Do Educational Consultants need qualifications?
Historically, educational consultants haven’t needed qualifications to offer advice on British Boarding Schools, but the landscape is rapidly evolving and in 2024 the British Council launched the Agent Quality Framework (AQF), conceived to provide broad-based agent training so that prospective families can be confident that British Boarding School consultants have the necessary knowledge and understanding of the sector, and operate ethically in the interests of their clients. We’re delighted to announce that Gina Dickinson has recently been certified by the British Council under the AQF, having passed assessments in 8 areas covering the whole British Education System. All certified agents can be found via a searchable online database on the British Council website.
As well as completing the AQF training, certification means that Gina has committed to the National Code of Ethical Practice for UK Education Agents, ‘The Code’, which entails operating with:
* Integrity;
* Objectivity;
* Professional competence and due care;
* Transparency;
* Confidentiality;
* Professional behaviour; and
* Professionalism and purpose.
Certification also means Gina can proudly display the British Council AQF certification logo next to her name.
On gaining her certification Gina said, “The AQF and The Code embody the principles with which I have operated throughout my 25 years as an educational consultant, and I am delighted to associate myself with the British Council’s efforts to ensure that students considering a British Boarding School can be confident that certified agents have the knowledge and ethical foundations to support them in navigating the British Education System.”
When considering using an educational consultant look out for the logo and ensure you find out if they are certified, and remember it’s the person that receives certification, not the company they work for, so anyone giving educational advice about studying in the UK should be individually certified.
If you are considering a British Boarding School for your child, Gina would be only too delighted to help in any way she can. You can contact her by phone, e-mail or just fill in our contact form.
