Boarding Life Skills Award

What is the BSA Boarding Life Skills Award?

Economist and former Government advisor Will Hutton endorsed the concept of a Boarding Award to evidence the soft skills learnt by boarders in a Boarding community that employers will use as a currency for employability alongside academic results in an ever more competitive market.

This series of Awards was created to reflect the experience and skills of being a boarder. There are 3 levels – Bronze, Silver and Gold, so the awards are accessible to boarders from Year 6 to Year 13 (ages 9 – 19).

The Award provides boarders with evidence of social and employability skill development whilst also showcasing the exciting activities available at your school.

Click here to view the award scheme guidance booklet.

How does it work?

The Boarding Life Skills Award is designed to be run in boarding schools with a group of boarders over several terms.

It is expected that the Awards will fit a variety of boarding environments and boarding communities. It is designed to be facilitated/delivered by any member of the house staff team e.g. Assistant Houseparents, Houseparents, Tutors or Matrons, with assessment and internal verifying completed by each individual school.

Boarders will start at the level appropriate to their age/ability and will progress through a comprehensive workbook producing evidence of achievement in the various skill areas.

What will boarders need to do to complete the scheme?

Boarders are to complete a number of challenges in each of the modules set in the workbook. There is guidance on how boarders can meet these challenges and boarders will need to give evidence that challenges and activities have been completed.

Annual subscription

£100 – for schools with 100 boarders or less

£200 – for schools with 100-200 boarders

£300 – for schools with 200 boarders or more

How do I register my students for the scheme?

If you would like to participate in the scheme, please complete the online registration form below. Once your registration has been processed, we will send the Boarding Life Skills student pack through via email for download. The workbooks within the packs can be printed or completed digitally.

What happens when boarders have completed their workbooks?

Contact us via bsa@boarding.org.uk and let us know when your group of boarders have completed the Award. We will ask to see samples of their workbooks as evidence and for reviewing standardisation in marking. Certificates will be processed for all boarders who have successfully completed the Boarding Life Skills Award.

Questions

If you have any questions regarding the Boarding Life Skills scheme, or experience any difficulty registering, please email us bsa@boarding.org.uk and a member of the team will be in touch.