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Local Coordinator Close to your School
Your local coordinator visits your child, attends parents' evenings on your behalf and stays in touch throughout your guardianship programme.
British Guardianship at Ashford School
Nominated Guardian for Ashford School. Boarding school guardianship for international students.
Are you looking for a Nominated Guardian for Ashford School? UK boarding schools generally require international students under 18 to have an accredited UK guardian in place throughout their studies. British Guardianship provides a fully accredited boarding school guardianship service for Ashford School students, including a dedicated local coordinator, safe accommodation with vetted host families during half terms, exeats and holidays, attendance at parents' evenings on your behalf, and 24-hour emergency support.
Guardianship Fees
Our UK boarding school guardianship services for Ashford School start from £350 per term.
Dedicated Guardianship Manager
As soon as your application is received, a dedicated member of our guardianship team becomes your main contact, managing every aspect of your nominated guardian arrangements.
Local Vetted Host Family
We work with a network of vetted host families across the UK. For exeats and half terms, we aim to place your child with a local host family matched to your preferences, so weekends away from school feel settled and safe.
Our Services
UK Boarding School Guardianship
An accredited nominated guardian for international boarders at Ashford School, with a dedicated local coordinator, vetted host families for half terms, exeats and holidays, and 24-hour emergency support.
Learn More →Boarding School Placement
Our admissions team supports international families through the application to Ashford School, from choosing the right year of entry through to an offer and enrolment, with Child Student visa guidance and guardianship arranged alongside.
Learn More →Student Exchange Programme
Ashford School accepts students for short-term boarding. Our exchange programme and short stay guardianship let students experience British boarding before committing to a full placement.
Learn More →Ashford School Overview
Ashford School is an independent, co-educational day and boarding school in Ashford, Kent, educating pupils from 3 months to 18 years across two campuses. The nurseries and Prep School are based at Great Chart, while the Senior School, Sixth Form and boarding houses share the East Hill site close to the town centre. Founded in 1898, the school is part of United Learning, a national group of independent schools and academies.
Boarding is offered from age 11, and boarders follow the same curriculum and timetable as day pupils, progressing through Key Stage 3 and GCSEs to A Levels in the Sixth Form. With high-speed rail links to London and the major UK airports within reach, Ashford School is a practical choice for international families looking for a UK boarding school in the South East.
Boarding at Ashford School
More than 100 boarders from over 20 nationalities live on the Senior School site, making boarding a central part of school life. Families can choose full boarding, weekly boarding or flexi boarding by the night. The school also accepts students for short-term immersion stays, which suits international pupils who want to experience a British boarding school before committing to a longer placement.
Boarding Houses
Girls board in Brabourne House, a purpose-built house for up to 63 boarders from Year 7 to Year 13. Most rooms are en-suite, and the house has two common rooms, two kitchens and a garden, a short walk from the dining hall and swimming pool. Boys in Years 10 to 13 board in Alfred House, home to just over 60 students, where refurbished rooms range from en-suite single bedrooms to shared rooms, with kitchens, a games room and space for music practice. Both houses are run by Houseparents and Assistant Houseparents with a team of resident and non-resident boarding tutors.
Boarding Life
Evenings follow a structured routine, with supervised study time after dinner and staff available to help with homework, followed by activities such as swimming, badminton, gym sessions, music and art. Saturdays are built around school sports fixtures, while Sundays bring organised excursions, from trips to London and the coast to ice skating, go-karting and gliding. Houseparents plan each term's programme with input from the boarders themselves.
Academic and Pastoral Support
The Learning Enhancement department, led by the school's SENCO, provides in-class and small-group support for pupils with specific learning needs, together with exam access arrangements. A dedicated Wellbeing Team of counsellors and therapists supports pupils' emotional wellbeing, and Sixth Form students have their own centre for independent study and social time.
Facilities & Activities at Ashford School
Every accredited UK boarding school offers a range of sport, arts and academic facilities for international students, together with an extended programme of activities in the evenings and at weekends. For full details of the facilities and activities available, please visit the official Ashford School website.
Information for International Students and Parents
Ashford School welcomes international boarders from Year 7 through to the Sixth Form. The main entry points are Years 7, 8, 9 and 10 and Year 12, with most students joining in September. Places in other year groups and short-term stays are considered individually.
English Language Requirements
Ashford School sets minimum English levels for each year of entry, based on the Common European Framework of Reference (CEFR):
- Years 7 and 8 (ages 11 and 12): CEFR A2
- Year 9 (age 13): CEFR A2 to B1
- Year 10 (age 14): CEFR B1, or General or Academic IELTS 5.5 with at least 5.0 in each component
- Sixth Form (age 16): CEFR B2, or Academic IELTS 6.0 with at least 6.0 in each component
Applicants to Years 7 and 8 whose first language is not English also complete an English assessment. Additional English language tuition is available for students who need extra support, charged per term.
Child Student Visa
Students coming to the UK from overseas will usually need a Child Student visa. Ashford School can sponsor this visa through United Learning and assists families in preparing the supporting documents, while the visa application itself is submitted by parents. Our Child Student visa guide explains the requirements and process. Families holding a British National (Overseas) visa should contact the school's admissions team, which provides separate guidance for BN(O) applicants.
UK Guardian Requirement
Ashford School requires every international student to appoint a UK-based guardian who lives within 120 minutes' travelling time of the school by car, is at least 25 years old and is not in full-time education. The guardian oversees travel and holiday arrangements, looks after the student whenever they cannot be at school, and follows their academic progress and wellbeing on behalf of parents. The school directs families to AEGIS, the accrediting body for UK guardianship organisations.
British Guardianship is AEGIS accredited and a BSA Certified Guardian, and can act as the nominated UK guardian for Ashford School boarders. Our boarding school guardianship service covers regular contact with the school, travel coordination and safe accommodation with vetted host families during half terms, exeats and holidays, giving parents a single, reliable educational guardian in the UK.
Short-Term Stays and Exchange Placements
For students who want to experience British boarding before committing to a full placement, Ashford School offers short-term immersion stays in its boarding houses, with each application assessed individually. Families considering a shorter placement can explore our Student Exchange Programme and short stay guardianship.
Frequently Asked Questions
UK boarding schools generally require international students under 18 to have a UK-based guardian, and British Guardianship confirms Ashford School's specific requirements as part of your application. The guardian acts on behalf of parents in the UK, is the school's point of contact in an emergency and looks after the student whenever they cannot be at school. We provide this as an AEGIS accredited boarding school guardianship service.
Whenever your child cannot stay at Ashford School, for example during half terms, exeats or holidays when boarding houses close, they stay with one of our vetted host families. Every host family is visited in their home, provides professional and personal references and holds an Enhanced DBS check for all household members aged 16 and over. British Guardianship remains your child's educational guardian throughout every stay.
We have guardians available and ready to be assigned. The overall timeframe depends on how quickly the required paperwork is completed and communication with Ashford School is finalised. As every case is different, timelines can vary, but we aim to make the process as smooth and efficient as possible.
Boarding school guardianship is charged per term and starts from £350, with host family stays, travel arrangements and other services added as your child needs them. Full details are on our guardianship fees page.
A UK student guardian must be a responsible adult, usually aged 25 or over, who lives permanently in the UK, speaks fluent English and is close enough to the school to respond quickly in an emergency; many boarding schools set a maximum travel time. The guardian must be contactable 24 hours a day and hold an Enhanced DBS check where they or their household host the student. Ashford School may also ask for the guardian's details before the start of term and set additional requirements of its own. As an AEGIS accredited guardianship provider, British Guardianship meets these requirements on your behalf, with vetted guardians, Enhanced DBS checked host families and 24-hour emergency support.
Yes. Our boarding school admissions service supports international families through the application to Ashford School, from choosing the right year of entry through to an offer and enrolment, with Child Student visa guidance and guardianship arranged alongside.
Disclaimer: Logo, images and videos are shown courtesy of Ashford School and remain the property of their respective owners. British Guardianship is an independent AEGIS-accredited guardianship provider, and this page is not published or endorsed by Ashford School. School information is provided as a general guide and may change.
SEN Support Explained: SpLD: specific learning difficulties, such as dyslexia, dyspraxia and dyscalculia, affect particular areas of learning such as reading, spelling, coordination or working with numbers, without affecting overall ability. ASD: autism spectrum disorder affects how a student communicates, interacts with others and experiences the world around them. SEMH: social, emotional and mental health needs include anxiety, low mood and difficulty managing emotions or behaviour.
