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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 Finborough School
Nominated Guardian for Finborough School. Boarding school guardianship for international students.
Are you looking for a Nominated Guardian for Finborough 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 Finborough 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 Finborough 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 Finborough 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 Finborough 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
Finborough 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 →Finborough School Overview
Finborough School is an independent, co-educational day and boarding school at Great Finborough, near Stowmarket in Suffolk, for children from 6 months to 18 years. Its Nursery, Pre-Prep, Prep School, Senior School and Sixth Form share a 40-acre site in the Suffolk countryside, centred on Finborough Hall, a Grade II listed country house built in 1795. The school was founded in 1978 and moved to Great Finborough in 1980.
Pupils work towards GCSEs in the Senior School before moving into a small Sixth Form. Stowmarket station is a few minutes away, with direct trains to London Liverpool Street and Stratford.
Boarding at Finborough School
Boarding is available from Year 3 through to the Sixth Form, for ages 7 to 18. Around 100 pupils board, choosing full, weekly or flexi boarding, and the community mixes international students with boarders from across the UK. International students in Years 3 to 12 can also join the Short Stays and Immersion Programme for between four weeks and three terms.
Boarding Houses and Accommodation
Boarders live in the Boarding House, which has separate areas for boys and girls and shared common rooms where they mix. Most pupils sleep in dormitories with en-suite facilities, and refurbishment has added twin and single rooms for Sixth Form girls. A Director of Boarding leads a team of around ten staff who also work across the school, and a full-time school nurse runs a weekly evening clinic for boarders.
Boarding Life
Senior boarders join an after-school study session, and each evening they have use of the Learning Hub, where a member of staff helps with academic work, while younger boarders receive reading and homework support in the house. Weeknight activities range from baking to Friday house nights with films and quizzes, and the sports hall and gym are open every evening. Weekend outings are planned by age group and have included go-karting, paddle boarding, bowling and escape rooms.
Academic and Pastoral Support
Classes throughout the school are small, and Sixth Form students have one-to-one support from a pastoral tutor, with guidance on university and career options. Special educational needs are overseen by the school's SENDCo, who is also the Deputy Head responsible for pastoral care.
Every international boarder at Finborough School must have a UK guardian. British Guardianship provides AEGIS accredited boarding school guardianship for international students at UK boarding schools.
Facilities & Activities at Finborough 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 Finborough School website.
Information for International Students and Parents
Finborough School accepts international boarders from Year 3 through to the Sixth Form, with English levels published for entry from Year 5 to Year 12. Most students join in September, and international pupils can also come for a short stay of a few weeks to three terms. British Guardianship supports international families through every stage of the application with our boarding school admissions service.
English Language Requirements
Finborough uses the Common European Framework of Reference (CEFR) as a guide to the English level expected at each point of entry:
- Years 5 to 8 (ages 9 to 12): CEFR B1
- Year 9 (age 13): CEFR B2
- Years 10 to 12 (ages 14 to 16): CEFR C1
Each applicant is assessed individually, and the school notes that students may need EAL support, particularly in their first months.
Child Student Visa
Students joining from overseas for a full course will usually need a Child Student visa. Finborough School is a licensed Child Student sponsor on the UKVI register and issues the Confirmation of Acceptance for Studies once a place has been accepted. The visa application itself is submitted by parents. Our Child Student visa guide explains the process, and families holding a British National (Overseas) visa can contact us for guidance on the BN(O) route.
UK Guardian Requirement
Finborough requires parents who do not live in the UK to appoint a UK-based guardian, who must be a responsible adult over the age of 25.
British Guardianship is AEGIS accredited and a BSA Certified Guardian, and can act as the nominated UK guardian for Finborough School boarders. Our boarding school guardianship service covers contact with the school, travel coordination and safe accommodation with vetted host families during half terms, exeats and holidays.
Short-Term Stays and Exchange Placements
The Short Stays and Immersion Programme is open to international students in Years 3 to 12 for between four weeks and three terms, subject to boarding places. Students live in the boarding community, attend lessons with British and international classmates, with dedicated English support, and join sport, music and weekend trips. Stays of under six months can usually be made on a Standard Visitor visa. Families considering a shorter placement can explore our Student Exchange Programme and short stay guardianship.
To discuss UK guardianship for Finborough School, book a free online consultation or apply for a nominated guardian.
Frequently Asked Questions
UK boarding schools generally require international students under 18 to have a UK-based guardian, and British Guardianship confirms Finborough 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 Finborough 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 Finborough 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. Finborough 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 Finborough 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 Finborough 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 Finborough School. School information is provided as a general guide and may change.
