Guardianship for International Boarding Pupils: The Basics

Guardianship for international boarding pupils means naming a UK-based adult who is responsible for a child outside school, for example during exeats, half-terms and holidays, whilst the parents live overseas. The Boarding Schools' Association describes the guardian as someone who represents the parent and does what a caring parent would do if they were in the UK. Many schools ask for a guardian to be in place before a boarding place begins, and each school's own admissions page sets its exact requirements.

An educational guardian is a separate role from a legal guardian, as the Association of Guardianship Organisations (AEGIS) states on its parents page. Families who need a Child Student visa should also read the gov.uk page, which says the child needs the consent of a parent or legal guardian and an unconditional offer from a licensed Child Student sponsor. AEGIS lists guardianship organisations at two accreditation levels, which gives families a starting point for checking a provider.

What is a guardian for an international boarding pupil?

A guardian for an international boarding pupil is a UK-based adult who looks after the child whenever they are in the UK but not at school, acting for parents who live overseas. The Boarding Schools' Association code of conduct for its certified guardians says the guardian's first duty of care is to the child, that the guardian liaises between the parent, the child, the host family and the school, and that the guardian ensures the child's safety and welfare at all times when the child is in the UK but not at school. Some guardians are professional organisations that match pupils with host families; others are relatives or friends, where the school permits it.

AEGIS states on its parents page that an educational guardian is not a legal guardian, and that a guardian acts on the family's behalf, attends school meetings and is available around the clock in emergencies. One school's page describes the same pattern, saying guardians attend parent meetings, receive school reports and can be contacted in emergencies. Duties vary between guardians and schools, so the written agreement and the school's own page decide the detail.

Why do UK boarding schools ask for a guardian?

Schools ask for a guardian because a boarder whose parents live overseas still needs a responsible adult nearby when the school is closed or the pupil leaves the premises. St Peter's School in York says guardians are needed so that boarders are cared for at all times, and that a guardian must be able to give consent to a trip or visit, arrange travel or provide care when a boarder leaves school. Windlesham House School says guardians provide accommodation during exeat weekends and half-term breaks when the school closes. Requirements differ between schools, so the admissions page of the school in question decides.

The Boarding Schools' Association runs a Certified Guardian Scheme, a training and certification programme that it says gives its boarding schools assurance of high standards in safeguarding, safer recruitment of staff and host families, and careful liaison with parents and schools. Its application checks include evidence that the guardian and host family lead is at least 25 years of age, a permanent UK resident and not in full-time education themselves. A school can use membership of the scheme as one signal when it considers a proposed guardian.

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What do schools expect from a guardian?

Schools generally expect a guardian to be contactable, to provide a place to stay when the school is closed or the pupil leaves for an exeat, and to keep in regular touch with boarding staff. St Peter's School, for example, makes an offer of a boarding place conditional on an approved educational guardian being in place before the start of term, and asks that the guardian live within two hours of the school. Other schools set different rules, so the admissions page decides.

The Boarding Schools' Association code of conduct adds that the guardian maintains 24-hour emergency contact with the child when in the UK and supports the school by ensuring that its policies are upheld. Windlesham House School lists the options for the longer breaks as staying with the appointed guardian, returning home, private hosting with parental permission, or camps run by guardian companies.

• Availability: reachable by the school, with a 24-hour emergency contact while the child is in the UK
• Accommodation: a suitable place to stay for exeat weekends and half-terms, and for longer holidays where the family chooses it
• Communication: regular contact with the houseparents, which St Peter's describes as essential

How does AEGIS accreditation work?

AEGIS describes itself as the only independent UK body dedicated to the inspection and accreditation of guardianship organisations, and it lists organisations at two levels: AEGIS Accredited and Gold Standard. Its own pages say the first level is open to guardianship organisations of any size and ensures that the essential standards are in place, with applicants submitting policies, insurance evidence, data protection registration and DBS evidence before an interview with its Head of Inspections. The Gold Standard is described as the highest and most comprehensive level, assessed by independent, trained inspectors against the AEGIS Quality Standards.

AEGIS tells schools to check its live lists of accredited guardians on its website, because accredited guardians normally display the AEGIS logo on their own sites and some guardians that have not renewed accreditation have displayed it regardless. It also states that it provides each accredited company with an inspection report and a certificate showing issue and expiry dates.

What should you ask a guardian before appointing one?

Before appointing a guardian, a parent can ask for proof of current accreditation, an explanation of how host families are vetted, the name of the person who answers the phone out of hours, and a copy of the written agreement. Asking the school which guardians it accepts comes first in practice, since a school's page may name conditions such as distance or accreditation. St Peter's states that pupils seeking a school-sponsored Child Student visa must have an AEGIS-approved educational guardian.

Questions drawn from the AEGIS and Boarding Schools' Association pages include:

• Are you AEGIS accredited, at which level, and can you show the certificate or inspection report?
• Are you a BSA Certified Guardian?
• Are enhanced DBS checks in place for staff and for host family members aged over 16?
• Who is the 24-hour emergency contact while my child is in the UK?
• Will you attend school meetings and keep us informed?
• Where will my child stay during exeats and half-terms, and how far is it from the school?

How does guardianship relate to the Child Student visa?

The Child Student visa is a gov.uk matter, and its page says the child must have the consent of a parent or legal guardian to study and live in the UK and an unconditional offer of a place on a course with a licensed Child Student sponsor. Families should take every visa rule, document and eligibility question from the gov.uk Child Student visa page, because immigration rules sit with gov.uk and UK Visas and Immigration. Schools may also set their own guardian conditions alongside the visa, as St Peter's does when it ties sponsorship of the visa to an AEGIS-approved guardian.

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