The BSA now offers an accredited programme for service and ex-service personnel seeking a meaningful new career supporting young people through life-changing boarding education.
Following successful screening, applicants receive:
- Introductory online courses on boarding and safeguarding in schools
- Online training (available on November 27, 2025 or January 30, 2026) on boarding schools, roles, and responsibilities
- Visit to a BSA member school to observe and ask questions
- Guidance and support on creating a CV for boarding roles, including a webinar and one-to-one meeting with a senior boarding expert
- Enrolment as an Associate (ATIOB) member of The Institute of Boarding
- Profile shared with BSA member schools.
Enrolment costs £750. An Individual Resettlement Training Costs (IRTC) grant of up to £534 may be available to those who have served within the last two years and completed six years of full-time service (or less if medically discharged or made redundant). Please speak to your resettlement officer to find out more.
About boarding
BSA represents more than 440 boarding schools and 70,000 boarding students in the UK, spanning both the independent and state school sector. Modern boarding is diverse, with international students making up 1 in 3 boarders and 1 in 5 boarding flexibly. It is also popular with military families, with the government subsidising up to 90% of fees through a continuity of education allowance (CEA). The BSA publishes a Service Parents’ Guide to boarding biannually with more information about the sector and schools.
“Boarding schools can be a very attractive second career for service personnel, from working in boarding houses to helping with sport, the Duke of Edinburgh Award or cadets, or indeed other roles.”
Dale Wilkins FTIOB, Executive Director for Accredited Training, BSA Group“Supporting ex-service personnel into boarding roles is a win-win. Students will benefit enormously from the resilience and life experience of participants, who will in turn embark upon a fulfilling career mentoring and nurturing young people.”
Alex Foreman, Principal, Duke of York Royal Military School
