Will my child need a guardian?
Parents planning to send their child to school in Britain need to know that every child under 18 receiving full-time education in the UK or Ireland for more than 12 weeks must have a legally appointed guardian, if the family's home is abroad.
The UK Border Agency provides full details of all visa entry requirements for international pupils wishing to study in Britain and how to apply, including information on guardianship arrangements and the documents that must be provided to meet the regulations. In 2011, more than 24,000 international students attended private schools in the UK.
What does a guardian do?
A guardian must:
- bear all responsibility for the child whilst studying in the UK or Ireland, and this person must be legally appointed by the parent as they must have authority to act in their place
- have the power to make decisions regarding emergency medical treatment/operations; this could be of vital importance
- represent the interests of the child in the court of England and Wales or the court of Ireland, in the Immigration Offices, police and other legal institutions, should the need arise
- provide the child with a place to live in case of illness, suspension or expulsion from school until such time as the child returns to school or to his or her family home
- register the child with a local family doctor (General Practitioner) and arrange public liability insurance cover for the child of not less than one million pounds (£1,000,000)
Guardians will also attend parents' evenings and sports days, take care of children during weekend exeats and may also be responsible for taking children to and from the airport at either end of the school terms. Guardians maintain contact with parents, keeping them up to date with events and progress.
A guardian may be an adult relative, or even a family friend. If there is no-one available who can take on the responsibility of guardianship, many parents choose to find a guardian with the assistance of a professional agency.