To ensure you receive the highest quality support for admissions and guardianship, most boarding schools recommend you appoint a company which is accredited by AEGIS or BSA. We have both!
When choosing a partner to support your child's education in the UK, accreditations provide an important measure of quality, safety, and professionalism. They demonstrate that an organisation has been independently assessed against recognised standards and is committed to delivering the highest levels of service, care, and compliance.
For international students under the age of 18, some forms of accreditation are particularly important because UK boarding schools and visa requirements often require students to have appropriate guardianship arrangements in place while studying away from home.
Academic Families holds a range of respected accreditations and quality standards, giving parents, students, schools, and agents confidence that they are working with a trusted organisation dedicated to student welfare, educational success, and best practice.
There are several different types of accreditations and quality standards within international education.
Academic Families supports families through multiple accredited admissions services including the British Council.
We are also an English UK partner agency, which means that we are recognised for our quality service placing young learners on English language courses in the UK.
The Certified Agent Scheme run by the Boarding Schools' Association (BSA) is a kitemark of professional quality for education consultants and agents.
Our multiple accreditations ensures that we maintain the highest standards of care, safety and supervision in respect of the pastoral, social, cultural and educational welfare and wellbeing of international students while studying in the UK.
An accredited guardianship organisation will offer you peace of mind that safeguarding procedures and standards are being met.
Academic Families' AEGIS and BSA accreditation provides proof that:
Academic Families has experience working with international student recruitment agents and parents of many different nationalities and languages. Our comprehensive support ensures that each family or partner we work with is well informed and receives a fast and efficient response to any questions at all times.
AEGIS rigorously inspects and accredits guardianship organisations throughout Great Britain.
AEGIS was founded in 1994 by a group of established guardianship organisations and UK boarding schools to promote universally high standards of guardianship for international students studying in the UK.
In order to remain in good standing with AEGIS, each accredited guardianship organisation must be re-inspected every four years.
Academic Families is fully AEGIS accredited to their highest Gold standard.
AEGIS Gold accreditation is the highest standard for UK guardianship organisations. We are proud that, since 2016, we have been independently inspected and all our business practices have been scrutinised, so you know your child will be safe and well supported.
"Those guardianship organisations who choose to invest in and go through the rigorous AEGIS inspection process demonstrate their commitment to the highest standards in safeguarding and guardianship of international students. AEGIS Gold Standard accreditation is the highest level of accreditation in the UK for guardianship organisations."
- Yasmin Wigglesworth, CEO, AEGIS
The BSA is the largest association of boarding schools in the world.
We’re very proud to receive double accreditation from the BSA for both our educational consulting and guardianship services. We also have the honour of being the first specialist with both accreditations!
Boarding school members of BSA recognise our commitment to the highest standards in student placement, safety and wellbeing. As a parent, you can be sure of the best professional service from your initial interest in UK education until your child’s last day – our personal support ensures your child is safe, happy and successful.
The BSA and their member schools aim to work with the best educational service providers via their training and certification programmes.
Their Certified Guardian Scheme is an assurance of professional quality for guardianship.
Academic Families Ltd is a highly professional guardianship organisation. Their very knowledgeable and experienced staff share the strong vision to always put each child first and to provide a service they ‘would want for their own family’. Academic Families takes its safeguarding and child protection responsibilities very seriously and has forged strong working relationships with the schools it works with.
- Sarah Williamson, AEGIS Lead Inspector
Academic Families opened our doors back in 2012 and achieved our AEGIS accreditation in 2016 and BSA accreditation in 2020 at the scheme launch. We are BSA agents and guardians so are recognised as a quality partner through all aspects of a child's schooling.
In addition, our staff has excellent first-hand knowledge of the UK education system and we are certified to support parents to educate their children in the UK.
Moreover, many of our team have first aid training and are trained by Mental Health First Aiders (MHFA) so we are qualified to support our students with any wellbeing and mental health concerns.
Schedule a call to discuss your child's needs and learn how we can help you year-round.
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