Trip to Asia
Tokyo was the first destination for MD Ben Hughes and his wife Louise as they set off for nine days in Asia. The highlight for Ben there was hosting a drinks party when almost 30 parents came along to meet Ben and Louise and talk about Pippa’s Guardians. The overriding feeling from our Japanese families was one of gratitude, as parents praised our host families and Area Managers for looking after their children so well.
After Tokyo, it was straight to Hong Kong to meet with parents and agents. With the current situation there, Ben says they were aware of underlying tension and the violence was certainly the topic of conversation in most meetings. Agents reported that they have seen a huge surge in interest in UK boarding school applications, and Ben is certain that Pippa’s Guardians’ services will be in demand as parents turn to the UK for their children’s education, away from the unrest in Hong Kong.
Beijing and Shanghai were the final two stops of the trip and saw Ben and Louise in meetings with more agents, schools and parents. In mainland China too, there is an increased interest in UK schools, and this looks like being an ever-growing market. The popularity of our education system, coupled with the strong relationship we have with our Asian agents, means we are anticipating a healthy number of new registrations for the forthcoming academic year.
Elaine Kitt Speaks at BSA Conference
Elaine Kitt, our Regional Manager for the South of England, was invited by the Boarding Schools’ Association to talk to their recent Tier 4 conference on Working with Guardians, Best Practice.
It was an excellent opportunity for Elaine to speak to Registrars and Headteachers as well as key pastoral staff, about the role of educational guardians and what they should expect and demand from a good guardianship company.
Out of 29000 international students in the UK, only 5700 are registered with AEGIS-accredited guardianship companies like Pippa's Guardians. The lack of regulation in the guardianship sector means that some 23,000 students are not looked after by accredited companies and might therefore be staying with host families which have not been properly vetted.
Elaine said: "International students are some of the most vulnerable young people in the UK - they are far away from their usual support network of family and friends. Along with AEGIS, we are pushing for legislation in the guardianship industry to be introduced to ensure all students have the same protection as AEGIS students.”
Elaine was also delighted to have been given the opportunity to explain the close partnership between Pippa’s Guardians and the schools it works with, giving students the best possible experience of a boarding school education in the UK.
Pippa’s Guardians New Staff
It’s been a busy start to the new academic year as Pippa’s Guardians has recently taken on three Area Managers and a new Chinese Liaison Officer. With student numbers on the rise, we want to ensure that each young person we look after is properly supported during their time at school here. Our Area Managers are invaluable in the care they provide, by visiting pupils in school – whether to iron out any difficulties or watch them play in a sports match, and by giving parents that vital feedback about their children.
Jo Bagley
Jo will be looking after students in Cheltenham and the surrounding areas. Her early career was in Investment Management, before she then moved into the field of publishing. After the arrival of her children, Jo became a school governor and has greatly enjoyed being involved in the school environment. More recently, Jo has hosted international students so she understands how to support them so they can thrive and do their best here.
I’m sure your child will thoroughly enjoy their experience in the UK and Pippa’s Guardians will ensure that they are happy, safe and secure, enabling them to make the most of their studies, extra-curricular opportunities and new friendships.
Sam Barlow
Sam is from Oxford and the students she is looking after are at schools in Oxfordshire and Buckinghamshire. Sam has two teenage children who have studied in international and UK boarding schools, so she understands what it is like for parents to help their children settle in new surroundings. Having lived in China and Singapore, Sam knows what it is like to be immersed in a new culture and whilst there can be difficulties, she also recognises the many benefits to be gained from such experiences.
I am well aware how daunting it can be to transition into a new school in another country, so my priority will be to take the time to get to know your child and focus efforts on making the process smooth and comfortable.
Cindy Valuto
Cindy is our new Area Manager for Somerset and is looking forward to getting to know our students at Wells Cathedral School. She is in the unique position of having attended the school herself, having worked there and now having her two daughters at the school so she really knows everything there is to know about the school. Cindy has also worked as a Registrar at a prep school, so has experience in many aspects of school life and is looking forward to getting the know the children and their families.
From experience, I know that the key to a successful time at school is to ensure that students feel settled, secure and most importantly happy.
Eden Yang
Eden is Pippa’s Guardians’ new Chinese Liaison Officer and is already getting to know our students and their parents. Eden gained her bachelor’s degree and master’s degree when she was at university in China, and she spent 10 years working in human resources management for large multinationals. After meeting her English husband, Eden moved to the UK and they now have a young daughter. Eden understands the challenges of moving abroad and getting used to the cultural differences between countries. She is looking forward to helping with communication and overcoming linguistic barriers between parents, schools, students and the Pippa’s Guardians team.
Pippa’s Guardians Annual Conference
Pippa’s Guardians Annual Conference has just taken place in the stunning Stanbrook Abbey near Malvern. The two-day event gave the opportunity for all Area Managers to come together with the Head Office Staff and undergo valuable training sessions and workshops on a variety of topics.
The first afternoon saw presentations from the Head Office team on Safeguarding, Operations, Travel and Finance. These informative sessions provided updates and training for the Area Managers on company policy and systems. A wonderful dinner, in the Callow Great Hall (the former chapel) was the perfect end to the first afternoon and we were delighted to be joined by Pippa, who founded Pippa’s Guardians in 1997.
“Navigating the Mental Health Minefield” was the focus of the training for the second day. To follow on from our initial training last year, we again welcomed the Olive Branch Consultancy to take us through developing further Mental Health Skills. The workshop firstly gave staff an opportunity to consider their own well-being and the importance of staying healthy. The speakers then addressed the issues facing adolescents today and how to spot the risks to their health. For our international students, who are dealing with the added problem of homesickness and cultural barriers, it is ever more important to explore strategies to guide them. Discussion amongst colleagues who have a wealth of information between them proved invaluable. Blowing mini bubbles to energise, practising mindfulness, creating a soothe box, questioning and listening techniques were all used as ways to consider mental health issues.
On the afternoon agenda were further presentations from company staff on the recent summer school, the new University Application Service and we also enjoyed a question and answer session with one of our Japanese students and a host family. There was plenty to be learnt as staff had the opportunity to find out what would help students to settle in more quickly when they first arrive, and anything that would make boarding school life easier for them especially in the early days. Our lovely host family meanwhile explained why they enjoy hosting, the impressive level of support they receive and the pleasure they have found in having young people stay with them.
Overall, the conference provided two days of useful training, informative workshops and a chance for the team to reflect on the past year and prepare for the next.
Garden Party
As a thank you to our fantastic host families, Vicky our Area Manager for the East Midlands, recently organised a delightful garden party in the village of Fotheringhay. This quintessential village was the perfect setting for our host families and students to spend a sunny afternoon relaxing and getting to know each other. Because the party was held during half term, many host families were able to bring their students along with them, together with their own children, and we soon welcomed almost 70 people. Not only could potential host families meet some of our international students, but they also the opportunity to chat with those families who already host and ask them plenty of questions. Managing Director, Ben Hughes, and his wife Louise were also at the party to give more details about hosting students and to meet some of our host families.
For those students in the midst of A ‘levels and GCSEs, the relaxing atmosphere hopefully gave a little relief from the pressure of looming exams and a chance to enjoy some fun in the fresh air with their friends.
No garden party is complete without a full traditional tea and there was an amazing selection of cakes to sample. Cupcakes, lemon cake, fruit cake, scones with clotted cream and jam were just some of the treats to enjoy, along with a glass of elderflower cordial or pimms.
Everyone enjoyed taking part in the garden games with an international spin - from croquet to boules, badminton, volleyball, chess, molki – the lawn was the perfect playground for all ages to learn new games or enjoy the old favourites.
A warm welcome to our two new Area Managers
Pippa’s Guardians is delighted to welcome two new Area Managers to the team. Sophie Lindsay and Sarah Nico have just joined the company to look after children in Wiltshire and Rutland respectively. With increasing numbers of pupils registering with us, there is a clear need for extra support in these two counties, where we are also now working with more schools. New student numbers are very healthy from September and with two new members to the team, we can ensure we continue to deliver the best possible service.
Sophie’s career started in London at Christie’s the Auctioneers and having studied French, her marketing work took her on trips throughout Europe. After the arrival of her children, she decided on a career change and retrained as a teacher, subsequently working in schools both in England and overseas. Having taught children of many different nationalities and ages, and with her own two children now at boarding school in Dorset, Sophie has gained valuable experience of life in boarding schools. She also attended boarding school herself as a child while her parents lived abroad, so is in an ideal position to help children thrive in their school environment.
Sophie says: “I am looking forward to using this all-round knowledge to guide and assist you, and to provide your child with all the pastoral and academic support they need in order to flourish and make the most of their school experience”.
Sarah’s working life started with British Rail where she was a Management Trainee, before moving to work for a Removal Company as a Survey Manager. Staying in the property industry, she later set up her own company providing a complete removal service. She enjoyed helping her customers, stopping when her twin girls arrived. She then became involved with their school as secretary of the Parents Association and as a Parent Governor. Through this work she has seen the value of a close relationship between parents/guardians and the school. More recently, Sarah has enjoyed hosting international students and she understands how important it is for a student to have a warm and welcoming family home to stay in during exeats and half terms.
Sarah says:“My regular communication will give you reassurance that your son or daughter is well looked after, happy and settled. With my full support, I will ensure your child thrives both academically and socially during their time here in the UK."
Update on Guardianship Standards
With growing numbers of international students in UK boarding schools, Guardianship is gaining visibility within the industry and at government level. The Department for Education is placing increasing emphasis on Guardianship and with the revisions to the DfE’s National Minimum Standards for Boarding, which are anticipated later in 2019, there is every reason to believe that Guardianship will be referenced. Higher guardianship standards are to be promoted, and schools will be encouraged to work closely with AEGIS-accredited guardianship companies.
It is expected that schools will have to take more responsibility for the whereabouts of their pupils during the whole of their time in the UK, not just during term times but during the holidays and weekends too. Every student in the care of Pippa’s Guardians has a comprehensive host family and travel schedule, coordinated and arranged by our Head Office team, so we are already providing a valuable level of structure and support for schools. Well in advance of every exeat, half term and school holiday, we inform parents, children and schools of the pupil’s exact travel arrangements. This plan includes host family details and how the pupil is travelling to their house, or if they are flying out of the UK, we provide timings of taxis or buses to the airport. The same arrangements are confirmed ready for their return to the UK after the holidays. In short, we already have procedures in place to account for pupils’ whereabouts, and we’re looking forward to working even more closely with boarding schools to ensure they meet minimum standards.
Any additional legislation within a largely unregulated industry can only be good news for everyone involved, and here at Pippa’s Guardians we welcome any changes which will prioritise pupil welfare.
Regional Managers Visit Hong Kong
Pippa’s Guardians Regional Managers, Ceri and Elaine have just returned from a productive and successful (if exhausting) trip to Hong Kong. The purpose of the visit was to attend an event organised by Britannia Studylink, and to meet with parents, families and agents, in order to introduce Pippa’s Guardians and explain the services offered. First on the agenda, was the Britannia Studylink conference, where British schools were hosted, as well as guardianship companies, English courses and summer schools. During the day, Ceri and Elaine were certainly popular and spoke to over 50 families. That evening and the next day was spent meeting more families, both those whose children are currently looked after by Pippa’s Guardians, and many parents who are considering guardianship in the future. For Ceri and Elaine, this part of the trip was particularly rewarding as they had the opportunity to meet with some parents and reassure them that Pippa’s Guardians looks after all children as if they were our own. Their final day was packed with further appointments with agents all over Hong Kong.
Though they were incredibly busy with meetings, Ceri and Elaine managed to enjoy a couple of hours’ free time, visiting The Peak, and taking the Star ferry to look at the skyline from the water. It gave them an insight into the city, and they would love to have seen more. They were also shown amazing hospitality by families who met them at the airport, treated them to wonderful meals out, collected them to go out sightseeing, gave them a celebration cake and dropped them back at the airport. Ceri and Elaine were overwhelmed by their kindness and generosity.
Elaine sums up the trip: "It was a whirl-wind tour but very worthwhile. I feel I have a better understanding of what new parents need to know when they are considering guardianship, how our agents operate, and also further insight in to what it is like for our students, some of whom do that gruelling journey 12 times a year!”
The trip was undoubtedly a success as seen in the number of new registrations and enquiries for the coming academic year.
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Oxbridge Success
Caja Gobel is celebrating the offer of a place at Cambridge University. Currently studying for the IB at Bryanston School in Dorset, Caja is delighted that she will be off to Murray Edwards College to study Linguistics later this year. She is studying German, French and Spanish already and clearly has a talent for foreign languages, however she is now keen to look at where languages come from, how they work and how they have evolved. Although Caja initially knew very little about Linguistics, she talked to a friend who is studying it, and then decided to read more on the subject and realised that it was something she wanted to explore further at degree level.
After a tough selection process, Caja finally received the good news from Cambridge in January: "The day I got my offer I actually felt really awful because everyone else applying to Cambridge from my school had already heard by lunchtime if they got in or not, while I only got my email in the late afternoon. I was super happy when I heard from them and I got really excited and we had a little celebration in my boarding house the following night”.
Caja has a demanding few months ahead of her now in order to get the grades she needs. Good luck from us all at Pippa’s Guardians, and huge congratulations on your offer!
Christmas Party
The Cotford Hotel in Malvern was the venue for the Pippa’s Guardians Christmas Party, which took place in December. Ben Hughes, MD, kindly invited the whole staff to this wonderful hotel, where they enjoyed a fun and festive evening. The evening began with photos in front of the Christmas tree in the Piano Lounge, with three generations of the Hughes family: Ben’s mother Pippa, who is the founder of Pippa’s Guardians, Ben and his wife Louise, and their two young children.
The party was then over for the youngest guests, as more photos were taken of the entire staff, and they then progressed through to the award-winning L’amuse-Bouche Restaurant to be served a delicious three-course dinner. After that, Ben gave his thanks to the staff and expressed his pride at how the business is flourishing. There were awards to long-serving employees from Ben and then Ceri and Elaine, the Regional Managers took the opportunity to thank their Area Managers and show their appreciation to the office team. Some amusing awards were also presented to other well-deserving staff members who had been nominated by their colleagues. The party spirit continued with a Secret Santa, a festive and fun idea from Ceri and Elaine to round off the evening and share presents with colleagues. The whole evening was a resounding success and special thanks go to Imogen Trevethan for organising the festivities with such enthusiasm and attention to detail. As she gave reminders of the order of events and a countdown to the evening, her enthusiasm was contagious, and everyone enjoyed being caught up in the excitement. The evening also gave the team a great opportunity to come together and enjoy the relaxing environment away from phones and emails! Many thanks to Ben for his generosity in hosting a fantastic evening.
