Dear Members,

Welcome to this week's edition of the BSA member newsletter. The updated versions of Keeping Children Safe in Education 2021 and the Sexual Violence and Sexual Harassment guidance for England were published on Tuesday as scheduled. A standalone version of KSCIE Part One is now also available.

Colleagues will wish to know that there were no substantive changes between the draft and the final version of KCSIE, although some “typos” and other errors were corrected, and some links and references updated to ensure they were working correctly.

There is no additional content in the Sexual Violence and Sexual Harassment guidance since the draft, but there has been some tweaking to the paragraph numbers. Please ensure you are using the up to date “live” versions of both documents from now on, rather than the drafts.

On Monday (September 6), we will be running our third and final KCSIE 2021 and sexual violence update, so if you haven't been available for the first two sessions, we do hope you can join us.

Visa and immigration update

BSA is aware of visa delays and has raised this as an urgent matter with Home Office and UKVI officials. Any schools who are experiencing visa delays, please send the reference number (the UAN beginning 3434) to Sabrina Kadi, BSA Group In-House Legal Counsel via sabrina.kadi@bsagroup.org.uk who will escalate these to UKVI colleagues.

We have also sought clarification on whether the updated 'Coronavirus (COVID-19): advice for UK visa applicants and temporary UK residents', released September 1, 2021, applies to students outside the UK, as well as those already in the UK. Under the updated guidance, provided requirements are fulfilled, students can now commence their studies while waiting for a decision on their application.

If you’ve applied for a Student or Child Student visa (including Tier 4 visas) and are waiting for a decision on your application, you can start your course or studies before your visa application has been decided if:

• Your sponsor is a Student sponsor
• You have been given a confirmation of acceptance for studies (CAS)
• You submitted your application before your current visa expired and you show your sponsor evidence of this
• The course you start is the same as the one listed on your CAS
• You have a valid Academic Technology Approval Scheme (ATAS) certificate if required

If your application is eventually rejected as invalid or refused, you must stop your course or studies.

A full version of the guidance is available by clicking here.

Red list update: CTM booking system issue resolved

An issue with the CTM booking system, used for booking testing arrangements for travellers to the UK, has now been fixed. Previously, an option to book a test for a child was unavailable - this has now been amended, with a 'traveller' option added to the drop-down menu.

This is applicable for all UK countries - to visit the CTM portal, please go to: https://quarantinehotelbookings.ctmportal.co.uk/ (scroll down to Buy your 2 COVID-19 PCR tests, if exempt from hotel managed quarantine and select the appropriate region of the UK).

Afghanistan and refugees

A number of members have offered school places and community support to refugees from Afghanistan. BSA, alongside a working party with ISC, GSA, GDST and ISBA, has been liaising with DfE, Home Office (resettlement), Local Government Association (LGA), contacts at Number 10, and a number of charities. The Home Office has said efforts to support refugees will be managed at Local Authorities/Councils level.

The LGA has also indicated that there are a large number of unaccompanied asylum seekers, many of whom are of Sixth Form age and from Afghanistan, in the UK who require support which may include boarding places.

If members could let BSA know via bsa@boarding.org.uk of any support you are offering so we can build up a national boarding picture of support, we will share this with ISC and government officials as appropriate.

To connect with your local support services, the government has also set up a “Help refugees who have come to the UK” page: www.gov.uk/help-refugees.

National Guidance for Child Protection in Scotland 2021 published

The Scottish Government has now published the National Guidance for Child Protection in Scotland 2021 with a suite of accompanying documents:

Gov.Scot: National Guidance for Child Protection in Scotland 2021.

CPD, training and events

With our CPD, training and events resuming fully this week after the summer break, it's been a busy start to the new term, and thank you to everyone who has joined us virtually for the sessions we've held so far.

Next week continues in the same vein. Places are available for Sacpa's ever-popular training session, Safeguarding for professional practitioners, taking place on Tuesday (September 7), while on the same day, BSA and Hieda will also be running a virtual day seminar, New to the role: school nurses.

There's also still time to sign up for our first conferences of the new academic year, the Sacpa-led Mental Health and Safeguarding conference, on September 20, and our second Equity, diversity and inclusion conference (INDEX): identity, belonging and connectedness, taking place on September 28.

And our full Accredited Training Programme is also open for bookings, with our first course of the new academic year, Online BSA Certificate in Professional Practice - Mental Health & Wellbeing, beginning on September 22. 

For more information on our forthcoming CPD, training and events, please scroll down to the BSA Academy section.

Amber list update - ministerial response

At the end of July, we wrote on behalf of our members to Transport Secretary Grant Shapps MP, requesting confirmation that international students, and those from military and diplomatic families (including ex-patriates), arriving in England from Amber List countries no longer had to isolate.

Earlier this week, we received a response to our letter, which you can view in full by clicking here.

Over the summer, the BSA team was in touch with representatives of all the devolved administrations, as well as UK Government departments, with regard to returning boarders. BSA also wrote to several airlines to clarify guidance and to try and pre-empt any potential problems.

Immigration legal advice

For the start of the new academic year, we've welcomed a new addition to the BSA team. Sabrina Kadi has joined us as our new In-House Legal Counsel to support members on immigration advice.

The service will include five hours pro bono immigration legal advice time per week for BSA member schools during term time (approx. one hour per day). Maximum call times are limited to 15 minutes and member schools are entitled to up to three free calls per term. Anything over 15 minutes or over three free calls per term will be chargeable by agreement and free calls cannot be banked to carry over to future terms or academic years.

For more information about the new service, please email Sabrina at Sabrina.Kadi@bsagroup.org.uk.

International Student University Fair, September 29, 2021

Book now for our International Student University Fair, a free online event taking place from 11:00-17:00 on Wednesday, September 29, for international students in Years 11, 12 and 13 and the staff who support their university applications, e.g. Heads of Careers and EAL.

This event addresses feedback from over 30 BSA and BAISIS schools who attended a forum earlier this year on how to best support international and ex-pat students as they make the transition from school to higher education.

The fair offers:

• 23 UK Universities (both high and low tariff) at virtual booths to meet prospective students individually and answer their questions
• Presentations addressing key challenges faced by international students and schools, including Q&A sessions with current international undergraduates and reviews of course options
• 1:1 high-quality advice sessions for pupils on topics such as personal statement development, IELTS and general university advice.

Please book now by clicking here, and further details will follow on booking in as many international and ex-pat students as you wish.

Low-level concerns - example policy update

Following recent revisions to the Keeping Children Safe in Education guidance in England, Farrer and Co has published a revised version of its guidance, 'Developing and implementing a low-level concerns policy: A guide for organisations which work with children'. A copy of the revised guidance can be found by clicking here.

School site security

As part of our consultancy service, we can now offer a physical security health check to our member schools. This includes a site visit to assess access and egress control, perimeter resilience and supporting technologies, focusing particularly on boarding houses and procedures, and will include an optional resilience check on unauthorised site access by an ex-police officer as well as our recommendations. For more details please contact Bethan Waddington, Head of CPD, Events and Consultancy.

BSA Magazine autumn edition - send us your content

Finally, a reminder that the autumn edition of the BSA Magazine is currently in production, with publication due in October. If you would like to send any contributions for this edition, please email them to Andrew Gray, Communications and Partnerships Manager, no later than close of play on Friday, September 17.

Best wishes, 

Robin Fletcher
CEO, BSA and BSA Group 

BSA Academy

Accredited training

The 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 bookings are now open for the 2021-22 accredited training courses!

Certificate Course
You can now reserve your place on the 2021-2022 Advanced Certificate Course. These courses are run online, and give practitioners all the necessary skills and knowledge to be successful in a boarding environment. This is a two-year modular course is aimed specifically at staff working in and around boarding. Over the last 20 years approximately 3,000 House Tutors, Matrons, Support Staff, School Nurses, Assistants and Houseparents have completed this Award. Find out more or reserve your place here.

Online BSA Certificate in Professional Practice - Mental Health & Wellbeing
Study dates for this course are: September 22, 2021 / November 23, 2021 / May 14, 2022

This module is comprised of three tutor-led study days featuring guest speakers, interactive morning and afternoon sessions. Breakout groups allow for discussion and time with the course tutors.

Study day sessions will include:

• Understanding the impact of trauma and adverse life experiences, Dr Hayley Watson Clinical Psychologist PhD Clin Psych, MA Clin Psych, MA Transpersonal Psych, PG Dip Psych, BA Criminology
• Looking after yourself: building personal resilience and wellbeing 
• First Aid for Mental Health, Jane Graham, MSc, BSc, Dip Ed., R.S.C.N, BSA Nursing Advisor                                    
• Looking after the team : building healthy high performance
• Positive psychology : developing an emotional literacy toolkit, Dr Jody Walshe, Educational and Child Psychologist
• Managing resilience and wellbeing in the boarding context. 

 Click here to reserve your place.            

TWO PLACES LEFT: BSA / Hieda Advanced Certificate in Boarding Practice (School Nurses)
Study dates for this course are: November 03, 2021 / January 11, 2022 / March 08 2022 / May 16, 2022 

The course is tutor-led and will consist of four separate live online study days spread over a full academic year. The sessions on each study day will be a mixture of presentations often with an external expert, and group discussions. Find out more or reserve your place here.​

BSA Certificate in International Boarding
Study dates for this course are: December 08, 2021 / January 26, 2022 / March 17, 2022
This three-day course will cover key elements in International Boarding, including the strategic nature and importance of the international boarding market, why international students seek a British education, induction, culture shock and integration as well as considering cultural identity, values, and differences. All of this contributes to identifying and meeting the pastoral and academic needs of international students. Find out more or reserve your place here.

BSA Certificate in Professional Practice - Inclusion Lead Training
Study dates for this course are: Tuesday, November 09, 2021 and Thursday, November 25, 2021, 10:00-16:15
This bespoke, comprehensive two-day certificate course has been put together to support Inclusion Leads or staff with specific responsibility for equity, diversity and inclusion in boarding schools.  

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 diploma level course is recommended for senior boarding staff and is now open for booking.
Dates:

• Day 1: November 10, 2021
• Day 2: March 09, 2022
• Day 3: May 17, 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.

BSA Certificate in Professional Practice for Pupil Welfare & Support 2021-2022
Study dates for this course are: November 19, 2021 / January 13, 2022 / March 22, 2022 / May 12, 2022

Sessions for this course include:

• Perspectives on Pastoral Care  
• An Afternoon on Disordered Eating, Guest Speaker TBC
• Understanding Adolescence & Meeting the Needs of Children & Young People
• Equity, Diversity and Inclusion, Ammy Davies-Potter, Director of Guardianship and Inclusion, BSA Group
• Emotional Health Issues & Building Resilience
• Promoting well-being
• Partnership with Parents
• Communication skills  
• Conflict management
• Supporting Vulnerable young people; what works
• Safeguarding and information sharing, Dale Wilkins, Director of Safeguarding Professional Development and Accreditation
• Putting into practice what you’ve learned, moving forward
• Assignment and course reflection.

Click here to reserve your place

If you need any further information about our Accredited Training programme, please contact Liz McDonald, Head of Accredited Training, at liz@boarding.org.uk.

Conferences - 2021-22

We look forward to welcoming you at our range of virtual conferences, running throughout the year. To help with CPD planning, here are the events we are running in the autumn term:

• Mental health and safeguarding (organised by Sacpa): September 20, 2021, 09:00-16:30
• Equity, diversity and inclusion conference (INDEX): identity, belonging and connectedness: September 28, 2021, 09:00-16:30
• Visa and immigration conference: considerations and updates: October 12, 2021, 09:30-16:30
• Sports Injury management (organised by Hieda): October 13, 2021, 09:30-15:30
• BSA and Sacpa Annual safeguarding conference: November 18, 2021, 09:00-17:30
• Irish boarding conference: November 24, 2021, 09:00-16:30.

In addition to the one-day conferences running in the autumn term, we are delighted to publish the dates for a number of our other conferences for 2021-22. Please do 'save the dates' in your diaries and if you'd like to register interest, please email us.

• BSA Boarding conference: February 1-2, 2022 (Virtual)
• BSA/BAISIS International conference: March 8, 2022 (Virtual)
• BSA Annual conference for Heads: May 3-4, 2022 (Oxford)
• Annual Health and Wellbeing conference: July 6, 2022 (Virtual).

Induction training - 2021-22

Our CPD programme gets under way right at the start of the new academic year, with induction training options for staff joining boarding for the first time, taking on new responsibilities or joining a new setting, and for senior staff looking to develop their leadership and strategy within boarding. We are running our day seminar programme virtually throughout 2021-22 to ensure training is accessible for all:

• New to the role: School Nurses (run jointly with Hieda): September 7, 10:30 - 15:30
• Boarding essentials: September 14, 2021 10:30-15:30 and ​September 24, 2021, 10:30-15:30
• Induction training for Graduate and GAP assistants: September 16, 2021 10:30-15:30
• Leading a Boarding Team: September 16, 2021, 10:30-15:30
• Boarding induction for residential tutors, supporting staff and visitors: September 27, 2021, 14:00-15:00.
• Essentials for new school Matrons (run jointly with Hieda): 

  October 8, 10:30 - 15:30 

Safeguarding training - 2021-22

Safeguarding is everyone's responsibility and the start of a new academic year provides a clear marker to ensure that all staff have received appropriate training relating to safeguarding and their responsibilities. The virtual sessions below will be appropriate for most practitioners working in education settings:

• KCSIE 2021 and sexual violence update: September 6, 2021, 16:00-17:00
• Safeguarding for professional practitioners (organised by Sacpa): September 7, 2021, 09:00-11:30
• Safeguarding highlights for Governors (run with AGBIS): September 9, 2021, 17:00-18:00
• Safeguarding standards for working with children in international settings (organised by Sacpa): September 10, 2021, 12:00-14:00.

To see our latest 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).

Our second Index (EDI) conference will take place on September 28, 2021 – a number of exciting speakers have already been confirmed for the event. You can find out the latest by visiting the event page on our website, with more details to be announced 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.

BSA Certified Supplier Scheme

The organisations below are members of the BSA Certified Supplier Scheme, which aims to connect members and organisations.

BSA Gold Certified Suppliers

• Schoolblazer / Limitless: School uniform and sports kit supplier
• Witley Jones: Designers, manufacturers and installers of quality school furniture for BSA boarding schools
• Engage: A powerful and flexible platform delivering effective communication, control, reporting and insight across your school.

BSA Certified Suppliers

• Boarding software: Boardingware
• Boarding software: Reach
• Careers software: Unifrog
• COVID disinfectant: Safe Tech
• COVID fogging machine: Hurricane
• COVID HK pre-flight certification: Belgravia
• COVID pre-flight certification: Fortress Direct
• COVID Testing and pre-flight certification: Elite Anglo-Chinese Services
• COVID safeguarding software: Assetpool
• COVID sanitiser: Clearwater Hygiene
• COVID sanitiser and tunnels: PTC Xtrasan
• COVID testing: Biograd
• COVID testing: Wren Healthcare
• COVID testing and tracking: Sirkka Networks
• COVID testing and tracking: Taylor Education
• Energy Management: Cost Advice
• Face masks: Funky Face Masks
• Face masks: Goldpro Face Masks
• Face masks: Kaia Trading Ltd
• Financial services: Quantum Advisory
• Maths software: Sparx Maths / Hegarty Maths
• Safeguarding: Corporate Safeguarding
• Safeguarding software: MyConcern
• Thermal temperature camera system: Eclipse Strategic Security Ltd.

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 Agent and Guardian schemes

The BSA Certified Agent and Guardian 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

• Abby Plumb Education Guardian Service (China and Hong Kong) (Certified Agent and Certified Guardian)
• Academic Asia (China)
• Academic Families (worldwide) (Certified Agent and Certified Guardian)
• Akademis (Germany, Austria, Switzerland)
• Aston Education (Hong Kong)
• @School-in-UK (Russia)
• Baltic Council for International Education (Latvia, Lithuania, Estonia & Poland)
• Barbara Glasmacher Internationale (Germany)
• BeGo Education (China)
• Better School! Internatsberatung (Germany)
• Beyond Education (Spain)
• BOSSS UK (China)
• Britannia StudyLink (Hong Kong)
• British United Education Services (Hong Kong)
• Carfax Consultants (Worldwide)
• Chamberlain Educational Services (Hong Kong and China) 
• Cherry Education Consultancy (China)
• Connexcel (China) (Certified Agent and Certified Guardian)
• Crest Education (China)
• Dickinson School Consulting (Germany and worldwide)
• Edukatus (China, Hong Kong, Singapore)
• Genesis Education Planning (China) (Certified Agent and Certified Guardian)
• Global Education Tumulka (GET) (Germany)
• i-Learner (Hong Kong)
• InterGreat Education Group (China)
• IQ Consultancy (Russia)
• ITEC (Russia)
• J3 Group (HK)
• JD Consultancy (China) (Certified Agent and Certified Guardian)
• Mark Brooks Education (Ghana, Nigeria, worldwide)
• Meridian Group (Latvia)
• Overseas Personal Development Services (China)
• Panoba (Nigeria and Saudi Arabia)
• QED Education Group (China)​
• Rise Smart Overseas Education Centre (Hong Kong)
• Sarah Jochums Internatsberatung (Germany)
• School Britannia (France)
• Sino-UK Arts & Cultural Bridge Ltd (China)
• The Independent Education Consultants (worldwide)
• The Watanabe Office (Japan) 
• UK Academics & Guardianship (UKAG) (China)
• UK Education Guide (Middle East, worldwide)
• UK Tuition Services (China) (Certified Agent and Certified Guardian).

For more information on the BSA Certified Agent scheme, please visit our website.

BSA Certified Guardians

• Abby Plumb Education Guardian Service (Certified Agent and Certified Guardian)
• Academic Families (Certified Agent and Certified Guardian)
• Access UK Education
• Alpha Guardians
• Amber Education
• Belgravia Guardians
• Berkeley Guardians
• Boarding Schools Ireland
• Cambridge Guardian Angels
• Clarendon International Education
• College Guardians
• Connexcel (Certified Agent and Certified Guardian)
• Cotswold Guardians
• Edinburgh Guardian Angels
• Education and Exchange in Europe (provisional) 
• Elite Anglo-Chinese Services 
• English Country Guardians 
• Gabbitas
• Genesis Education Planning (Certified Agent and Certified Guardian)
• Great British Guardians
• Guardians International Support
• High Schools International
• Hostlink UK
• International Student Guardianship Ireland (ISGI) (provisional)
• IQ Consultancy (provisional) (Certified Agent and Certified Guardian)
• JD Consultancy (Certified Agent and Certified Guardian)
• Overseas Personal Development Services (Certified Agent and Certified Guardian)
• Redoor Education (provisional)
• Regent Guardians
• St George’s Guardians
• Scottish Overseas Guardianship Association (SOGA) (provisional)
• See World (provisional)
• Study Links
• ​The Guardian Family Network
• Trusted Guardianship
• UKEI (provisional)
• UK Guardians
• UKGuardianship
• UK Tuition Services (Certified Agent and Certified Guardian)
• Ying Lang Guardian, Glamour Edu Ltd

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.

Partner news

Online recruitment fair: British Council East Asia Study UK is holding an online fair on October 7-9, which may be of interest to member schools looking to recruit pupils from Hong Kong and Thailand. For more information, please visit the British Council East Asia Study UK website. 

Keep in touch

Please 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:

• Chief Executive - Robin Fletcher
• Chief Operating Officer and Director, Sacpa - Aileen Kane
• Director of Safeguarding, Professional Development and Accreditation - Dale Wilkins
• International Director and Director, BAISIS - Caroline Nixon

• Director of Guardianship and Inclusion - Ammy Davies-Potter

• Director, Health and Wellbeing and Director, Hieda - Jane Graham

• Head of Membership - Chris Ryan

• Head of CPD, Events and Consultancy - Beth Waddington
• Head of Accredited Training - Liz McDonald
• In-House Legal Counsel - Sabrina Kadi
• Communications and Partnerships Manager - Andrew Gray
• Finance and Administration Manager - Danielle Cuthbert
• Business Support Manager - Ellie Reed
• Business Support Executive - Claire Scrimgeour

T. +44 (0)207 798 1580
E. bsa@boarding.org.uk
W. www.boarding.org.uk