Using a Consultant

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One of the options open to prospective international boarders and their parents is to use the services of an educational consultant

With hundreds of boarding schools to choose from in the UK, finding the most suitable one for your child is challenging and daunting. You can look at websites and find out about exam results, facilities and activities, but
you need to understand the ‘personality’ of the school to know if your child will be happy and successful there. For this reason, many parents who are based overseas, and even in the UK, use an educational consultant or ‘agent’ to help them navigate the important decision-making process.

Nowadays, many families take a long-term approach to planning their child’s education and will work with a consultant over a number of years to build up a long-term partnership. Initially, the agent may help with finding short-term language programmes or summer schools in the UK, so by the time the child is ready to apply to a UK boarding school, the agent has a good understanding of the child and will know which schools will be most suitable. This is a most beneficial way of using the services of an agent.

How can an educational consultant help you?

• The consultant will help narrow down the search and match your child with suitable schools, taking into consideration the child’s academic ability and level of English, their personality and interests such as sport, music and drama.
• The agent should have a good knowledge of the UK education system, a good understanding of subject choice (for GCSEs, A-levels and IB) and will be able to advise you on how British qualifications are recognised in your home country.
• Some agents organise events in their own country, which are attended by representatives from a number of schools. This is a valuable  opportunity for families to meet the heads and staff in one place before applications and visits are made.

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The consultant will help with the application process and should have a good knowledge of the entrance and scholarship requirements of each school. Some schools will require the child to visit the school for an interview, whilst others are happy to conduct an interview via Skype. The entrance examinations will vary between schools and some consultants will be permitted to supervise the tests at their offices under exam conditions. If this is not the case, the child may be
asked to either attend the UK school to sit the tests or take them at their current school.

The consultant should present the child and his/ her application in a favourable yet accurate way. This means the application should be provided in good English and in a format which the schools find acceptable, making it easier for them to assess the child’s suitability. This will often accelerate the schools’ reaction times to an initial enquiry.

• The consultant will be able to help arrage visits to the schools and, in some cases, will accompany the family to act as an interpreter.
• If your child requires a UK visa, the consultant should have a good knowledge of the visa application process with a good track record of obtaining UK visas for their clients.
• Throughout the process, the consultant will act as the liaison between the family and the school, which is particularly important if English is not your first language. If the consultant has a good relationship with the school, they will be able to provide you with a fast, efficient service by being able to answer the many questions you are likely to have. Once your child has been offered a place at a school, the consultant will help with understanding the contracts, terms and conditions, joining information, etc.
• A knowledgeable consultant will help to prepare your child for life at a UK boarding school. Many agents run courses for students before they join boarding school, to explain what school life will be like, what the expectations of the child will be, and the different learning styles in the UK. This will help to minimise any culture shock and help your child settle better at school. Some consultants also run academic preparation courses. A consultant will also be able to help with guardianship services or refer you to a company that provides this service. (See here for information on the Association for the Education and Guardianship of
International Students.)
• Once your child has started at the school, a good agent will provide an ongoing service, so that if you have any concerns they can continue to be in contact with the school on your behalf.

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What should you look for in a consultant?

Knowledge and experience of UK boarding schools will vary between consultants, and particularly in different countries/regions. It is important to know what to look for in a good consultant so that you get the best level of service:

• Your consultant should represent a range of different types of schools, so you have a wide selection to choose from.
• Find out about the consultant’s past experience and expertise in placing students in UK boarding schools. Many agencies employ staff who have attended UK boarding schools themselves.
• Ask to see testimonials from past clients and speak to some other client families to find out about their experiences.
• Ask for evidence that the consultant has personally visited the majority of schools with which they work so that you know they have a good understanding of the school. Your consultant should be able to help with information that is not always available on the school website, such as how many international students the school takes, what is included in the fees, how many boarders share a bedroom, whether the school will take a student for just one term or one year, etc.
• Check how the consultant charges. Some agents do not charge the families whilst others do. This usually depends on the services provided and the local market. For example, a consultant may not charge for the placement fee, but will charge for translation and visa services. Consultants are normally paid a placement fee by the school. If your consultant provides an ongoing service to families for the whole time the child is at the school (which could be several years), they may charge an annual

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How to find an educational consultant

As well as using the internet to find an educational consultant, there are exhibitions in many cities where you can meet consultants, or educational fairs that are run by consultants themselves. In addition, your local British Council office should be able to provide a list of consultants in your country.

Choosing a consultant

Steps to take when choosing a local educational consultant:

• Ask friends who have used a consultant for their advice.
• Search the internet and/or local educational directories for details of educational consultants/agents.
• If possible, choose a shortlist of schools from this Guide and discuss your options with a representative of the British Council in your country.
• Ask your local British Council office if they have information about local agents who represent UK educational institutions.
• Approach your favoured consultant, and discuss how best to seek a place at one of the schools on your shortlist.
• Agree a programme for applications and consideration for admission.

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