Standards
BSA schools are subject to a variety of different sets of Standards, depending on their geographical location. The Standards contain arrangements to safeguard and promote the welfare of children for whom accommodation is provided by boarding schools. They provide the minimum standards below which no school is expected to fall in securing outcomes for boarders. National Minimum Standards
England: National Minimum Standards for Boarding
These Standards are applicable to almost all boarding schools in England, whether inspected by Ofsted or by the Independent Schools’ Inspectorate
Download the Self Assessment NMS Toolkit here
OFFICE OF CHILDREN’S COMMISSIONER HELP AT HAND POSTER
OFFICE OF CHILDREN’S COMMISSIONER HELP AT HAND FLYER
England: National Minimum Standards for FE Colleges
These standards apply to Further Education Colleges which have boarders aged over 16. Colleges which have more than five students aged under 16 must check their status to ensure they are using the correct standards
Scotland: National Minimum Standards for Boarding
A new set of Care Standards will be introduced in Scotland from April 2018
CARE INSPECTORATE QUALITY FRAMEWORK
Wales: National Minimum Standards for Boarding
Northern Ireland: RQIA Provider Guidance for Boarding Schools
Isle of Man: National Minimum Standards for Boarding
THE STANDARDS IN THE ISLE OF MAN
International
Please contact BSA for details of arrangements outside the UK. BSA international members can apply to have their BOARDING provision assessed by BSA:
BSA ACCREDITATION OF INTERNATIONAL MEMBERS
Inspection
England
Independent Schools in England which are members of an association (HMC, GSA, IAPS, SoH or ISA) will normally be inspected by the Independent Schools’ Inspectorate, according to the following framework:
State boarding schools. and those boarding schools which are not members of an association (which does not include BSA), will generally be inspected by Ofsted, according to the Social Care Common Inspection Framework
ISI member schools are advised to use their ISI login to access the relevant documents. The Framework document can be downloaded :
Schools inspected by Ofsted should be aware that they will most likely have a separate registration number for their boarding and for the education side, even if on occasion they are inspected simultaneously. Details of the Ofsted education inspections can be found on the Ofsted website.
Boarding is inspected by Ofsted according to the Social Care Common Inspection Framework. Full details are on the SCIFF pages.
Scotland
Scottish schools have their education inspected by Education Scotland and their boarding by the Care Inspectorate who refer to it as “Schoolcare Accommodation”. Member schools in Scotland should contact BSA or SCIS for further information.
Wales
Education in Wales is inspected by Estyn, with boarding accommodation being inspected by Care Inspectorate Wales (previously CSSIW). BSA understands that the future intention is for joint inspections to take place where possible.
Estyn inspections have changed recently, and full details can be found at the Estyn website.
Care Inspectorate Wales inspects schools under the Regulation and Inspection of Social Care (Wales) Act 2016, which came into force on 1st April 2018. Full details are available on the CIW website.
