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Open Regulate education guardians and residential summer courses for under-18s

Created by Louise Legg
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Introduce statutory regulation of education guardians acting in loco parentis for international pupils in UK schools: mandatory registration, enhanced DBS checks and safeguarding and mental health training. Set minimum standards and inspection for residential courses for under-18s.

Schools require overseas parents to appoint an education guardian, but there are no legal requirements for the training, safeguarding qualification or criminal record check of the education guardian. Over 21,000 non-British pupils whose parents live overseas board at UK independent schools (ISC Census, 2026); in 2019 fewer than a quarter had an accredited guardian (IICSA, 2022). Residential summer courses for under-18s have no specific national minimum standards. In 2022 the Independent Inquiry into Child Sexual Abuse recommended licensing and registration of guardians, but this has not been enacted.

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