UK guardians - Published in 'The Hobsons UK Boarding Schools Guide' 2006 Edition

Guardians act on behalf of international pupils' parents while their children are in the UK and take care of them during school holidays and exeat weekends

A large number of boarding schools in the UK have a strong tradition of welcoming students from all over the world. For international students, the opportunity to study overseas and experience an all-round intercultural education in an English-speaking environment can change their lives. To make such an education possible and to safeguard the welfare of their child, parents delegate some of their responsibility both to the school they have chosen and, very importantly, to a guardian in the UK.

The role of a guardian

UK boarding schools ask parents who live overseas to appoint a UK guardian for their child. Generally, they require a guardian to be over the age of 25, and not an older brother or sister resident in student accommodation in a university or college in the UK.

Although the responsibilities of a guardian can be defined in various ways, they are likely to include the following:

Providing suitable accommodation - 'a home from home' - during school weekend exeats and half-term holidays.
Being available on a daily basis as a point of contact for parents, student and school.
Monitoring a student's educational progress and social development.
Acting on behalf of parents in the case of any emergency or crisis.
Safeguarding and promoting the welfare of a student at all times.
Liaising with the school and parents over holiday and exeat arrangements.
Making appropriate arrangements for medical care and insurance.
Being responsible for all travel arrangements and informing the school accordingly.

The benefits of appointing a guardian

Whilst a very young pupil coming to the UK for the first time is going to need a great deal of personal attention, a 16-year-old who has already visited the UK several times may need quite a different approach from a guardian. Some 16-year-olds will tell their parents that they really don't need one! As a caring parent, you might wish to investigate the situation a little further first. Clearly the guardian of an older pupil has a different role, but it is no less important; in many cases it is arguably more important, as a student is beginning to learn independence and discretion. At this stage, a young person is no less vulnerable. To have someone to call when in difficulty can prove vital for his or her well-being and safety.

A particular advantage of turning to a good guardian organization is that your individual needs can be addressed and accommodated with a large degree of flexibility and with the opportunity to make changes should you so wish. But most importantly, there will always be someone on 24-hour call either for your own urgent enquiry or as immediate support for your child in times of special need.

Spending time with a guardian family in an English-speaking environment can do much to develop an international student's language skills and provide a wonderful intercultural experience. It allows a student to see more of the UK, and adds to the experience of studying at a UK boarding school. Most guardians will readily take students to visit places of interest as well as welcoming them into their home as part of the family. As the hosts and educators of international students, the last thing we wish to find is a student who knows only the school, the airport and the route between the two!

Quality control

In the past few years, schools, Government departments and guardian organization have been working together to ensure that the standards of care for all international students are of the highest quality.

The National Boarding Standards Committee has incorporated the requirements of recent childcare legislation into the 52 National Boarding Standards, which are now used by the Commission for Social Care Inspection to rigorously inspect the welfare, health and safety at UK boarding schools. Similarly, the Association for the Education and Guardianship of International Students (AEGIS) has established a Code of Practice that does the same regarding the accommodation and guardianship of international students when they are living outside school. AEGIS has been granted charitable status and, through an independent inspectorate of ISI and Ofsted inspectors, accredits guardianship organizations to certify that they are meeting all the special requirements mentioned above.

Finding and appointing a guardian

It is often very difficult for overseas parents to find a suitable guardian for their son or daughter through their own contacts. Some parents feel embarrassed to ask a friend or a relative to take on the responsibility. For others, this can prove to be the ideal solution - someone who knows you and your family, or a relative, taking care of you child whilst he or she is in the UK. The experience of most schools, however, is that the majority of parents need some help in finding a good guardian.

How, then, do parents choose a guardian? Although some schools arrange their own families, most do not because of the extra legal responsibility. The next step, therefore, is to approach reputable guardian organizations. The international division of Independent Schools Council information service (ISCis International) will help direct you to good organizations. However, the choice of a guardian and the arrangements made with them are entirely the responsibility of the parent.

Arrangements by schools

Schools may choose to make it a rule that parents have satisfactory guardianship arrangements in place and that every guardian undertakes certain responsibilities. If a school considers that a student is going to be without adequate adult care during a weekend exeat or half-term break, following due notice to parents, it may choose to act in the best interests of the students by making suitable arrangements. This is because the school knows that it might be held responsible for releasing a child into the community without ensuring that adequate arrangements are in place. The schools always act with the utmost integrity to ensure that they undertake in full their pastoral responsibility for each and every child and that they alert parents to any situation considered undesirable.

Arrangements by guardianship organizations

If you have been unable to appoint a guardian for your child through your own contacts, or you are reluctant to ask friends or relatives to take on such a responsibility, then you will be advised by the school to approach a good guardian organization. There are various possible advantages of using a professional organization:

A wide choice of carefully selected families, giving you the opportunity to find the ideal guardian for your child and to change if your child is unhappy.
The conducting of all the proper legal checks on every guardian and host family.
A professional undertaking, with the responsibilities clearly stated and agreed.
Full professional indemnity insurance to cover all their responsibilities, as if required of schools.
Twenty-four-hour support - someone always at hand to provide support in any emergency or crisis, whether your child is in school or staying with a family.
Long experience of dealing with schools and of caring for international students.
An ability to adapt to your needs and offer flexibility through a number of options.
Reliable communication with all parties concerned.
The provision of an accurate estimate of your child's expenses and a clear statement of costs.
Access to additional services to cover all your needs as an overseas parent - visa extensions, passport renewal, travel itineraries and accommodation for parents, booking tickets, holiday revision or language courses, management of your child's finances, arranging mobile phone accounts, etc.

Amongst the people associated with boarding in the UK, professionally or otherwise, there is a full appreciation of the moral obligation to provide the best possible care for international students throughout their stay here. In an environment that is safe and well monitored, and with arrangements flexible enough to meet a student's every need, the opportunities for a life-changing educational experience in a country rich in cultural and sporting activities are second to none.

Andrew Sutherland

Co-Principal of London International Study Centre, Sutherland Education and Sutherland Day Nursery; originator of AEGIS (The Association for the Education and Guardianship of International Students); currently a member of the AEGIS Advisory Committee.

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