SAFEGUARDING & SUPPORT
Bullying Support for International Students
If you’re being bullied, or you’re worried about a student who might be, this page explains exactly what happens next: who you tell, what we do, and how fast.
Last reviewed: August 2026 · Reviewed at least annually
QUICK ANSWER
- Need to talk to someone right now? Childline: 0800 1111 — free, confidential, any time, for under-19s.
Our Role, and Your School's Role
Your school owns the anti-bullying policy you’re taught under. We’re your independent supporter, sitting alongside it.
Your school
Responsible for your day-to-day safety on site, and for its own anti-bullying policy, under the National Minimum Standards for Boarding Schools and Keeping Children Safe in Education.
YES Guardians
Your independent point of contact outside school. Someone to talk to who isn’t a teacher, who liaises with your school’s safeguarding team on your behalf, and who follows up.
WHAT HAPPENS NEXT
If You Report Bullying to Us
Not vague promises. Here’s exactly what we do, step by step.
- You tell us. Any way that's easiest, call, message, email, in your own language where possible.
- We listen and write it down. Every disclosure is recorded properly, not just noted mentally.
- Our Designated Safeguarding Lead reviews it and assesses how serious it is.
- We contact your school's safeguarding team and your parents or agent where that's appropriate, to work through it together.
- If there's a risk of serious harm we escalate it as a child protection matter, following statutory guidance, not just an internal complaint.
- We follow up. A report isn't the end of it, we check in afterwards to see it's actually resolved.
WHO IS ACCOUNTABLE
Named People
Every concern is reviewed by one of us directly, not passed into a queue.
Hayley Harris
Designated Safeguarding Lead
Paediatric nursing sister with 15 years’ NHS experience, Level 3 children’s safeguarding training, and mental health training.
Safeguarding Level 3
Paediatric Nursing
DSL
Mental Health Trained
Marc Harris
Deputy Safeguarding Lead
Background in children’s social care, with an FA Safeguarding Children qualification.
Children’s Social Care
FA Safeguarding Children
DDSL
Mental Health Trained
GROUNDED IN THE RIGHT FRAMEWORK
Not Just Our Opinion of Good Practice
Our approach follows the same framework UK schools are held to, not a policy we invented ourselves.
Keeping Children Safe in Education (KCSIE)
Treats serious bullying, including online bullying, as a safeguarding matter.
DfE guidance on preventing and tackling bullying
The Department for Education’s advice for schools and those supporting them
Equality Act 2010
Covers bullying linked to race, religion, disability or other protected characteristics, common for international students.
National Minimum Standards for Boarding Schools
Standard 16 covers preventing bullying; Standard 22 covers educational guardians specifically.
AEGIS Gold Standard
Requires accredited guardians to provide clear bullying guidance to students and homestays, inspected as part of accreditation.
*all correct as of August 2026
GETTING THIS RIGHT MATTERS
Being an International Student Makes This Harder
We know these things make it harder to speak up, so we design for them, not around them.
Your family is far away
Your guardian is often the nearest trusted adult, especially outside term time.
Language makes it harder to explain
You shouldn’t need perfect English to be taken seriously. Tell us in whatever way is easiest.
It's not always obvious what counts
Cultural difference and real bullying can feel confusing to tell apart. If something feels wrong, it’s worth raising.
Host families matter too
Changes in mood or behaviour during holidays and exeats can be an early sign, and host families are part of watching for that.
Online bullying doesn't stop at school
t can follow you home, across time zones. We treat this the same as bullying anywhere else.
You might worry about being "the problem"
Reporting bullying isn’t causing trouble. It’s exactly what we’re here for.
OUTSIDE SUPPORT YOU CAN CONTACT DIRECTLY
You Don't Have to Go Through Us
Childline
0800 1111
Free, confidential, for under-19s, any time day or night.
NSPCC Helpline
0808 800 5000
For parents or any adult concerned about a child.
Anti-Bullying Alliance
anti-bullyingalliance.org.uk
Guidance and resources on all forms of bullying.
The Diana Award
diana-award.org.uk
Anti-bullying ambassador programme and support.
WHAT WE ACTUALLY COMMIT TO
Specifics
We acknowledge every concern the same working day it’s raised.
Every disclosure is recorded in writing and reviewed by our Designated Safeguarding Lead, not left to memory.
We tell you what happens next, in plain language, not silence while things happen behind the scenes.
This page and our policy are reviewed at least annually, and whenever guidance changes.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
What should I do if I'm being bullied at my UK boarding school?
Tell your guardian, your school’s safeguarding lead, or a trusted adult as soon as you can, in whichever language you’re most comfortable in. You can also contact Childline free and confidentially on 0800 1111, any time, day or night.
Does YES Guardians have an anti-bullying policy?
Yes. Bullying is treated as a safeguarding matter under our Safeguarding and Child Protection Policy, in line with Keeping Children Safe in Education and AEGIS Gold Standard requirements. Any student or parent can request the full written policy.
Who is responsible for safeguarding at YES Guardians?
Hayley Harris and Marc Harris. Hayley is a paediatric nursing sister with Level 3 children’s safeguarding training; Marc’s background is in children’s social care with an FA Safeguarding Children qualification.
Is bullying support part of AEGIS Gold Standard accreditation?
Yes. AEGIS requires accredited guardianship organisations to provide clear guidance to students on dealing with bullying, and to have a proper safeguarding and complaints process in place, inspected as part of Gold Standard accreditation.
Does bullying only mean other students, or can it include staff and other adults too?
Bullying isn’t only student-to-student. It can come from staff, host families, or other adults too, and we take it just as seriously. If something doesn’t feel right about how an adult is treating you, tell us. You won’t be dismissed or made to feel like you’re causing trouble.
Where can international students get free, confidential bullying support in the UK?
Childline (0800 1111) is free and confidential for under-19s, any time. The NSPCC Helpline (0808 800 5000) is available for parents or concerned adults. The Anti-Bullying Alliance and the Diana Award also provide guidance and support.