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“Great oaks from little acorns grow.”
14th century proverb

  • Covid-19: British boarding schools’ response – update | Dickinson School Consulting
  • Covid-19: British boarding schools’ response – update | Dickinson School Consulting
  • Covid-19: British boarding schools’ response – update | Dickinson School Consulting

Covid-19: British boarding schools’ response – update

The ongoing pandemic is making this a difficult time for all of us. From governments to individuals, we are all trying to find a balance between safety and relative normality, especially for our children. Fortunately, the British government recognises the importance of in-school education, so our schools remain open and we are impressed by how well they are adapting their provision and policies to accommodate the needs of families from all over the world.

One of our British boarding schools recently sent us a list of arrangements it has put in place, and we are sharing it here to illustrate the kind of support and flexibility schools are offering, in the hope it will provide some reassurance.

  • If a family were to withdraw their application for September 2021, they would receive a 100% refund of their deposit.
  • Any international pupil who would need to complete quarantine on their return to their home country may depart from 1 December 2020.
  • Quarantine will be provided from early January 2021 for any pupils requiring it, continuing into the start of term.
  • School will remain open during exeat/long weekends so children can stay on campus (no additional cost in term time).
  • A special programme will run during February half term to allow students to remain at school (there is an additional cost for this).
  • Increased airport transfer routes to maximise flight options.

While this list is specific to Sedbergh, many other schools have similar arrangements in place, including the tweaking of term dates to assist with more flexible travel; keeping boarding houses open during half-term holidays where feasible, and the provision of Christmas camps and activity programmes for overseas pupils not able to return home for Christmas this year, to name but a few. Please do contact us to find out more.

Like a number of other schools, Sedbergh has also invested in its medical provision to add Nightingale, a new boarding facility for pupils with Covid symptoms (as shown in the photos).

For any child planning to start at a school that is not able to provide quarantine, AEGIS (the Association for the Education and Guardianship of International Students) has added a page to its website with a link to the latest information on our travel corridors, as well as links to guardianship organisations able to help with quarantine for pupils entering the UK from countries not on the travel corridor list.

We hope this information will reassure you that a British boarding school education is an attractive and achievable option, no matter what else is going on, and we look forward to helping you find the right school for your child.

Photos by kind permission of Sedbergh School