Dear Members,

Earlier this week, we held our Annual Conference for Heads. I'd like to say a big thank you to everyone who attended - despite the fact that we weren't able to meet in person for the second conference in a row, I hope you'll agree it was an excellent two days. 

As well as everyone who joined us across the two days, we should also thank all our excellent guest speakers,  and all our sponsors for the event: Schoolblazer, Limitless, Engage, Witley Jones, MyConcern, Unifrog, Sparx, Furlong Solutions and Noble and Eaton, 

Recordings and other follow-up materials will be distributed to everyone who attended the Conference shortly, so do look out for them. And if you weren't able to attend and would like to purchase recordings of any of the conference sessions, please email us at bsa@boarding.org.uk. 

With the conference now over, we still have a packed programme of events and training coming up over the next weeks and months, so please do scroll down to our BSA Academy section to see our upcoming events.

Limitless Challenge: #boardersgosgreen

During the conference, we also 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. Schools can contribute to this by undertaking a series of tasks and completing them will equate to a distance walked.

The challenge starts now and 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 Awards 2021 - winners announced

At the end of this year's conference, we unveiled the winners of this year's BSA Awards, sponsored by Engage. As mentioned during the ceremony, it was our biggest year yet with close to 200 entries being submitted.

A full list of the winners and highly-commended finalists can be found by clicking here. Congratulations to all of the winners and finalists, and thank you to everyone who took the time to send in a submission. A huge thanks also to Engage for sponsoring this year's awards. 

One of the winners from this year's awards was Luca Vasile-Berde, a student at Rochester Independent College, who took the top prize in the Khadija Saye Photography Award, named in honour of the former Rugby School boarding pupil and respected international photographer, who tragically died in the Grenfell Tower fire in 2017. Below is one of the stunning shots taken from Luca's winning submission titled ‘Brighton Murder Mystery'!

Photo courtesy of Luca Vasile-Berde

Updated Educational Guardianship paper

With the additional challenges of COVID and the recent National Minimum Standards for Boarding (NMS) consultation (final standards expected to come in to force in September 2021) we are pleased to provide a timely updated Educational Guardianship briefing paper which can be accessed here.

For more information on our BSA Certified Guardian scheme, please scroll down to the Certified Guardian and Agent schemes section below.

In House consultancy service

BSA Group’s In House consultancy service on all aspects of boarding and safeguarding is currently proving very popular with members in the UK and overseas. This includes a boarding house facilities review service which we are now conducting ‘virtually’ with several schools via video footage and/or reviewing submitted images. Anyone interested in this, or consultancy of any kind at a discounted rate for members, please contact robin@boarding.org.uk.

ON BOARD

Since January 2019, our ON BOARD Community Action Programme has been highlighting the work of boarding schools in their local communities. Its aim is to increase support for local communities from boarding schools and to highlight this to external stakeholders, including the Government and parents.

To participate in the programme, BSA member schools must:

• Carry out some sort of community-based action at least once a term, involving (but not exclusively) boarding pupils
• Let the BSA know about the activity and agree to be promoted as a BSA ON BOARD partner school.

For more information, please visit the ON BOARD section of our website. 

Scotland’s Boarding Schools' Virtual Fair, 22/5/21

BSA is lending its support to Scotland’s Boarding Schools’ Virtual Fair, taking place on 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. 

BSA Magazine - Summer 2021 edition: final content submission reminder

Finally, a reminder that if you would like to submit any content for the next edition of the BSA Magazine, please email your contributions to bsa@boarding.org.uk by close of play today (Friday, May 7).

Best wishes, 

Robin Fletcher
CEO, BSA and BSA Group 

COVID updates

Lifting of flight restrictions from the UK and Ireland to Hong Kong

Earlier this week, we issued an update following the Hong Kong Government announcing its plans to lift restrictions on direct flights from the UK/Ireland to Hong Kong from today (May 7). 

Students returning to Hong Kong will need to obtain a negative Covid-19 test result from a test taken 72 hours before departure and will also need to book a 21-night reservation in a designated quarantine hotel. 

On arrival at Hong Kong, they will be subject to the "test-and-hold" arrangement for obtaining a negative result at the airport, after which they will undertake the 21-day compulsory quarantine in the designated quarantine hotel (undergoing at least three tests during the period), and compulsory testing on the 26th day of arrival at Hong Kong.

More details can be found here.

Consultation on arrangements for an autumn 2021 exam series - outcome published

Ofcom has published the outcome of its consultation on arrangements for an autumn 2021 exam series. To read the full update, please click here.

COVID Keepers

As a result of the pandemic have there been any policies and practices that you have introduced to your school - any ‘COVID Keepers’ - that you feel you'll retain?

It may be you've abandoned, adopted or accelerated some policies, and if so, we would like to hear from you. If you would like to share details of your COVID Keepers with us, please email bsa@boarding.org.uk. We will collate the responses and share them with members.

Also, if you are a state boarding school and wish to present your COVID Keepers at our SBF virtual Summer Conference on June 08, please email Chris Ryan, BSA Group Member Services Director, at chris@boarding.org.uk.

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

• Password: Providers of world-leading online English language and Maths assessment
• 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: Latus Health
• 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
• 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 Guardian and Agent schemes

The 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

• 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)
• Aston Education (Hong Kong)
• @School-in-UK (Russia)
• Barbara Glasmacher Internationale (Germany)
• BeGo Education (China)
• Better School! Internatsberatung (Germany)
• BOSSS UK (China)
• Britannia StudyLink (Hong Kong)
• British United Education Services (Hong Kong)
• 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)
• IQ Consultancy (Russia)
• ITEC (Russia)
• J3 Group (HK)
• JD Consultancy (China) (Certified Agent and Certified Guardian)
• Mark Brooks Education (Ghana, Nigeria, worldwide)
• 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 (provisional)
• 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)
• 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
• Study Links
• ​The Guardian Family Network
• Trusted Guardianship
• 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.

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. For more details on our Certificate courses, please click 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

• SBF Summer Conference 2021: June 08, 2021
• Immigration update: June 10, 2021
• Boarding Future Project Conference:  June 15, 2021
• Sacpa / BAISIS Conference: Safeguarding International Students: June 16, 2021
• Sacpa Conference: Safeguarding in Sport: June 24, 2021
• Annual Health & Wellbeing Conference 2020-21: July 06, 2021

Virtual seminars and specialist training

• BSA virtual day seminar: CBT development training: May 12, 2021
• BSA virtual day seminar: Supporting international boarders: May 19, 2021
• BSA virtual day seminar: Managing medicines in House: May 20, 2021
• BAISIS virtual seminar: Practical strategies for teaching Science to international pupils in the mainstream classroom: May 21, 2021
• BSA virtual day seminar: Understanding teenage relationships: May 21, 2021
• BSA virtual day seminar: CPD for boarding school Chaplains: May 25, 2021
• BSA virtual day seminar: Gender and identity in boarding: policy planning: May 26, 2021
• BSA virtual day seminar: Creating a culture of wellbeing: May 27, 2021

Sacpa Training - Safeguarding for Professional Practitioners: This training is a vital safeguarding refresher for those working with children but who are not themselves the Designated Safeguarding Lead. Sacpa Director of Safeguarding, Dale Wilkins, formerly a Local Authority Safeguarding Trainer, will take delegates through the legal framework, update knowledge of definitions, signs and symptoms of abuse, consider specific safeguarding issues such as Child Sexual Exploitation, County Lines and preventing radicalisation and provide thorough guidance on identifying, recording and reporting abuse. The session will also invite delegates to consider where they are vulnerable within the workplace and how to handle allegations against staff. Date: May 10.

Sacpa Safer Recruitment Training: This training will enable you to meet statutory responsibilities referenced in Keeping Children Safe in Education and Working Together to Safeguard Children, and required by OFSTED. The course is suitable for staff in the role of designated safeguarding lead (DSL) and deputy designated safeguarding lead (DDSL) as well as members of management teams with recruitment responsibilities, including HR and Governors/Trustees. Date: May 13.

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

• BSA webinar: Are you ready for... LGBT PRIDE Month: May 10, 2021
• BSA / BAISIS webinar: Supporting boarders returning to China and Hong Kong: May 18, 2021
• Sacpa webinar: Responding to issues of peer-on-peer abuse: May 18, 2021
• BSA webinar: Transitions and belonging: May 24, 2021
• Sacpa webinar: Safer recruitment – lessons from an independent boarding school: May 25, 2021

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

• BSA webinar: Are you ready for... LGBT PRIDE Month: May 10, 2021
• BSA webinar: Transitions and belonging: May 24, 2021
• BSA virtual day seminar: Gender and identity in boarding: policy planning: May 26, 2021

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 news

GSA webinars: The Girls' School Association is hosting two diversity and inclusion-related webinars in May which are now open for bookings:

• Inclusive Recruiting: widening the lens: May 13, 4-5pm
• Learn, unlearn and relearn: the new language of difference: June 09, 4-5pm

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:

The closing date for Independent School Parent magazine's Independent Schools of the Year 2021 Awards is Friday, May 28. Why not submit an entry for one or more of the 20+ categories and share your school's stories of success and student excellence? For more details, see: https://www.independentschoolsoftheyear.co.uk/entry-form/

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
• Member Services Director - Chris Ryan
• International Director and Director, BAISIS - Caroline Nixon

• Director of Guardianship and Inclusion - Ammy Davies-Potter

• Head of Member Services - Beth Waddington
• Senior Training Manager - Liz McDonald
• Communications and Partnerships Manager - Andrew Gray
• Finance and Administration Manager - Danielle Cuthbert
• Business Support Manager - Ellie Reed
• Business Support Co-ordinator - Chantelle Howell-Walker.

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