www.boarding.org.uk No images? Click here Dear Members,We hope you enjoyed the half term break and had some time to recharge your batteries after what has been a busy start to 2021 to say the least. This week began with the welcome news that boarders in England return to school on Monday, March 8. This was followed on Wednesday (24/2) by confirmation from the DfE that schools and colleges in England may start testing students and pupils before March 8 if they would like to do so. And last night (25/2) BSA received confirmation from the DfE that boarders can return in advance of Monday, March 8 to quarantine:
Pupils from a 'red list' country are still not yet permitted to return to school, unless they have a right to reside, in which case they would need to quarantine in a Government hotel, but all other international students are permitted to quarantine in boarding. Thank you to all members and fellow associations who supported our lobbying efforts. BSA remains in discussions about red list countries and alongside SCIS and WISC we are having similar conversations for Scotland and Wales. Rest assured, we will provide any further updates as soon as we have them. If you haven't already seen them, please click on the links below to view our special email bulletins published this week:
For additional COVID updates, please scroll down to the next section. Scotland: Non-Domestic RatesFollowing a request by SCIS to the Scottish Government, the Finance Minister has announced that the removal of Non-Domestic Rates (NDR) relief from independent schools has now been postponed until 1 April 2022. A copy of the Minister's letter to SCIS can be viewed by clicking here. Our thanks to our colleagues at SCIS for this update. England: Keeping Children Safe in Education (KCSIE) consultation - final deadlineMembers are reminded that the consultation into the proposed Keeping Children Safe in Education guidance for 2021 will close on Thursday, March 4. BSA Group will submit a response on behalf of our members in both BSA and Sacpa. Therefore, we would like members to submit their comments so we can consider them before submitting our response. Please could you email either bsa@boarding.org.uk or info@sacpa.org.uk by close of business on Tuesday, March 2. Private fosteringSchools in England are reminded that in all circumstances where a pupil aged under 16 (or under 18 with disabilities) is accommodated by someone outside the school who is not a close family member for 28 days or more, then this must be reported by the school as a Private Fostering arrangement to the Local Authority in which the child is accommodated. For international students, failure to do so is a breach of the sponsorship duty relating to Child Student Visas [see paragraph 3.31 of the Sponsorship Duties document] Where any school in England is likely to accommodate any individual child for more than 295 days in a year, DfE has advised that they will look at this on a case by case basis, as they have certain powers under the Coronavirus Act to disapply the need to register as a Children’s Home, if the circumstances are appropriate. If you have any concerns that this might apply to you, please contact dale@boarding.org.uk, who will connect you to the relevant DfE colleagues. In House consultancy serviceBSA 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. BSA BlogWe've launched a new BSA Blog, a regular feature where guests authors will share their thoughts on a variety of important topical subjects. If you would be interested in authoring a guest blog for us, please contact Andrew Gray, Communications and Partnerships Manager. You can read the BSA Blog by clicking here. BSA Research FellowshipThe BSA Research Fellowship launched by the Boarding Schools’ Association in 2016 gives an experienced senior member of the boarding community the opportunity to undertake a unique research opportunity. The successful applicant will visit three boarding schools of their choice and will collate their data in a research project analysing the different schools and their boarding provision. The fellow will present their finding a the Annual BSA Boarding Conference 2023. The deadline for applications is February, 2022. If you are interested in submitting a proposal for the BSA Research Fellowship (2021/22) please email chris@boarding.org.uk. Events and trainingInternational Conference: There's still time to secure your place at our next conference, 'Supporting international students in British independent schools' which will take place on March 11 in partnership with BAISIS. The event is suitable for staff working to support international students in British independent schools, from recruitment to 'graduation': marketing, admissions, EAL provision, Guardians, Agents, and members of SLT/SMT. This one-day event will bring together the marketing, pastoral, academic, and recruitment elements of ensuring our international students, and their families, feel supported and valued. For more information on our upcoming training and events, please see the BSA Academy section below. BSA Awards 2021 - send us your entriesThe annual BSA Awards are our chance to celebrate the achievements, hard work, and dedication of schools and individuals in boarding. Nominations are now open for this year's awards, which will be announced at our BSA Annual Conference for Heads 2020-21 on May 4-5. For more information on this year's categories and how to enter, please visit the Awards page on our website. The deadline for submitting any entries is Friday, March 26. School PlacesIn 2020, we joined forces with Bulldog Publishing to launch Schoolplaces.org, a dedicated live information resource for schools, parents, and education agents. Schoolplaces.org is designed to help agents and families easily find available school places, all in one location. And it’s also the ideal platform for schools to showcase themselves and let parents and agents know what they are offering. If you’re interested in getting your school listed on Schoolplaces.org, please email hello@schoolplaces.org. Best wishes,
COVID updatesISC update: Coronavirus (COVID-19) - plans for wider opening of schools We're grateful to our colleagues at ISC for sharing the following bulletin with us, which was published earlier this week:
Ofqual update We're also grateful to Ofqual for sharing the update below with us:
Northern Ireland Lockdown measures have been extended in Northern Ireland until April 1, 2021. However, children in primary 1 to primary 3 (aged four to seven) will go back to school in the country on March 8. For more information, please click here. BSA Certified Supplier SchemeThe 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 AgentsWe are delighted to announce that Genesis Education Planning (China) has joined the BSA Certified Agent scheme. Welcome to the BSA family!
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. For more details on our Certificate courses, please click here. Listed below are a selection of our upcoming courses - to find out more, or to book your place, please click on the course title. If you need any further information about our Accredited Training programme, please contact Liz McDonald, Senior Training Manager, at liz@boarding.org.uk.
BSA Inclusion Lead training: This new, comprehensive, two-day course has been put together to support Inclusion Leads of staff with specific responsibility for equity, diversity and inclusion in boarding schools. The BSA Inclusion Lead course brings together subject leaders from a wide range of backgrounds who will share knowledge and experiences to both support you with this important work, and challenge your thinking to enable professional, and personal, growth. Over the two study days, delegates will cover:
Study dates: Friday, April 30 and Monday, May 17, 2021. To book this training, please click here. 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. Dates: March 08 and July 08. 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. Webinars
To see the entire 2020-21 training programme, click here.Become a BSA Accredited Boarding PractitionerBSA Accredited Boarding Practitioner status is an individual recognition of those boarding staff who are making a personal, professional commitment to best boarding practice. To be considered, all applicants are expected to meet the following core commitments: • Safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children Find out more here. Other newsVocational education round table: Schools Week and Pearson held a round table discussion on the revolution in vocational education, discussing what role schools should play in ‘employability’ and how work-ready skills should be championed by school leaders and embedded across the curriculum. Panellists included: Wes Streeting MP, Shadow Schools Minister; Audrey Clegg, Group Talent Director, Coca-Cola; Ian Parry, Headteacher at Meols Cop High School, Southport; Cindy Rampersaud, Senior Vice-President for BTECs and Apprenticeships, Pearson; Judith Fremont-Barnes, Head of Milton Abbey. You can watch the discussion now: https://youtu.be/sM5ZGHG5bmo 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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