What is a Guardian and why do I need one?

It is a requirement of all boarding schools in the UK for international students to have a Guardian.  They must be resident in the UK and aged 25 or over, who can be responsible for your son or daughter while they are studying here, if parents are not able to be here themselves. 

An educational Guardian is here to look after your child’s welfare and be their advocate and mentor at all times. In the school holidays a guardian will make arrangements for your child when they are not in school, as well as providing emergency support.

An educational guardian will make travel arrangements that are safe and appropriate for your child to get to and from school, which is especially important if a student is travelling alone or as an unaccompanied minor. They will make sure they have everything they need in school, including uniform, mobile phones, bank accounts and take care of practical matters. 

Your educational guardian is here to help nurture and support your child and to be responsive to their needs. Sometimes even the smallest things can mean such a lot – delivering a birthday cake or attending a rugby match or recital and taking photos for you as a parent. Ultimately, a guardian should be someone you trust completely who puts the welfare of your child first.