Fitness to board

• Date: September 19, 2025
• Time: 14:00 – 16:00
• Cost: BSA Full Member – £135, BSA Affiliate Member – £ 170, Non-member – £270
• Audience: Heads, Boarding staff, Heads of Year, Assistant Head Pastoral, Deputy Head Pastoral
• Platform: Zoom (online) Half-Day Seminar

Course outline:

Assessing and Supporting Fitness to Board: Policy and Practice Considerations

Determining whether a student is ‘fit to board’ involves careful consideration of the individual’s wellbeing, the needs of the wider boarding community, and the school’s legal responsibilities. As awareness of these complexities grows, many schools are finding value in developing a dedicated ‘fit to board’ policy.

This course supports schools in evaluating whether such a policy is appropriate for their context and guides staff through the key considerations involved in creating one.

Training topics will include:

• Understanding why a student may be deemed not ‘fit to board’
• Balancing individual needs with the safety and wellbeing of the boarding community
• Legal considerations, including continuity of education and safeguarding obligations
• Effective communication and collaboration with parents
• Key components and considerations when drafting a ‘fit to board’ policy

Learning outcomes:

By the end of the session, participants will:

• Understand a range of reasons why a student may be considered unfit to board
• Be aware of the legal framework around education provision and safeguarding in a boarding context
• Gain practical guidance for developing or refining a school policy on fitness to board
• Be better equipped to make fair, balanced decisions that support both individual students and the wider boarding community

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