Student Welfare
Your welfare, safety and protection are very important to us.
Your Welfare
We have Welfare Officers in each school to assist students with any problems or queries. We want to make sure that our students have a good experience while in the United Kingdom and to make the most of their stay at British Study Centres. Our staff can help with many different kinds of questions: with practical things, such as helping you find a doctor or dentist if you feel ill or giving advice on how to open a bank account. They can also help with more pastoral problems if, for example, one of our students is experiencing homesickness.
Your Happiness
We believe you learn more quickly if you feel happy and comfortable so our aim is to ensure all our students feel safe, secure and content. We hope that you find our schools to be friendly and supportive place of learning. We promise to give you a friendly welcome and any personal support you need to help adjust to life in a strange country.
Visual and Audial Impairment, Dyslexia etc.
If you have difficulties with sight or hearing, we may be able to provide some help for you in the classroom. It is very important to tell us before you book your course so that we can decide whether we are able to help.
If you are dyslexic it is very helpful if you can tell us in advance. In particular, if you are planning to take an examination we can make special arrangements for you but we need to know in good time.
Physical Disability
Unfortunately, our schools are currently not suitable for clients in wheelchairs or those with serious mobility impairments due to the number of stairs.
Health and Safety
Our schools keep high standards as we abide by all relevant legislation relating to Health and Safety. We have regular fire drills and conduct rigorous risk assessments to ensure that the whole building is safe, and we maintain a high standard of hygiene in catering areas. Whenever clients leave the building on official business we take care to ensure that any possible risks are considered and any necessary steps are taken to reduce the likelihood of problems.
We think that your health and your safety are very important. We have regular fire drills where we practice leaving the building in a hurry, and we think carefully about all of the possible dangers in and around the building, and when you are on social activities. We think it is important that the building is clean and hygienic.
Insurance
Before you arrive in the UK, we strongly recommend that you take out insurance for your own financial and personal security.
You can take out your own insurance or take out the International Student Policy offered by guard.me which has been specially designed for overseas students studying in the UK.
Please see this sample policy for an example of what is included and let us know at the time of booking if you would like to include this insurance.
Students under 18
The minimum age to study at our adult schools is 16. The law in the UK says that 16 and 17 year olds are children. We know that many 16 and 17 year olds are responsible and can take care of themselves so we do not supervise under 18 students at all times outside class. But, we have special rules to make sure those under 18 are safe at BSC. For example:
- Under 18's staying in homestay accommodation should eat with the host family every night (full or half board options only).
- Under 18's must return home by 22:00 each night.
- All school staff and homestay hosts have had a UK police (DBS) check.
- Parents must provide a written consent form.
In addition, and to ensure under 18's have a great time at our school, our social programme includes activities that are suitable each week.
We take our responsibilities with under 18s very seriously and all our staff have regular training on the importance of safeguarding issues. Moreover, there are named Safeguarding Officers in each school. For more information please check our full Safeguarding Policy.