AEGIS and BSA Accredited
Guardianship

To ensure your child is safe and receiving the highest quality support, most boarding schools recommend you appoint a guardian which is accredited by AEGIS or BSA. We have both!

aegis-bsa-accredited-guardianship-students

Promoting the safety, welfare and education of international students aged 18 or under

The Association for the Education and Guardianship of International Students (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.

The importance of accreditation

An AEGIS accredited guardianship organisation will offer you peace of mind that safeguarding procedures and standards are being met.

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

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

Boarding Schools' Association accreditation in the UK

We’re very proud to receive double accreditation from the Boarding Schools' Association (BSA) for both our educational consulting and guardianship services. We also have the honour of being the first specialist with both accreditations!

The 600+ 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.

It provides assurance to BSA boarding schools that they are working with educational guardians who have the highest standards in the safeguarding of children, safer recruitment and training of staﬀ and host families, and careful liaison with parents and schools.
The scheme is a clear demonstration to BSA boarding schools of the quality and intention of the educational guardians who reach certiﬁed status.

The BSA's Certified Agent Scheme is a kitemark of professional quality for education consultants and agents.

It provides unrivalled assurance to BSA boarding schools that they are dealing with the top-class consultants and agents who have the highest standards in recruitment and student placement.
This scheme is deliberately rigorous and is a clear demonstration to BSA boarding schools of the quality and intention of the agents and consultants who reach certified status.

High quality guardians in the UK

Our triple accreditation 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.

Academic Families' AEGIS and BSA accreditation provides proof that:

Academic Families strives to be a market leader in all aspects of our business and demonstrates best practice, providing a child centred-focus at all times.
Academic Families has clear processes and policies in place that fully meet the standards and requirements of current safeguarding and child protection legislation.
Safeguarding and safety recruitment checks have been performed on members of Academic Families staff, volunteers and host families.
AEGIS and BSA have visited the Academic Families office and many of our partner schools and homestay families where they conducted interviews with the staff, students and hosts.
AEGIS and BSA have received direct, positive feedback from schools, parents and students who have been under the service and care of Academic Families.

Academic Families has experience working with international student recruitment agents and parents of many different nationalities and languages including Chinese and Russian. 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.

Why do you need a guardian?

Reduce risk

We provide peace of mind and manage any travel-related risks (e.g. airport transfers). Plus, our taxi drivers and host families are all security checked.

Don't take chances

We ensure each students’ wellbeing from the moment they touch down in the UK to the moment they return home.

Always here for you

From the plane door to the boarding school door and everywhere in between – we’re here when you can’t be.

Not just for kids

If your child enters university in the UK before he or she turns 18, you'll need a guardian too.

Types of guardianship we provide

What other quality marks does Academic Families have?

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 our British Council qualifications means that we are certified to support parents to educate their children in the UK.

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.

Moreover, many of our team are trained by Mental Health First Aiders (MHFA) so we are qualified to support our students with any wellbeing and mental health concerns.

How does Academic Families help?

Before you arrive

Video calls
Parent & child handbooks

When you arrive

Meet & greet
Welcome pack
Shopping support

In an emergency

24/7 support
Whatever is required!

Hosting

Matching a host
Arranging homestays

Airport assistance

Unaccompanied minor service
UK Transfers

At school

Termly visits
Pastoral & academic support
Attending meetings

Extra support

Communication in your language. Support from birthdays to banking

Fully accredited

by The Association for the Education & Guardianship of International Students

Request a brochure for full details on our Guardianship Services

Why should you choose Academic Families?

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