Guardianship Arrangements for International Students

Merchiston has excellent arrangements for looking after International Students during term times. However, during holidays and half-terms (and some weekends during term time) the School will close and pupils will go home or stay with a guardian during these times, which are as follows:

Late September 2 days Weekend Leave for Pringle House (Junior School 8-12 years)

Mid-October 1 days Half-term for all pupils

Mid November 4 days Weekend leave for all pupils

Mid-December 3-4 weeks Christmas Holiday (Lent Term starts 2 nd week January)

Late January 2 days Weekend Leave for Pringle House (Junior School 8-12 years)

Mid-February 9 days Half-term for all pupils

Late March 3 weeks Easter Holiday (Summer Term starts late April)

Early May 5 days Half-Term for all pupils

Early July 8 weeks Summer Holiday for all pupils

At these times, it is important that someone outside school can look after your son. This person is known as a Guardian. It is a school rule that every boy whose parents live outside the UK must have a nominated Guardian who can be contacted in an emergency. The Guardian must live in the UK and be at least 25 years of age. This applies to all pupils (including those over 18 years of age). The term ‘Guardian’ does not mean a legally appointed person. Instead, the school Guardian acts on behalf of the parents in some instances, and some of their responsibilities are shown below.

If you know of someone responsible who will agree to become your son’s Guardian, then you can ask him or her to look after your son. We will send them information about the school and the role of Guardian.

If you do not know anyone you would ask to become a Guardian, the School will put you in touch with a highly regarded local Guardianship agency, or the School may be able to offer its own Guardianship scheme (usually for younger pupils), where the Guardian family is selected from within our current parent group. A list of recommended Guardianship Agencies can be found below. Please contact any of them for further details.

There is an extra charge for the agency Guardianship and for the school Guardianship, though arrangements vary between agencies.

Guardian Responsibilities

• A Guardian should be able to be contacted by the boy’s parents when the parents consider it necessary

• When necessary, Guardians will provide transport between airport/station and school (or the guardian’s home) at half term, on weekend leaves, and during holidays, and will help the school and/or parents make travel arrangements.

• When necessary, Guardians will provide board and lodgings during half-term, official weekend leaves and – if travel arrangements require it for a day or so at the start or the end of a term. Guardians will provide transport at these times if necessary.

• If requested, Guardians will help with the purchase of school uniform or equipment.

• In case of emergency, and when parents are not available, Guardians will make necessary decisions (with advice and support from the School where appropriate). Afterwards, where appropriate, guardians will continue to try to contact parents and/or School. (eg an ‘emergency’ may take the form of giving consent for admission to hospital and/or an operation. Once a pupil is 16 years old, this consent is not required).

• Guardians will liaise with a pupil’s Housemaster with any problem related to boarding.

• In the unlikely event of a pupil being ill and needing to travel outside the School, or a pupil being suspended from school, Guardians will take care of the boy at home.

• Other arrangements may be made by agreement between parents and Guardians (eg representing parents at School functions such as plays, parents’ meeting, or offering other weekend leaves in the course of the term).

Full details of guardian arrangements must be provided before your son arrives at Merchiston. If you have any queries about Guardianship the Director of Admissions will be pleased to advise you.

Director of Admissions: Mrs Anne Rickard

Telephone: +44 (0)131 312 2201

Email: Admissions@merchiston.co.uk

Guardian Agencies used by parents at Merchiston

Balliliesk International Ltd:

Anthea Graham: +44 (0)7763 118621, anthea.graham@balliliesk.co.uk;

Eleanor Farquhar: +44 (0)7786 935997, eleanor.farquhar@balliliesk.co.uk

Dunellan House, Strathtay PH9 0PJ, Scotland, UK

Scottish Overseas Guardianship Association (SOGA)

Mrs Pam Keracher

52 Glasgow Road, Perth , PH2 0PB , Scotland , UK

Tel: +44 (0)1738 562 036

Mobile : +44 (0)7762 791805
Email: pamkerachersoga@hotmail.co.uk

White House Guardianships

34 Talbot Road, Bournemouth, Dorset BH9 2JF, England, UK

Tel: +44 (0) 1 202 521 100

Fax : +44 (0) 1 202 776 509

Email: info@whg.eu.com

Website: www.whg.eu.com

White House Guardianships, although based in Bournemouth, England, have a representative in Edinburgh who deals directly with the School and with host families.

Gabittas Educational Consultants

Carrington House, 126-130 Regent Street, London W1B 5EE

Tel: +44 (0)20 7734 0161

Fax: +44 (0)20 7437 1764

Email: karen_sands@gabbitas.co.uk

Website: www.gabbitas.co.uk

Guardian Agencies make a charge for their services. In addition there are charges payable to the host family who look after children during half-terms and exeat weekends. The charges vary from one agency to another, but on average the first year of guardianship may cost between £800 and £1200, including Registration Fees. Charges for later years will, on average, be less. Some agencies offer lower costs to students staying for shorter periods, eg 1 year or 2 terms or from certain countries or areas of the world (eg Hong Kong, Germany).

In addition to the agencies shown above, the following bodies may be able to assist with further information about guardianships.

AEGIS (Association for the Education and Guardianship of International Students)

is an association of Guardianship Services set up and supported by Gabbitas Educational Consultants. AEGIS can be contacted via the Gabbitas website.

TAGS - The Association of Guardianship Services

Tags is a body set up by a group of Guardianship Agencies. Its Chairman is Mr Duncan Hume of White House Guardianships. Contact details as shown above for White House Guardianships.