Almost all UK independent schools require international students to have a UK-based educational guardian. A Guardian should be a responsible adult living in the UK. Parents who are planning to send their child to study in the UK have an opportunity to appoint ICON’s Educational Guardian to act as their trusted representative. This not only satisfies the UK Independent School requirements but also the UKVI guidelines and ensures that your child’s wellbeing is guaranteed
Who needs guardianship
Educational Guardian
Almost all UK independent schools require international students to have a UK-based educational guardian. A Guardian should be a responsible adult living in the UK.
Why do I need an Educational Guardian?
We have packages that suit each child’s different requirements. Contact us now for FREE consultation.
What will ICON’s educational guardian do for me and my child?
ICON offers parents a comprehensive package where we act on your behalf to look after your child from the moment the pupil is accepted onto a chosen school. We assign an educational guardian dedicated to look after your child’s wellbeing, to manage communications with the school, house master/mistress, host family, medical service, local authorities and more.
ICON’s guardian keeps you up-to-date on your child’s study and life progress, answers your questions, counsels you where appropriate, and acts based on decisions you make and on your behalf.
To the pupil, our guardian offers complete attention and care, ensuring safety environment, and be accessible 24/7 and in particularly in emergency. Sometimes the guardian is your child’s buddy, at other times an older sister, brother or mentor. We are there on important milestones in your child’s special moments such as birthdays, new year’s days, sports days and many more. In short, we act in Loco Parentis for your child.
ICON Education is committed to safeguarding your child
ICON is fully accredited by AEGIS(Gold Standard member of AEGIS)
ICON is now in its 10th year of operation and we are proud that we have been fully accredited by AEGIS (Association for the Education and Guardianship of International Students) for guidance on good practice. This means our practices and processes have been thoroughly inspected and audited by this important organisation and we can therefore guarantee that we will act in your child’s best interest at all times.
In July 2021, ICON successfully pass the re-accreditation. We are a Gold Standard member of AEGIS, the highest level of guardianship organisation recommended by AEGIS.
Apply for GuardianshipIn AEGIS re-accreditation inspection report, the lead Inspector states the following about us:
Icon Education is a well-established guardian organisation who are focussed on getting the students into the most appropriate school for them in England. Once they have been accepted by the school the company continue that care and become the educational guardians for the students and make all the appropriate arrangements including for host families.
The company is clear with all parents and students as to what they aim to do for them. Safeguarding is taken seriously by the company and as well as ensuring regular training of both the employees and host families.
Icon Education are adapting their model in order to best support the students in these difficult times.
AEGIS reinspects Guardianship Organisations every four years. We are fully committed to continuously improve our practices as recommended by AEGIS.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is it a legal requirement in the UK to have a UK education guardian if a parent is not living here
No, there is no UK law that relates to international students at UK boarding schools. However, Child Student Visa forms and ask parents to provide details of their educational guardian and most UK Boarding Schools insist upon it in order to uphold their National Minimum Standards for Boarding (NMS).
Where does ICON offer guardianship?
Our UK Guardianship Programme is a service offered to students at UK boarding schools across the UK from as far north as Scotland and as far west as Cornwall and Wales. You can look for your school on our School Search page – see the button at the top of this screen.
Can you provide a UK host family
An important part of our job is to find a host family for your child during holiday times when they have to leave school. Our host families are all very carefully chosen, regularly visited and police checked. Once we have selected a family to match your child’s needs, we will send a full colour profile of the family to you.