Your Child’s Trusted Presence
in the UK.
For international families, UK boarding schools require a qualified guardian. WBS provides a caring, experienced team who know both your child and their school — the support network every international student needs.
We believe effective guardianship depends on close collaboration between three parties — the school, the family and WBS. We call this the triangulated approach, and it ensures that no concern goes unnoticed and no child falls through the gaps.
We maintain regular contact with your child’s houseparent, tutor and pastoral team. We attend parents’ evenings and school events on your behalf. If the school has concerns, we are their first point of contact.
We keep you informed about your child’s progress, wellbeing and day-to-day life at school. We provide honest, complete updates — not just the highlights — so you always know how your child is really doing.
Our guardianship team provides a consistent, caring presence in your child’s life. We are the familiar face they can rely on, whether they need practical help, emotional support or simply someone to talk to.
WBS Guardians is led by our co-founders, with safeguarding at the heart of everything we do — and an AEGIS accredited service you can rely on, day or night.
We know the schools
Unlike standalone agencies, WBS has deep relationships with boarding schools. We visit regularly and understand their culture.
We know the child
For families using our placement service, we already know your child before they start school. This continuity is invaluable.
We are a family business
WBS treats every student as an individual. Your child is never a case number.
Academic as well as pastoral
We take an active interest in academic progress, providing rounded support that helps students thrive.
Designated Safeguarding Lead
Iain Howell
Co-founder & CEO
+44 7984 925526 iain@whichbritishschool.comDeputy Designated Safeguarding Lead
Jennifer Britton
Co-founder & Director
07540 868974 jennifer@whichbritishschool.comWe are happy to explain how the service works and answer any questions you may have.
No law requires an educational guardian, but almost every UK boarding school requires one for pupils whose parents live overseas, usually for the whole time they are at the school. For the Child Student visa you also have to show suitable care arrangements, including who will look after your child during the school holidays.
A guardian is the school's local point of contact and your child's support in the UK. They look after your child at exeat weekends and half terms or arrange a host family, organise travel and airport transfers, step in if your child is unwell, attend parents' evenings and act as the emergency contact.
AEGIS (the Association for the Education and Guardianship of International Students) is an independent UK body that inspects and accredits guardianship organisations against standards for safeguarding and care. Many schools ask families to use an accredited provider; the Boarding Schools' Association also runs its own Certified Guardian scheme.
Guardianship is usually charged as an annual fee for the level of service, plus host-family nights and travel as used. For example, one large UK provider's 2026/27 packages range from about £2,000 to £6,500 a year. We quote after understanding your child's school, age and holiday plans.
Schools close for Christmas, Easter and the summer. If your child stays in the UK, we arrange an approved host family or supervised accommodation and coordinate travel. A child under 16 (under 18 if disabled) who stays 28 days or more with someone who is not a parent or close relative is privately fostered, and the local authority must be told; we manage this where it applies.