UK Boarding School Guardianship
Your child needs a named UK guardian before they can start at a boarding school. We are Hayley and Marc, NHS-led AEGIS Gold guardians based in Cheltenham. We have supported international students at UK boarding schools since 2020 and we know every one of our students properly.
What is boarding school guardianship?
UK boarding schools require a named guardian for every international student under 18. Without one, your child cannot enrol. The guardian acts as the responsible adult in the UK. They are the person the school calls, the person who steps in when parents cannot be there, and the person your child knows and trusts throughout their time in the UK.
Why it matters
Your child's school will ask for a guardian before they start. Here is what that guardian actually does.
A guardian attends parents evenings and school meetings on your behalf. They arrange and oversee host family stays during exeats and holidays. They coordinate travel and airport transfers. They are the emergency contact when something goes wrong. And they are the consistent, trusted adult your child builds a relationship with throughout their time at school.
“She is so lucky to have you as her guardian. It is clear how much she trusts you and the respect she has for you is incredible.”
Is a guardian a legal requirement for UK boarding schools?
Yes. The UK Home Office requires that every international student under 18 studying at a UK boarding school has a named guardian before they can receive a CAS letter or student visa. Without a registered guardian, your child cannot enrol. Most boarding schools will not accept an application without guardianship in place, and many ask for confirmation of your guardian before they will even offer a place.
What does a boarding school guardian do?
A boarding school guardian is far more than an emergency contact. Here is what YES Guardians does for every student in our care.
School liaison
We attend parents evenings, respond to school communications and keep you informed about your child’s progress and wellbeing throughout the year.
Host family coordination
We arrange and oversee all host family stays during exeats, half terms and school holidays. Every family is vetted, DBS checked and approved through the AEGIS Gold process.
Airport and travel
We coordinate every arrival and departure, track flights and ensure your child gets safely to where they need to be whatever time of day or night.
Emergency support
We are available around the clock. If something goes wrong — a medical issue, a welfare concern, an unexpected situation at school — we respond immediately with the clinical expertise to handle it properly.
UKVI compliance
We provide all documentation your child’s school and the Home Office require, including the guardianship letter, letter of undertaking and CAS support.
Welfare visits
We visit every student in our care each term. Not a phone call. A proper visit to their school, to see them in person and make sure they are genuinely settled and happy.
Pastoral support
Homesickness, friendship problems, academic pressure. We know our students well enough to spot when something is wrong and experienced enough to help.
University preparation
For students staying in the UK for higher education we help with UCAS, personal statements and subject choices. We know the system and we know your child.
Schools we work with across the UK
We work with international students at boarding schools across the UK. Below are some of the schools where we actively support students — but this list is far from exhaustive. If your child’s school isn’t shown here, get in touch. We almost certainly cover it.
Cheltenham College
Cheltenham College is home to over 100 international students from more than 30 countries. The school has nine boarding houses, strong A-Level results, and sits right in the centre of one of England’s most celebrated towns — making it as much a part of the community as it is a campus.
Cheltenham Ladies' College
CLC welcomes students from over 40 nationalities into a community of around 820 pupils. Internationally recognised for academic excellence, the school offers both A-Levels and the IB, with boarding houses designed around creating a genuine home environment for students arriving from across the world.
Cheltenham Prep School
The prep school arm of Cheltenham College, catering for students from age 3 to 13 including boarding from age 7. For younger international students taking their first steps into UK education, having an experienced guardian close by makes a significant difference to settling in confidently.
Dean Close School
A co-educational independent school founded in 1886, Dean Close sits just west of the town centre with strong pastoral care at the heart of its boarding culture. The school has a vibrant international community and a broad co-curricular programme that helps students build friendships quickly.
Wycliffe College
Set in 52 acres of Gloucestershire countryside, Wycliffe is a co-educational boarding school with a strong international intake and a reputation for nurturing individual talent. The school offers both A-Levels and BTEC, attracting students from a wide range of academic backgrounds and interests.
Millfield School
One of the UK’s most distinctive boarding schools, Millfield was founded in 1935 with six Indian princes and has maintained an international outlook ever since. Today it is home to over 250 international students from 75 countries, across 19 boarding houses, with an Olympic-sized swimming pool, equestrian centre and 130 sports coaches — it is widely regarded as the UK’s leading sports school.
Wellington School
A respected independent school in the Somerset market town of Wellington, offering a broad curriculum and strong pastoral support for international students. The school has a genuine community feel and a co-curricular programme that helps students settle into boarding life quickly.
Wells Cathedral School
One of the most extraordinary schools in the UK — a specialist music school attached to the medieval Wells Cathedral, where exceptionally talented young musicians from around the world come to study. Students live and learn in one of England’s smallest and most beautiful cities.
Sidcot School
One of the UK’s most distinctive boarding schools, Millfield was founded in 1935 with six Indian princes and has maintained an international outlook ever since. Today it is home to over 250 international students from 75 countries, across 19 boarding houses, with an Olympic-sized swimming pool, equestrian centre and 130 sports coaches — it is widely regarded as the UK’s leading sports school.
Downe House School
One of the UK’s most respected girls’ boarding schools, set in 110 acres of Berkshire countryside. Downe House attracts international students from across the world into a close-knit community with strong academic results and a reputation for developing confident, independent young women.
Reddam House Berkshire
A modern, innovative independent school with a South African educational philosophy at its heart. Reddam House offers a broad curriculum including the South African National Senior Certificate alongside A-Levels, attracting a genuinely international student body.
LVS Ascot
A co-educational independent school with a strong international community and a notably inclusive ethos. LVS Ascot offers a broad range of academic pathways and excellent pastoral care for students from overseas.
Abingdon School
One of the oldest schools in the country, founded in 1256. Abingdon is a selective boys’ independent school with outstanding academic results and a strong tradition of producing students who go on to the UK’s leading universities.
St Clare's Oxford
A specialist IB school that has been delivering the International Baccalaureate since 1977 — one of the first schools in the world to do so. St Clare’s attracts students from across the globe specifically for its IB programme, creating one of the most genuinely international school communities in the UK.
St Edward's School
A co-educational boarding school on the outskirts of Oxford, founded in 1863. St Edward’s — known as Teddies — has a strong international community, excellent academic results and a vibrant co-curricular life, all within easy reach of one of the world’s great university cities.
Rugby School
Founded in 1567, Rugby School is one of England’s most historic boarding schools — and the birthplace of rugby football. Under the headship of Thomas Arnold in the 19th century, Rugby became the model for the modern English public school. Today it welcomes international students into a school that balances deep tradition with a genuinely forward-looking curriculum.
Tettenhall College
An independent boarding school in the leafy suburb of Tettenhall, Wolverhampton, with a warm and supportive community. Tettenhall has a strong pastoral ethos and a commitment to the individual student that makes it particularly well-suited to international students arriving in the UK for the first time.
Repton School
Founded in 1557, Repton is one of England’s oldest boarding schools, set in a picturesque Derbyshire village with a campus that includes a 12th-century priory. The school attracts international students into a community known for its warmth, strong academic results and exceptional sport.
Rossall School
Situated on the Lancashire coast between Blackpool and Fleetwood, Rossall is home to students from over 57 nationalities. The school is one of the few in the UK to offer its own astronomy centre, has specialisms in football, golf, art and dance, and offers both A-Levels and the IB Diploma.
Leicester Grammar School
A high-achieving independent school on the edge of Leicester with strong academic results and a broad co-curricular programme. Leicester Grammar is a selective school with a reputation for producing students who go on to leading universities.
Royal Russell School
Founded in 1557, Repton is one of England’s oldest boarding schools, set in a picturesque Derbyshire village with a campus that includes a 12th-century priory. The school attracts international students into a community known for its warmth, strong academic results and exceptional sport.
Frensham Heights School
A progressive, creative independent school set in 120 acres of Surrey Hills countryside. Frensham Heights has a deliberately non-traditional ethos — students are encouraged to question, create and think independently, making it a distinctive choice for international families seeking something different.
Rochester Independent College
A specialist sixth form college in the historic city of Rochester, known for its outstanding A-Level results and highly personalised approach to teaching. Rochester attracts a strong international student intake and has a reputation for transforming academic outcomes in students’ final two years of school.
Ryde School
An independent school on the Isle of Wight with beautiful coastal surroundings and a warm community feel. Getting to and from the island requires planning — and for international families, having a guardian who understands the logistics of Isle of Wight travel makes a genuine difference.
Eastbourne College
A co-educational boarding school on the East Sussex coast, founded in 1867. Eastbourne College has a strong international community, excellent results and a vibrant sporting and arts programme — all within one of the UK’s most attractive seaside towns.
Greenfields School
A Steiner Waldorf independent school in the East Sussex countryside with a unique educational philosophy focused on creativity, practical skills and holistic development. Greenfields attracts families from across the world who are looking for an education that goes beyond conventional exam preparation.
Read School
A small, traditional independent boarding school in rural North Yorkshire with a close-knit community and strong pastoral support. Read School’s size means every student is genuinely known — which is exactly what international students and their families need.
Kingsley School
An independent school on the beautiful North Devon coast, with a strong tradition of outdoor education and a warm boarding community. For international students choosing a school outside the typical south-east corridor, Kingsley offers something genuinely distinctive.
Your child's school
Don’t see your child’s school here? This list covers the schools where we currently have students — but we support international students at boarding schools across the UK. Get in touch and we’ll confirm immediately whether we cover your child’s school.
Common questions about boarding school guardianship
Everything you need to know before appointing a guardian for your child at a UK boarding school.
Do all UK boarding schools require a guardian?
Yes. Every UK boarding school requires international students under 18 to have a named guardian before they can enrol. This is not optional — it is a condition of admission and a requirement of the UK Home Office for Child Student visa compliance. Without a registered guardian your child cannot receive a CAS letter, cannot get their visa, and cannot start school.
What is the difference between a guardian and a host family?
Your guardian is legally responsible for your child and manages everything — school liaison, welfare, emergencies and documentation. Your host family provides accommodation during exeats, half terms and school holidays. At YES Guardians, Hayley and Marc act as named guardians and also coordinate host family arrangements — so both are handled by the same people who know your child personally.
What happens if my child has a medical emergency at school?
You call us. Hayley is a senior NHS paediatric nurse with 15 years of clinical experience. When something goes wrong with a student’s health — whether at school, with a host family or travelling — the response from YES Guardians is clinical, calm and immediate. We assess the situation with professional expertise, liaise with the school and medical services, and keep you informed every step of the way. This is the difference between a guardian who has been trained in child welfare and one who has not.
How do I know YES Guardians is the right choice for my child?
YES Guardians holds AEGIS Gold accreditation — the highest standard awarded to guardianship organisations in the UK. We have been awarded Best UK Guardianship three years running at the Private Education Awards. But more than accreditations, we are Hayley and Marc — a husband and wife team with professional backgrounds in NHS paediatric nursing and children’s social care. We are parents ourselves. We take a small number of students each year so that every child in our care is genuinely known to us. When you message or call, we answer.
How much does boarding school guardianship cost?
Our packages vary depending on your child’s needs — whether they require host family accommodation during exeats and holidays, airport transfers, or a more comprehensive level of pastoral support. The best way to find the right package and understand the cost is to speak with us directly or use our Package Finder. We will always be transparent about what is included and what things cost before you commit to anything.
The YES Guardians difference.
Direct access, always.
When your child has a delayed flight, loses their phone, or feels unwell at midnight — you need someone who picks up. We’re available around the clock via our dedicated on-call line, phone, WhatsApp, WeChat and email. Because having a calm, experienced person at the end of the line isn’t a luxury. It’s the whole point.
Expertise that goes beyond education.
Most guardians understand schools. We do too — in depth, across the full UK education system. But we also bring NHS paediatric nursing, children’s social care, foster care experience and formal safeguarding qualifications. The complete picture of child welfare, not just the academic side of it.
The same faces, all the time.
We get to know every student properly at registration, and then through their time with us. Their likes, dislikes, the subjects they love, what makes them homesick — so we can help before it becomes a problem. Our registration isn’t a form to fill in. It’s the start of a relationship. From there, they have the same guardians, the same host family where possible, and the same trusted point of contact for parents and schools — not just in year one, but every year.
Real words from real families.
“When we decided our daughter would attend boarding school in the UK, we were immediately nervous about how she would be cared for. They have made things so much easier for us — the genuine care they have for our daughter has helped immensely. They are proactive in their communications and put her wellbeing and safety at the top of the priority list. They’re the best.”
“Having lived with Marc and Hayley for about six months, they are some of the kindest, funniest and caring people I have ever met. It always feels very homely. No homesickness guaranteed — I couldn’t recommend YES Guardians more.”
“Thanks for taking the time. He was very positive and we can finalise. I look forward to working with you and am delighted that he will be in such good hands.”
Ready to find out more?
Talk to Hayley or Marc directly. Tell us about your child, your school, your situation — and we’ll take it from there.