Page 17 - StudyTravel Magazine November 2023 Issue

seCoNdAry foCUs

AssoCiAtion

Corner

We ask Yasmine Wiggles-
worth from AEGIS https://
aegisuk.net/, how the
revised National Mini-
mum Standards for
Boarding Schools

have affected the
role of guardian-
ship providers in
the UK... we have experienced

“The revised increased numbers of
National Mini-
mum Standards students since the
(NMS) for Boarding
Schools, which came end of the pandemic
into force in September
2022, saw the introduc-
tion of a new standard on Photos: Bright World Guardianships
educational guardians (Standard
22), which puts more onus on schools
to ensure that international students regular supervision sessions hosts to offer their homes to the

have appropriate support in place with our consultant, Kate Day international pupils,” she says. “In
outside of school. This brings guid- of KRD Training. Bright World our experience, the change is in the
ance more in line with the UKVI visa also achieved organisational member- demographic and whereas it perhaps
sponsor responsibilities that schools ship of the National Counselling and was often the single person or elderly
have for international students Psychotherapy Services (NCPS) earlier couple - it is now a family who would
during their time in the UK. Schools this year – training continues this year like to share their home and encour-
have been working hard to improve with more learning on specific mental age their children to share experiences

and amend their processes to meet illnesses and how to better support with someone from another culture.”
the requirements of Standard 22, and our students.” Lana too has found that host family
our Schools Membership Manager, Karen Pickles from Berkeley Guard- numbers are increasing. “We are now
Sophie Lindsay, has been providing ians www.berkeleyguardians.com back to original numbers after a year
invaluable support. Another impor- highlights, “There are, of course, of intensive and strategic recruitment

tant change is that school staff are issues that have come from lock- campaigns,” she says, while Vicky
no longer able to act as educational down and pandemic causes, but the adds, “Families who found hosting
guardian for international students schools work so hard with the pupils to challenging during the pandemic due
(Standard 22.5). Such an arrange- support them and we do all we can to to health reasons or a temporary lack
ment poses a conflict of interest work with the parents and the schools, of spare space, have returned and a

and AEGIS has always advised that and of course the pupils.” steady flow of new hosts have joined

the guardian should be independ- Karen adds that demand for extra us over the last 12 months. Our host
ent of the school. The high standard curricular trips and activities is family network and friends of Pippa’s
that AEGIS sets has been recognised high as students seek to gain new are our preferred source of new,
by the Department for Educa- experiences after the lockdown of like-minded, welcoming host families.
tion and AEGIS is listed as a useful the pandemic. This factor may have Our host families act as the perfect
resource in the NMS. Pre-pandemic helped when it comes to recruiting ambassadors for hosting and naturally
we had 50 accredited guardianship new hosts, as well. “We are finding in identify families who will provide the

organisations – we now have over the last six months or so an increase best experience for our students.”
100 and counting!” in requests from new and existing bethan@studytravel.network

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