavirus (COVID-19): grassroots sports guidance for the public and sport providers. An updated version of the guidance can be viewed by clicking here. BSA Certified Supplier SchemeThe organisations 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 Guardians
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. We are delighted to announce that booking is now open for the 2021-22 accredited training courses! Certificate Course Online BSA Certificate in Professional Practice - Mental Health & Wellbeing
Click here to reserve your place BSA Advanced Certificate in Boarding Practice (School Nurses) BSA Certificate in International Boarding BSA Certificate in Professional Practice - Inclusion Lead Training Participants will receive high-quality training and support from a range of experts to further develop the skills and confidence needed to establish, embed and sustain equity, diversity and inclusion work in their school. Throughout the two days there will be opportunities to meet, collaborate and discuss with other participants and to learn from case studies and good practice from other schools. Click here to reserve your place. Autumn Diploma in Boarding Practice (Leadership) - 2021 - 2022
This is comprised of three, tutor-led study days, with interactive morning and afternoon sessions that allow for discussion. Find out more or reserve your place here. If you need any further information about our Accredited Training programme, please contact Liz McDonald, Senior Training Manager, at liz@boarding.org.uk. 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. Webinars
To 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). May EDI Training - LAST CHANCE TO BOOK
Our second Index (EDI) conference will take place on September 28, 2021 – more details will be available soon. 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 newsLess than a month remaining to enter Film Competition International category: Schools, classes and groups can still submit their entries for the Childnet Film Competition International category – but not for long! For the past 12 years, Film Competition has challenged young filmmakers across the UK to create a short film in response to a given theme. And, for the first time, young people who attend school outside of the UK can now enter too. The challenge is to create a short film, no longer than two minutes, reflecting a positive message on this year’s theme: Separating fact from fiction - finding trustworthy information online. The main criteria is that all entries must contain a positive message and be able to educate other young people. The International category is open to young people aged 7-18, and entries close on Monday, June 14. For more details, please click here. The Queen’s Green Canopy: The Queen’s Green Canopy (QGC) is a unique tree planting initiative created to mark Her Majesty’s Platinum Jubilee in 2022 which invites people from across the United Kingdom to “Plant a Tree for the Jubilee.” Everyone from individuals to Scout and Girlguiding groups, villages, cities, counties, schools and corporates will be encouraged to play their part to enhance our environment by planting trees from October, when the tree planting season begins, through to the end of the Jubilee year in 2022. Our colleagues at ISC have met with the QGC team, who are keep for schools to get involved in the project. More information on the project is available by clicking here. GSA webinars: The Girls' School Association is hosting a diversity and inclusion-related webinar next month which is open for bookings:
Independent Schools of the Year 2021 Awards: We've been asked by Independent School Parent magazine to share the following update with you about the upcoming Independent Schools of the Year 2021 Awards:
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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