BSA/BAISIS virtual day seminar – Supporting international boarders in UK boarding schools

• Date: May 24, 2023
• Time: 10:30 – 15:30
• Cost: BSA/BAISIS Full Member – £145, BSA Affiliate Member – £215, Non-member £290
• Audience: Boarding staff, Heads of Boarding, Deputy Heads (Pastoral)
• Platform: Zoom (online)

Course outline

This seminar will consider ways of integrating students into the boarding and academic community and discuss the values and issues of adopting a fully international approach. The course will also look at the importance of links, not only between boarding and academic staff, but also with the marketing team. Recent issues highlighted nationally, such as mental health, alternative medicines and the role of SEN, will also be considered. Delegates will be able to better understand the needs of international boarders and help schools to develop their provision and support to best effect. Delegates will leave with a set of tools to help their international boarders. This will be at least partly based on an improved understanding of what it feels like to be an international student thousands of miles from home.

Training topics will include:

• Present ‘issues’ (and their solutions) and best practice recommendations around supporting international boarders
• Considering what it actually means to be an international student in the UK, including interactive challenges to experience some of the obstacles international students face
• Culture shock, cultural differences and exploring ways to embrace a rich mixture of cultures and traditions
• Induction and integration
• Why international boarders can benefit the whole school population.

Learning outcomes:

• Increased awareness and understanding of what it means to be an international student in the UK, and the challenges they could face daily
• Best practice recommendations for induction, integration and providing ongoing support
• Increased confidence in understanding and supporting international students in boarding and addressing their specific needs.

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Speaker: Phil Hardaker

Phil has extensive experience in the education of students from overseas. He has worked solely with international students from 30-40 different countries since 1979, in both boarding and academic roles as a Housemaster and subsequently Director of Studies, Vice-Principal and Principal before retiring and becoming an educational consultant in September 2017. He was Principal of Sherborne International when ISA awarded the school Excellent in every category following a fully integrated inspection in January 2016. He has also overseen successful British Council inspections. For over 20 years Phil also had an active marketing role, dealing regularly with agents and with parents in their own countries. In addition, he has lectured for BSA, AEGIS and for ISCis South West, as well as providing in-service training workshops, seminars and full audits in a range of schools. He is co-author, with Christopher Greenfield, of the BSA publication, Truly World Class – Meeting the Needs of International Students in British Schools. He has also inspected for ISI. Phil’s sessions for the BSA have also been observed and reported on in both the Times and the Telegraph.