Dear members

The latest BSA advice regarding the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) from February 25, 2020 can be found on our website here.

Advice for Scottish education settings was released by Health Protection Scotland yesterday and has been circulated by SCIS but members around the UK and rest of the world may also find the content useful. The member area of the BSA website has been updated with the latest downloadable public health posters in various languages, including Italian, for schools to display.

Several schools (and their connected holiday camps) are able to support pupils unable to travel at Easter. Please find a list below and if you would like to add your school please email bsa@boarding.org.uk.

• Barnardiston Hall, please email Lesley Gundersen (L.Gundersen@bhps-staff.co.uk)
• British Study Centres, please email Charlie Tweddle (charlie.tweddle@british-study.com)
• Dukes Education group, please email Sam Holderness (Sam@summerboardingcourses.co.uk)
• Gordonstoun, please email Lisa Kerr (principalpa@gordonstoun.org.uk)
• Millfield School, please email Rob Cox (cox.r@millfieldschool.com) 
• Port Regis, please email Christopher Etchells (etchells@countryschools.co.uk)
• Sherborne International, please email Daryl Barker (summer@sherborne-international.org)
• Stonar, please email Matthew Way (M.Way@stonarschool.com).

Medical protection

BSA has been contacted by Zoono, which produces antimicrobial protection gels. Schools are being offered a discount with the code 'FYN22'. Visit: https://zoono.co.uk.

Volunteers required for online education programme

BSA has been approached by InterGreat Education Group, a UK-China education company, to help support the education of children who remain in quarantine in China and have been unable to attend school. InterGreat has begun providing free online lessons to families wanting their children taught in English, with an international style of curriculum. To expand their programme, they are calling on teachers to volunteer an hour of their time to deliver an online lesson. Curriculum suitable for 5-16 year old in the following subjects are welcome: 

• English: Figurative Language, Reading Comprehension and Writing
• Maths and Science
• Other subjects.

InterGreat will provide the teaching platform, online teaching tips and regular support for teachers. There is no prescribed curriculum for this so teachers are free to teach a stand-alone lesson or a series of lessons on a particular topic, as long as it is age-range appropriate and shows off the best teaching pedagogy from the UK. If you would like to take part, please email Ms. Emily Zhang via emily.z@intergreat.com for further information.

ISC distance learning

The ISC Digital Strategy Group is collecting materials to support online/distance learning in the event any school has need for such resources during the ongoing coronavirus outbreak. Should members have information they can contribute, please email the Group’s chair, Ian Phillips - Phillips_I@habsboys.org.uk. Content will be hosted on the ISC Digital Strategy Group website https://iscdigital.co.uk/coronavirus-continuing-learning/#respond

Urgent Short Study Request

An agent has been in touch with BSA regarding two boys who attend a British international school in Beijing (years 6 & 8) but have been unable to return to China due to coronavirus. Their school currently has no confirmed date to reopen. They are looking for a UK school that could accommodate them for a short-term period of study (approx. 30 days). Please email Ms. Emily Zhang via emily.z@intergreat.com for further information.

Embracing Diversity one-day conference

There are still places available on next week's one-day conference Embracing Diversity taking place at the Grand Connaught Rooms in London on March 5. Diversity and inclusion across gender, race, family affluence/background and neurodiversity including ADHD will be covered during the busy day. Click here to book now.

International marketing/admissions conference

We still have a few places available at the upcoming BSA / BAISIS / AEGIS Annual Conference 2020 being held in London on March 11. In light of recent global developments surrounding COVID-19 and the demand from member schools, we have added a session to the conference so will now be running a “Coronavirus Panel” which will include a representative from BSA, AEGIS and BAISIS, and attendees will have the opportunity to ask questions on this subject. Click here to book now.

Boarding School Partnership

Boarding School Partnerships (BSP), the joint BSA and Department for Education initiative is seeking to compile the most comprehensive record of local authority relationships with boarding schools, for publication in June this year. BSA members are, therefore, asked to email the BSP chair Colin Morrison (colin@boardingschoolpartnerships.org.uk) with the following:

1. How many (if any) recent/ current or prospective boarders at your school have some degree of local authority involvement, ie either direct control or oversight or any part of the funding.
2. Which (if any) local authorities are involved with boarders your school?
3. Do you have any discussions planned with LAs? If so which ones?
4. How many (if any) bursary places might be available at your school for LA young people from 2021?
5. Any other comments on local authorities and boarding places.

Best wishes 

Robin Fletcher
Chief Executive, BSA and BSA Group

BSA Academy

Conferences 

Marketing/Admissions Boarding Conference
The 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.

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.

Webinars

Tier 4 Sponsors: Tips and guidance
March 11, 10:30am
Hosted by Nichola Carter from Carter Thomas LLP, this webinar will look at the latest Tier 4 issues and guidance, as well as providing helpful tips for sponsors. Priced at £50 for members and £100 for non-members, delegates can watch live or order a recording to watch at leisure. Please email bsa@boarding.org.uk to reserve your place. 

Day Seminars

Senior boarders' issues
March 11, Blundell's School, Tiverton
For staff supporting senior boarders (16+), this seminar will highlight common issues faced by older teens and consider how to support them as they approach the transition from school and into life. Teenagers face an increasingly diverse set of pressures and many need additional support in coping with them, and to feel that they are in a safe environment to discuss concerns. This seminar is designed to give boarding staff greater confidence in supporting their senior boarders.

Partnership with boarding parents
March 17, Wycombe Abbey School, High Wycombe
All boarding staff are likely to have to communicate with parents, carers or guardians. This day seminar is designed to enhance the confidence and understanding of boarding staff in how to be confident and professional in working with parents in supporting the children and young people in their care, including induction, managing expectations and dealing with conflict.

"Outduction": preparing boarders for life after school
April 27, Mill Hill School, London
When we induct students into our schools, we give them a great deal of help and support to settle in and make the best of their time at our schools. Do we do the same to support them in managing the transition post-school?
This seminar will help both pastoral and academic staff develop a final year programme to support students in their preparations to take more responsibility for themselves and their actions, helping them realise and grasp life experiences and opportunities out in the world.

Accredited Training

Advanced Certificate Course
London and South West: April 6, 2020
This two-year modular course is aimed specifically at staff working in and around the boarding environment.  

Diploma in Boarding Practice (Leadership)
The Spring Diploma in London is now open for booking. This course is aimed at senior boarding staff. Candidates may have previously completed the BSA Advanced Certificate Course and/or be experienced to benefit from this leadership course. 

Advanced Certificate in Boarding Practice (International Students)
This course is aimed at any member of staff in school or college that wish to improve their academic and pastoral support for international boarders.

Residential Easter Workshop, An Introduction to Pastoral Care, April 2020
This course, covering key issues relevant to those working in boarding, is available both for those wishing to register for one of the two certificates in boarding education and for those wishing to attend a free-standing course. 

Partner News

Safeguarding and Child Protection Association
At the end of January, 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.

Sacpa runs a series of webinars and CPD events that will be of interest to BSA members. To see the Sacpa events calendar, click here.

The inaugural CPD event 'Safeguarding and supporting children' takes place on March 31st at One Park Crescent in London. The programme features speakers from Fearless.org, Safer Recruitment Consortium, Bill Woodside from INEQE and David Smellie, Farrer & Co. Book here.

Message from ISC 
Thank you to all schools who have added case studies describing your school partnerships, an impact statement on your partnership work and written information on your scholarships and bursaries to the Schools Together website.

There are now over 5,300 case studies on the site, illustrating the valuable partnership work that is being done. Our current Joint Understanding with the government commits us to encouraging collaborative projects so that all kinds of schools work together for the common good. It is important too that information on partnerships is accessible to others so please take a moment to see what content has been added for your school so far. This will help you, and the ISC, promote your school to politicians and policy-makers. Schools Together is used extensively when the ISC is looking for good examples to promote in Westminster and the media.

To do this, go to Schools Together and type in your school name at the top of the page. This will bring up your page on the site. Schools with complete information will have all of the following:

- Case studies about partnership work with state schools
- An impact statement about work with state schools
- Descriptive text outlining your scholarships and bursaries

Adding these is very easy and can be done through the main ISC website (www.isc.co.uk). If you have not yet done so, you will need to sign up here first. Individuals who have already registered can log in here. Once in the member zone simply do the following:

To add partnership case studies and an impact statement
Click on ‘Update your school data and add partnerships to Schools Together’ > ‘Add and edit case studies to Schools Together’. You will then find two boxes. One will take you in to add case studies and the other to add your impact statement.

To add scholarships and bursaries
Click on ‘Update your school data and add partnerships to Schools Together’ > ‘Scholarships and Bursaries’.

By doing the above, you will improve the content on your Schools Together profile page and your case studies will join the other 5,300 featured. In addition, you will be able to download a ‘Partnerships and public benefit.pdf’ report containing all of the information that has been added for your school so far. A couple of examples of these are attached. Your school’s report is visible for download when you first log in to the ISC website and can be freshly downloaded as required. Each download will contain the most current data that has been added to the website.

If you require help with any of the above please email us at web@isc.co.uk, we are happy to help. Thank you very much for all the good work you do for your own school and the wider community.

Kind regards
Julie Robinson
Chief Executive, ISC

Member Services

Certified agent scheme

The 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 awards

In 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 Team

Our team is here to help. Please keep in touch and we hope to see you soon.

• Chief Executive - Robin Fletcher
• Chief Operating Officer - Aileen Kane
• Director of Safeguarding, Standards and Training - Dale Wilkins
• Head of Member Services - Chris Ryan
• Senior Training Manager - Liz McDonald
• Head of Events and Commercial - Amy Wilson
• Member Services Manager - Beth Waddington
• Finance and Business Development Manager - Janki Amlani.

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