Your UK Boarding School Family

 With September coming up fast, some of you will have children heading off to boarding school for the very first time. It’ll be a strange and daunting experience to wave goodbye and have your children away from the family but do not fret: there is a network of teachers and friends ahead of them who will become just like their school family. Here is a breakdown of the people who will be taking great care of your child in their new boarding school:

• Housemaster

Most boarding schools are made up of several houses where students sleep and spend time when they’re out of class. Each of these houses is looked after by a Housemaster or Housemistress (also known as a Houseparent) who works with the Matron to ensure all the pupils in their house are happy, healthy and enjoying their time in the school. They are your child’s first point of contact and will ease them into their new lifestyle with gentle guidance and reassurance. Houseparents ensure the rules are followed and homework is done at the right time, but they are also there to encourage respect, friendship and a lot of fun. A boarding house can feel like an exclusive club for the students there – and the Housemaster is the club leader.

• Head of Boarding

The Head of Boarding is your port of call for general guidance, should you or your child need support for something not covered by their Housemaster or Housemistress. Providing advice on settling in and encouraging adaptability and open-mindedness, whether your child is from the UK or Overseas, the Head of Boarding oversees student welfare and the staff to ensure the school provides the best boarding environment possible. 

• Matron

The Matron is in charge of the wellbeing of the students in their boarding house. They are there to look after your child if they feel ill, and often Matrons are trained nurses. However, their role extends much further than this – one day they may be helping with homework, providing snacks and choosing movies, and the next providing a shoulder to lean on and a kind ear for students who just need to talk. They are there to ensure the boarding house is a safe and friendly space, and to nurture your child during their transition into a young adult.

• Tutor

Your child’s Tutor is like a personal teacher, responsible for overseeing their academic progress during their time in the school. They may have a small group of students they work with, but there will also be opportunity for one-on-one meetings where they can set goals and overcome learning concerns. If you have any questions about your children’s studies, they will be your first contact so it is important for you to establish a good relationship with them too.

• Head of House

The Head Boy or Head Girl of your child’s boarding house will be a senior student who is chosen to support their fellow students throughout their time in boarding school. They are a link between students and teachers, a mentor, and they are on hand to help with academic, social or personal problems students might face.

• House Captain

If your child’s boarding school has a separate House Captain, this boy or girl will represent and organize their boarding house for school events. They take an active role in social activities, so they are on hand to help your child get involved in boarding school life.

• Prefect

Prefects are students elected from as early as their first year in school to help their peers settle in and uphold the rules. They are often also in charge for organising student events like film nights and fundraising days, and might have a group of new students they look after. Being a prefect is a big honour and big responsibility – listening to other students’ worries and teaching them the values of friendship and hard work.

• Student Council

The Student Council is the go-between for your child and the school community.  They work directly with staff to address issues in the school community and can have a real impact on the way the school is run. If students have an issue, they can take it to the Student Council, who will discuss it and take the issue to the Head and Deputy Head until a mutual solution is decided. They also arrange school-wide events like dances and parties, and will also pass any department messages on to the students. The Student Council is your child’s voice in the school, and your child can go to them with any issues they might have.

• Guardian Family

If your child is boarding in the UK from Overseas, your child will need a UK-based guardian, appointed by you, as an in-country emergency contact. Their guardian will care for them on exeat weekends and half-term holidays if they are not returning home and attend parents’ evenings and events on your behalf. A guardian family is a home-from-home, providing a welcome break from the hectic routine of school life and caring for your child’s wellbeing locally when you can’t be there. English guardian families like those at the Guardian Family Network (www.guardianfamily.co.uk) are typically professional people with experience in education and children often build long-lasting trusting relationships with their ‘UK family’.

For more information on preparing your child for boarding school, look out for our Boarding School Preparation resources, coming soon to www.independenteducationconsultants.co.uk! These e-books, packed full of advice from our expert consultants, are designed to help you and your child through the transition as easily and comfortably as possible.

This post by Lauren Bowman.

We offer a wide range of services and expert advice on your child's education.

Email claire@independenteducationconsultants.co.uk or contact Claire on 01865 522066 for an informal discussion on how we can help.

For more information, www.independenteducationconsultants.co.uk

How to Keep Children Learning during School Holidays

 With the Summer Holidays underway, education often takes a seat on the back burner. Whilst this relaxing time is well earned for children who have studied hard all year, it’s not uncommon for their progress to slide, leading to slipping grades come September when classes begin again. It can be downheartening for parents and children alike. But as easy as it is for this to happen, it’s just as easy to keep learning alive with a little careful holiday planning.

Holidays are the time for all the school learning children have done through the year to be applied to the world around them. They will use the skills they have developed without realizing, whenever the opportunity arises. It is up to you to provide them with the opportunities… but here are our top ideas for activities and experiences to get you started:

1. If you are lucky enough to be able to take your children away during the holidays, allow them to learn for themselves about the different ways of life they encounter. There is no greater learning than first hand experience, and whether this is done in new cultures overseas or just in a new part of your home country, be sure to give them a chance to explore their unusual surroundings for themselves. New places hold endless learning experiences, from culture and history trips to rockpooling and building sandcastles on the beach.

2. If you are staying at home, don’t forget about the vast world outside your back (or front) door. Your home garden and local parks hold a world of discovery. Painting, drawing or photographing the plants, scenery and wildlife teaches creative and analytical skills and appreciation for nature, and might even develop into a new hobby. Let your children utilize their own creative thinking and construction skills by building a tent in the garden out of old sheets, or set up a lawn game like skittles or rounders to teach them about rules, numbers and teamwork.

3. Encourage them to keep a Holiday Diary. Not only does this promote writing skills, but also provides opportunity for other learned skills; have your child draw a map of the area they are visiting, or doodle what they can see, collect and label ticket stubs or photographs and write down the most interesting thing they have learned each day. The result will be a wonderful holiday scrapbook and something to show off when they head back to school in September.

4. Easy, captivating and free, reading is a great activity for the holidays. Even if you cannot travel, your child can still explore far off worlds in the pages of a book. If they are not big into reading, try audio books to get them interested. Try to implement ‘reading hour’ in the day to ensure they get time away from their TV or phone screen and enjoy some good old fashioned reading. If you are not already a member of your local library, get the family signed up there too, as they often offer more than books and CDs. Look out for author visits, story reading mornings and other activities.

5. Holiday Clubs are a great activity to keep your children busy, especially if you’ve got to be at work. Look for clubs that offer something educational that your child is interested in. Perhaps it’s a popular sport such as tennis or basketball, or something completely new like sailing, orienteering or climbing. Drama or music clubs are also great, and some clubs even entail a little of everything. These clubs are also a great opportunity to make sure your children socialize over the holidays instead of sitting in front of the television.

6. Maths might not be their favourite subject in school, but your child is likely to forget they’re doing sums when you’re letting them work out what they need to pay at a shop counter. If you give them pocket money, teach them to budget for days out for treats like ice cream and gift shop items, and allow them to help you count out what to pay the cashier. When shopping, eating out or taking a car journey, why not let the children estimate cost or mileage and whoever is closest wins a prize?

7. Experience days, like holiday clubs, are a great distraction that offer a vast range of activities you and your child probably never considered trying before, from water sports to trips down the Thames, and even falconry.

8. Plenty of websites offer educational games under the guise of pure fun. They can eat up hours of your child’s time without them realizing they’re all but sitting in a classroom – we’d recommend www.bbc.co.uk/cbeebies, www.funbrain.com and www.knowledgeadventure.com. Just remember not to let them sit at the computer for too long!

9. Craft projects are like online games but without the computer screen. Look up crafts online or pick up a book of child-friendly crafts at your local library and get gluing, colouring and collecting! A good place to start is at www.thecraftyclassroom.com.

10. If you’re in the UK, you’re likely to come up against some wet weather this summer. If you’re going stir-crazy in the house, don’t forget about all the fun day trips available to indoor places: theatres, museums, art galleries, science centres and indoor attractions will keep you and the family busy, dry, and still learning. If you’re more adventurous (or the weather is good) try farm parks and wildlife walks. Take some activity sheets with you to make sure you keep their minds ticking and let them soak up the experience.

Our best advice to you is just to get out as much as you can, and don’t worry – as long as your children are exploring and having fun, they will be using those skills and important lessons they’ve learned in school!

This post by Lauren Bowman.

We offer a wide range of services and expert advice on your child's education.

Email claire@independenteducationconsultants.co.uk or contact Claire on 01865 522066 for an informal discussion on how we can help.

For more information, www.independenteducationconsultants.co.uk

Brexit – opportunity or disaster for British independent schools in the UK?

British schools in the UK have for some time been a popular option amongst European families. Why?

• Developing independence through sixth form studies of both the International Baccalaureate Diploma programme or A levels as a pathway to places at top universities in both the UK and Europe.
• Accessing the all-round education approach across academics, sport and the Arts that is British education.
• British boarding as a settled long-term alternative to frequent transitions between international schools when relocating families are working both in London and other financial centres of Europe.
• Outstanding support for each child as an individual, including for those diverse educational needs.
• Short-term placements of up to one year as a tried and tested route towards bi-lingual children with cultural understanding who are equipped to work in a Global world.

According to the ISC 2016 annual census of their 1,280 member schools, over 15,000 or 33% of international children attending ISC member schools are from European countries. Nearly 8,000 of these children, or 55%, have parents living in the UK.

It’s hard to argue with the significant benefits enjoyed by both European families and the UK schools who educate their children as a result of this free-flowing working relationship. So, it’s not surprising that many in the education sector are now asking what does Brexit mean for these children and their families, not to mention the implications for the schools themselves?

• Firstly, the advice is not to panic. Keep calm and carry on! New regulations regarding EU nationals studying in UK schools should take at least 2 years to agree and implement. UK schools have been quick to reassure families from across Europe with children already in UK schools that it will be business as usual for the foreseeable future.
• UK independent schools as a whole are a force to be reckoned with, contributing significantly to the economy as a whole. With a Global reputation for excellence, I just can’t envisage a situation where they submit to changes in visa rules without a fight to retain their international element. Just as they did with the charities commission, professional bodies such as ISC will be lobbying key decision makers to present a strong case for the status quo. I believe that it’s highly likely their voices will be heard when it comes to Brexit immigration negotiations and retaining the rights for EU nationals to gain easy access to study within UK schools and universities.
• Making lemonade out of lemons, there is recent evidence to indicate that some international families appear to have seen the recent currency fluctuations in Sterling as an opportunity to now access the outstanding British school system at a reduced cost. If you’re buying education in Euros or Dollars, you now get more bang for your buck. With British international schools overseas retaining high fee levels, suddenly the UK-based schools look appealing, even if it means boarding. Last-minute enquiry numbers for Sept 2016 entry from new European families looking to join a UK independent school are up!
• In other parts of the world, international boarding school parents have seen a similar opportunity due to currency fluctuations and are looking to pay a number of terms school fees in advance. At least in the short-term, cash flow in UK schools should remain strong allowing continued investment in facilities and resources to maintain their outstanding reputation across the world.

THE COUNTRY LIFE FUTURE SCHOOLS FAIR

The post-Brexit, not to be missed, opportunity for parents to meet UK schools face-to-face

Does UK-based British education have last-minute appeal to you?

Register now for your complimentary invitation to this exclusive event for parents ON SATURDAY 16^TH JULY IN LONDON. Click this link for more information and to register. https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/country-life-future-schools-fair-london-tickets-19292464280

Not to be missed! Your opportunity to meet over 50 British schools face-to-face to discuss your child. An extensive seminar programme on the day will offer lots of useful tips on how to make this happen. Independent Consultants will be on hand to advise and guide you each step of the way.

Need more information about The Country Life Future Schools Fairs - visit the website www.futureschoolsfair.com

10 Top Tips For Expats Planning An Application To British Day Or Boarding Schools

Though your children may be well settled into an international school overseas, in these unpredictable times, a back-up, 'return to the UK day or boarding school' plan is a good idea.

Here are a few tips from our education consultants.

To get advice on your school choice decisions from both schools and education consultants, why not register now to attend our complimentary exclusive client event in London on 16th July 2016?

Click here to REGISTER.

1. Think 2 years ahead. Family circumstances change unpredictably and last-minute places are always feasible. However, whatever your family situation now, it’s far less traumatic and stressful to think and plan ahead for schools at age 11+, 13+ and 16+ where possible.
   
2.  Gain a better understanding of UK school curricula such as Common Entrance, IGCSE, A Level and IB. The traditional rigour and skills-based approach of some British schools may vary from your current international school. Be sure to find the right fit for your child to succeed.
   
3. Focus on all-round education. Academics are crucial. However, British schools also like children who offer a great deal to the community as whole. Whether that’s in sports, the Arts, Music or chess, a can-do attitude and a willingness to have a go are what schools are looking for.
   
4. Consider location and future proof your school choice by keeping options open. Even if your current preference is day, having boarding as an option may prove useful later on.
   
5. Prepare your child for interview. Body language, posture, selling yourself, thinking on your feet, giving an opinion and why. These are not things that come naturally to all children, so a little coaching and practice might be required.
   
6. Current school reference and reports are important. Prepare now and set goals for your child at their current school when it comes to reports for effort, contribution and assessment grades.
   
7. Pre-assessment tests can be tricky. Keep calm. Giving your child some help with exam skills and question formats that may be new to them, such as non-verbal or verbal reasoning, will help them to perform at their best. Tutoring too much can be counter-productive so be cautious. However, you need to give them the confidence to understand the test formats and hence tackle the tests confidently.
   
8. Be ambitious but also realistic about your child’s potential. Finding a school with the right balance of academic challenge, alongside relevant broader opportunities and strong pastoral care will lead to the most successful outcome.
   
9. Build a rapport with the school registrars. Put all key dates in your diary well ahead. Return communications and paperwork promptly. First choice and back-up schools are important for peace of mind. However, if schools are no longer of interest, let them know as soon as possible, so another family can have your place.
   
10. Use an independent consultant. They can be a good sounding board to discuss thoughts on schools as well as add options you may not have thought of. Find a consultant who does not claim commission from schools for referrals so the advice is truly independent. Fees vary hugely so shop around for quality at the right price.

This post by Catherine Stoker.

We offer a wide range of services and expert advice on your child's education.

Email consultants@independenteducationconsultants.co.uk or contact Claire on 01865 522066 for an informal discussion on how we can help.

For more information, www.independenteducationconsultants.co.uk

Common Entrance not gone to plan? Here are a few tips for parents finding themselves in this nail-biting situation.

1.       Keep calm. Take a deep breath, put your own disappointment aside and carry on.

2.       Praise your child for trying their best. They will have had a knock to their confidence so now is the time to nurture and build self-esteem.

3.       Contact your current school Head as soon as feasible to see if there is any negotiation that can be done with your chosen senior school to change the outcome. Head to Head close working relationships are a crucial first port of call and often resolve the issue.

4.       If your first choice school is definitely out of the picture, follow up with your back-up choice, if you had one. Your current school Head will probably be doing this on your behalf behind the scenes. However, there’s no harm in also touching base yourself. Explaining any issues that may have affected the results during particular exams such as illness, nerves, family troubles is a good way to start. Highlighting what appeals to you about your back-up school as your new first choice option. A bit of relationship building will help.

5.       Suggest a visit to the school with your child as soon as possible. Face-to-face meetings are far better than email or phone. Going the extra mile, meeting the whole family will give the right enthusiastic impression. Research the school before you go so you are clear in your mind why this is now your first choice school. Give your child a bit of interview coaching and practice, so they come across as positive and enthusiastic for all a school offers.

6.       Call an independent education consultant for advice on your back-up and any other schools that might be worth adding to your list for consideration. Talking through your worries and thoughts on a way forward with an independent listening ear might raise options you had not even thought about or might just clarify your thinking that you are already on the right lines.

You can contact one of our experienced expert consultants by calling 01865 522066 or emailing Claire via consultants@independenteducationconsultants.co.uk

More details via our website http://independenteducationconsultants.co.uk/prep-to-senior-school-choices-at-11-or-13/

Expats: How to future-proof your child's education in the face of redundancies

The worry over job stability and continued funding for a child's education can be daunting for any parent. People who live and work abroad, however have additional concerns that can make an already stressful time for the family even more overwhelming.

Losing a job abroad often means losing the right to remain in that country. Some countries give foreigners as little as 14 days to exit the country after their work permit has been canceled. That means fourteen days to terminate your lease, sell your car, pack up your belongings, find a place to live "back home", and find a school for your child. Most people would struggle to get all that done in fourteen weeks, let alone fourteen days. 

Well I can't help you with your lease, your car, your belongings, or your new home, but here are a few tips to ease the burden of finding a school for your child, when a redundancy may be imminent:

- Gather your child's school reports in one place, and be sure to have access over them when the desktop and filing cabinet are both in the shipping container

- Acquire references from teachers - better to do this in person than by email, especially if the teachers aren't aware of your expectations.

- Find out whether it is possible for the child to remain in the country on a student visa in order to finish the term or school year, especially during the teen years when moving mid year can be disruptive at a crucial time.

- Consider whether you can ask a close friend to 'host' your child while he/she completes the term/year. It's a big ask, but you never know unless you ask.

- Consider whether you can go back to the country you left, whether your home country or a previous expat posting? Sometimes schools prioritise former students in their wait lists, and some countries may have less onerous immigration restrictions.

- Call your dream schools for your child - you never know if a place has opened up but no one else wants to take it mid-term.

- Consider whether home-schooling is an option for you and your child. There are vast resources online to assist in home-schooling, and you can even brush up on your own algebra!

- Consider whether you can make lemonade from lemons: world-schooling can be an amazing opportunity for you and your child to travel for extended periods in new or old territory. You could immerse your child in a French school and ski every afternoon, volunteer to build houses and teach children in Cambodia, go tramping and explore new sports in New Zealand, spend an extended period on an agritourism farm learning how farmers live, spend a few months with extended family you don't often get to see,....

- Contact TIEC and find out how we can help you find places mid-year or mid-term. Often schools will have places open up when students leave unexpectedly. 

Don't despair. Children are resilient, and often unexpected or unwelcome changes can lead to unforeseen opportunities.

Click here to register for your FREE TICKETS to the Expat Fair in July 2016 

Country Life Future Schools Fairs are the perfect opportunity to get all your questions about education answered. Taking place around the country - starting with the EXPAT FAIR in London on July 16th - these events will be packed with representatives from top schools from all over the UK, as well as seminars on entry requirements, curriculum, boarding school worries and more. TIEC will be on hand to answer your queries and better still - the whole event is free to attend. Tickets are limited so be sure to click the link above and register for your FREE tickets to the Expat Fair today.

Check out more information at www.futureschoolfairs.com or get in contact below:

If you are a parent with questions about the fair, email Claire at Claire@futureschoolsfair.com

If you are a school, email Exhibitors@futureschoolsfair.com

This post by Christina Benson.

We offer a wide range of services and expert advice on your child's education.

Email consultants@independenteducationconsultants.co.uk or contact Claire on 01865 522066 for an informal discussion on how we can help.

For more information, www.independenteducationconsultants.co.uk

The Benefits of Educational Trips for School Children

The School Trip – it is an event most children look forward to all term, whether it is an educational visit to a historical monument, a day out at a Wetlands Centre, a visit to the theatre or a weekend away at an adventure camp. For the children, it’s a chance to get away from the school grounds, from their parents, and from their routine. An afternoon outside of the classroom feels like a hard-won prize at the end of a long term.

But school trips are more than a reward. Whilst important academic learning is done in class, it can hardly be compared to the wealth of real life experiences, simply because the two things are so very different. Life is full of challenges and opportunities that cannot be understood in theory the same way they can in practice. Whatever the nature of the outing, it is bound to teach them some very important skills and knowledge that they will carry with them for the rest of their lives, regardless of whether that is through adventure activities, sports, or written on the exhibits at a museum.

There is a new culture in parents and in schools – perhaps simply in society – that demands we be fully conscious of all the risks involved in every choice we make, especially for our children. This can lead to some serious molly coddling, with overprotective parents panicking about children catching something whilst playing in the dirt and fretful teachers banning playground games over scraped knees and elbows. Some people are concerned school trips put children at too much risk of harm. This kind of worry comes hand in hand with concerns over absorption in technology and obsession with phones, computers and games. Sometimes it seems like people argue against one as much as they argue against the other, and yet they are so very contradictory. If children cannot play outside in the real world in fear of the risks, but should not sit inside watching television or going online either, we’re left with a very limited spectrum of activities for them to enjoy and take part in.

The truth is, the benefits outweigh the risks for almost all of the modern worries, but this is particularly true for educational outings. The opportunity for children to experience a vast range of situations and challenges they wouldn’t otherwise be exposed to is key to their personal development. Educators on trips are often experts in their field, providing more in-depth knowledge for the children on the trip than could be conveyed in the classroom. Learning and interacting in groups provides a chance to build a community between them and their peers, to learn interpersonal skills and teamwork, respect and trust, and these strengths translate to the classroom, the playground, and beyond into the world. Teachers have noted that children who struggle in the classroom with speaking up frequently come into their own on educational trips, developing confidence, resilience and self-esteem that bolster performance in every area in school.

Psychologically, this is not the only benefit either. The routine of learning in a classroom week after week can cause lessons to blur into one another in the mind, making the retention of information more difficult. If you’re anything like me, you can probably think back and remember a single holiday or outing from your childhood far better than any of the school weeks surrounding it. Individual events like this create what are known as ‘Episodic Memories’ – autobiographical collections of experiences that can be explicitly recalled. Times, places, knowledge, and associated emotions are stored better in the mind during these events, and so time away spent learning in a manner and environment different from normal routine means children will remember more of what they learned than on any other day.

Aside from bonding with their peers and better learning, school trips can really open children’s eyes to the world around them. Visiting places they would never usually go, particularly for those children who aren’t fortunate enough to travel often outside of school, can provide a whole new perspective on the world. Activities they may have never tried can become lifelong interests. Places they visit can lead to future professions – hospitals, local businesses, University science centers. These visits can teach children more than information, helping them understand why the knowledge is important and how it pertains to real life. They will learn better behaviour too – responsibility and respect not just in the presence of an established figure of authority, but to the public, their peers and communities, and the environment.

The benefits of these trips are vast and the risks – particularly with our modern culture of rules and regulations at every turn – are containable and very carefully assessed by the schools. Of course, there is always a danger of injury. It can’t be denied – accidents happen. But they can happen anywhere, at any time, and it is important to keep this danger in perspective. If you ever find yourself weighing up whether to permit your child onto a school trip, remember this – giving in to your worries about the risks is denying them an opportunity to discover a future hobby or career, to expand their mind and realise their potential.

Educational days out are real adventures for children, and the memories will last a lifetime. I have treasured memories of my field trips. Some of them were disappointing, of course – the highlight of one visit to Waltham Abbey as a child was feeding my worksheets to the goats there – but some turned out to be undeniably important. I still explicitly remember what to do in the event of a house fire – and to check my smoke alarms regularly – all because of a few fun activities and a short lecture given by the local Fire Department on a school visit when I was nine years old. Others were simply awe-inspiring: a lecture at University College London on the concept of Virgin Galactic when spaceflight was only an inkling of a realistic idea, a visit to a Victorian London surgery where the tour guide demonstrated to us how a doctor in 1866 would have performed an amputation on a gangrenous leg, and on one life-changing Senior trip, a theatre acting class on Broadway in New York City. There can be no denying that these adventures helped define me as the person I grew up to be. They were as important as any factor in my school years.

School trips provide children with a reason to believe that the pursuit of knowledge is fun, worthwhile, and above all else – endless. Education does not begin and end in the classroom, nor should it, and these outings help children to see that the world around them is trying to teach them things every day, if they are only willing to open their eyes and take it in.

This post by Lauren Bowman.

We offer a wide range of services and expert advice on your child's education.

Email consultants@independenteducationconsultants.co.uk or contact Claire on 01865 522066 for an informal discussion on how we can help.

For more information, www.independenteducationconsultants.co.uk