BSA Weekly Newsletter Issue 163
Dear membersBSA has been lobbying the government for guidance to support boarding schools in relation to the coronavirus. This has included the movement of pupils/parents and what schools should do to avoid having to register as a Children's Home should they exceed 295 operation days if keeping boarding houses open for pupils unable to travel who have no alternative accommodation.Yesterday official advice was extended to travellers returning from other parts of China and specified areas: - China
- Thailand
- Japan
- Republic of Korea
- Hong Kong
- Taiwan
- Singapore
- Malaysia
- Macau.
On Wednesday, Public Health England got in touch to offer BSA members support. As further official guidance is published, BSA will continue to communicate these with members. In the meantime, therefore, our latest guidance issued on Monday, February 3 remains in place. We have supported dozens of member schools, and parents, over the past two weeks with specific questions about the virus, offering practical suggestions wherever possible in the context of a UK and world situation which continues to change each day. While we endeavor to be as helpful and exact as possible wherever we can, clearly every school has their own view on the most appropriate action to take for their boarding community and must, of course, weigh BSA advice alongside that offered by the government or from their own medical advisers (please note however that both MOSA (Medical Officer of Schools Association) and ISI have referred to BSA’s advice on
their websites). Meantime members may find the following map tracking cases across the globe of use when making decisions about individual school communities. EU students and staffSince leaving the EU on January 31, the UK is currently in a transition period. The government has begun releasing guidance for EU nationals and schools are advised to make themselves familiar with what EU nationals need to know about crossing the UK border and visiting the UK from 1 January 2021. - EU students who enter the UK before Dec 31, 2020, can apply to the EU Settlement Scheme (EUSS) to extend their stay: www.gov.uk/settled-status-eu-citizens-families. Students who enter the country from Jan 1, 2021, will be subject to the new immigration rules (currently the Tier 4 visa route). As information
becomes available about the new immigration rules BSA will distribute this via our newsletter.
- Employers of EU nationals may find the government's toolkit useful to equip you with the right materials and information to support EU citizens to apply to stay in the UK. And their template letter which contains key information about the EU Settlement Scheme including eligibility, the application process,
support available and the deadline.
BSA Group and SacpaLast week, BSA became the BSA Group, comprising BSA and our newly-launched sister association, Sacpa (Safeguarding and Child Protection Association). Sacpa represents any individual or organisation working in the field of safeguarding or protection of children or vulnerable adults and offers a range of services including guidance, advice, resources and training. BSA schools and staff are entitled to a 50% discount on Sacpa membership
with the code 'BSA2020'. www.sacpa.org.uk. Marketing/Admissions boarding conferenceThe annual BSA marketing conference 'Marketing Admissions Guardianship and International Conference', run in conjunction with BAISIS and AEGIS, will take place in London from
March 10-11. Sessions include a global view of international students and the boarding sector by Lord Bilimoria. Marketing expert Geoff Ramm will focus on the gap in your boarding service you never knew existed, Susan Osborne, founder of the Warhorse Memorial, will examine key boarding communication strategies and James Leggett, Research Director from MTM Consulting will discuss how the profile of boarding parents has changed over time. Click here to book now. Best wishes Robin Fletcher
Chief Executive
Day SeminarsONE DAY CONFERENCE: Embracing diversity
March 05, Grand Connaught Rooms, London
This one-day conference has been put together to present a series of areas where schools need to be particularly aware and open to diversity, inclusion and consideration. BSA member schools are made up of a breadth of very different schools, all working to promote excellence in boarding for young people, and this includes caring for all, irrespective of differences. Speakers include a representative from GIRES, Assistant Head and TES blogger Nicki Cunningham-Smith, SEN authority Fin O'Regan and BSA Chair Mark Lauder. Gender and identity in Boarding
Feb 27, Melia London Kensington, London
This seminar is an interactive, informative day providing attendees with the opportunity to discuss the day to day processes relating to your legal requirements in ensuring inclusion of gender and gender identity around your school, and in boarding. The seminar will foster a deeper understanding of sexual orientation, gender and gender identity and encourage a culture of ‘usualising’ across your school in pastoral care and in the classroom. Delegates will be given strategies and resources to take back to their schools to foster long term and sustainable change. Preparing for inspection: the Medical Centre
March 03, St Teresa's, Effingham
This course prepares you for the Medical Centre's part in the school inspection by covering the latest ISI guidelines and legislation. Through group discussion, there will be an opportunity to review your processes, checking they are robust and operational. The seminar will consider all the areas of medical compliance and discuss potential inspection questions. If you have never been through the inspection process, or are anticipating an inspection, this is a must. The five step: solutions to personal wellbeing
March 05, Queenswood School, Hatfield
The five step is a comprehensive personal wellbeing programme designed to maximise academic and personal success. This seminar will develop all practitioners’ skills in working effectively with pupils who require additional support in developing life skills to effectively deal with tricky situations and emotional stress. It will cover friendship issues, bullying defence tools and developing positive mental health.
This seminar is particularly useful for staff working with prep age students, 8-13.
Conferences Annual Conference for Boarding House Staff
April 01-02, 2020, The Hilton Brighton Metropole, Brighton
We are very pleased to announce that the Annual Conference for Boarding House Staff will be held in Brighton in April 2020. We hope we have booked speakers who will inspire over the two days, as well as being an excellent opportunity to network with colleagues. Speakers include: - Gemma Oaten: Former Emmerdale Actress and Patron of Seed - The Women on the Screen: The Reality of Eating Disorders and Early Intervention.
- Johnny Hunt: Sex Education Consultant, Going Off the Rails - Sex and Relationship Education.
- Mark
Robinson: Senior Consultant, BSA - Developing Leadership Skills in the Boarding House.
- Lis Cashin: Consultant, Trainer, Author - One Hell of a Path to Happiness.
- Gareth Doodes: Headmaster, Dover College - Embracing the Challenge.
- Dale Wilkins: Director of Safeguarding and Standards, BSA - Playing it Safe? Creating a Positive Safeguarding in Schools.
To reserve a place at this conference, book online here. SBF Summer Conference
June 16, Gordon's School, Surrey
To book your place at the conference please click here. Speakers and topics include: - Sector update: Robin Fletcher, CEO, BSA
- IICSA & NMS Update: Dale Wilkins, Director of Safeguarding, Standards & Training
- Post-Brexit Challenges: Mark Dixon, Headmaster, Royal Alexandra & Albert School
- DfE Briefing and
Q&A: Ayath Ullah, DfE
- Boarding Staffing: Ensuring the Future Supply of Quality Boarding Staff
- MOD/FCO Update: Russell Collyer, MOD and Mark Taylor, FCO.
Partner NewsCoronavirus offer from Achieve Education "Given the uncertainty surrounding travel for international students over the Easter holiday period the Achieve group which owns and manages Abbotsholme School and Chase Grammar School are providing students with the opportunity to stay at school for the duration of the Easter holidays. We are planning on running an intensive revision and activities programme and will have a surplus capacity which we would like to bring to the attention of other
international students and schools, impacted by the travel restrictions, who may be looking for opportunities for students."
If you would like more information, please contact Barry Farrell from Achieve Education. Schools Together
Half-Day Conference: "Partnerships & Boarding Schools"
March 19, 2020, Shrewsbury School
This event aims to explore the ways in which boarding schools – both state and independent – collaborate with other schools and the community, including bursaries, community action, residential trips and inspections. We are delighted to announce that Colin Morrison, Chair of Boarding School Partnerships, will give the keynote speech. Other panellists and workshop leaders include: Ben McCarey (Holyport College), Alex Hanratty (Springboard), Lee Summers (Wymondham College) and colleagues from The BSA, Buttle, Into University and more. BAISIS
A whole-school approach to supporting international students in the mainstream classroom
Feb 28, 2020, Abbey College Cambridge
If you teach EAL in a mainstream school or are responsible for EAL provision in your school, this day is intended to help you explore how to implement a school-wide approach to EAL classroom strategies and teaching techniques in mainstream subject classrooms. This will enable you to cascade ideas across departments in your school, to help you support subject teachers, and to enable you to take a role in influencing managers and policymakers. Childnet
Safer internet day - February 11, 2020
BSA is supporting Childnet, a partner in the UK Safer Internet Centre which coordinates Safer Internet Day which is taking place next Tuesday. Schools and organisations are encouraged to register as Safer Internet Day Supporters to share what they are doing for the day. The Wicked Young Writer Awards is open for its 10th year!
The cast of Wicked the Musical is looking for stories, poems, articles, and scripts. Open for 5 to 25 year-olds, with separate age categories, pupils are invited to write about absolutely anything in 750 words or less!. An array of brilliant writing prizes are available for winners and their schools. The awards are judged by a panel of writers and authors, including Head Judge, author, illustrator, and Waterstones Children’s Laureate, Cressida Cowell. To find out more and enter online at www.WickedYoungWriterAwards.com. Deadline: March 2, 2020.
Certified agent schemeThe BSA has launched a certified agent scheme to provide a kitemark of professional quality for education consultants and agents. The scheme is designed to provide member schools with access to the best, top-quality education agents and consultants from around the world. Certified agents will be required to complete an application that includes referencing before undertaking training with the BSA and sector specialists. The scheme is designed to be deliberately rigorous and is intended to be a clear demonstration to BSA boarding schools of the quality and intention of the agents and consultants who reach certified status. Please visit our website to find out more about this scheme. If you would like to nominate an agent or education consultant to apply, please contact BSA Chief Operating Officer, Aileen Kane (aileen@boarding.org.uk). BSA boarding awardsIn 2018, the BSA held its first Awards Dinner which celebrated the achievements, hard work, and dedication of schools and individuals to
boarding. We are pleased to announce the awards will take place again in 2020 and winners will be announced at Awards Dinner, during our Annual Conference for Heads on May 5, in Edinburgh. This year, the categories for awards are as follows: - Boarding House Extension or Refurbishment Award
- Boarding Research Award
- Boarding Innovation Award
- Wellbeing Mental Health Initiative
- Working with Vulnerable Children
- Stephen Winkley Award
- (NEW) Supporting Junior Boarders
- (NEW) Supporting International
- (NEW) Most Original Activity During National Boarding Week
- (NEW) Best Community Work via our 'OnBoard' Initiative
Please visit our website to find out more about these awards, including how to nominate a colleague. The BSA TeamOur team is here to help. Please keep in touch and we hope to see you soon. T. +44 (0)207 798 1580
E. bsa@boarding.org.uk
W. www.boarding.org.uk
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