Educational Guardian

Gordonstoun has more than 500 pupils, around a third of whom live overseas. Each of these has a UK-based Guardian, sometimes a family member and sometimes a formal Educational Guardian.

Educational Guardians provide a local home-from-home for our international boarders. They support students at school, attending concerts/events/matches much as a parent might, and provide occasional accommodation, for example at long weekends and half term.

This is an enjoyable way to make connections around the world, and many of our educational Guardians go on to make lifelong friendships with their students.

Educational Guardians are an important part of our pastoral care. They are fully supported and trained by the school. Gordonstoun pays its Educational Guardians an annual fee per child, and each night of accommodation is also paid at the rate of £70 when not in lessons, £50 per night when the student is in lessons.

An ‘Educational Guardian’ is not the same as a ‘Legal Guardian’ (for example, you will not be responsible for the student in the event of the parent’s death).

Educational Guardians must be at least twenty-five years of age.

Principal Responsibilities

GENERAL:

Educational Guardians share our responsibility to safeguard and promote the student’s welfare and thereby must follow applicable School Polices and instructions.

• To be in touch with the student on a regular basis and to meet him/her at least twice within a term.
• To be a point of contact with Gordonstoun if, for any reason the parent is not available.
• To help a student adapt to their new environment, appreciating that they may be homesick or experiencing a change of culture.
• To host their student(s) at long weekends and half term if requested.
• To discuss all serious decisions with the School if for any reason the parent is not available.
• To be available for consultation over medical or other emergencies and to make decisions in the unlikely event of the parents not being available to do so.
• To visit the student in the School Healthcare Centre when necessary.
• To support School discipline and ‘in extremis’ to accommodate a suspended student.
• To liaise with all authorities as required (e.g. social services, police, healthcare).
• To contact the parents and the School if there is a serious emergency while the student is staying under their care.
• To be involved, as parents would, in School Activities such as matches, plays and concerts, and to participate in Parents’ events.

ACCOMMODATION:

• Each student should have a comfortable bed with bedside table and lamp. Sheets, towels and pillowcases must be provided and changed each week.
• There should be adequate wardrobe and drawer space for each student’s clothing and possessions and there should be a lockable drawer or cupboard in the room, or the Educational Guardian should be prepared to take custody of any valuables.
• A table or desk and chair should be provided for private study.

CHILD PROTECTION RESPONSIBILITIES:

Gordonstoun aims to provide an environment where the students are safe, trusted, respected and valued, where everyone's viewpoint is taken seriously with the opportunity to develop intellectually, emotionally and physically. The students are encouraged to feel positive about themselves and develop a sense of identity and pride in Gordonstoun. An Educational Guardian works within this context, particularly with regard to child protection responsibilities and procedures.

In taking charge of a student you are undertaking certain responsibilities, and this may give you some limited and temporary powers which can be enlarged by specific delegation by the parent or School. However, the fact that you may be in a position of a parent does not give you all the rights of a parent.

Bearing in mind the responsibilities Educational Guardians have to students under their care, you should never give an absolute guarantee of confidentiality to an adult or a student. If serious concerns arise about a student’s welfare, it may be necessary for that information to be passed on to the School.

The policy of the school is to work in partnership with parents and Educational Guardians in order to promote the welfare of the students. Our aim is to build relationships of trust where they, and all those concerned with their wellbeing, are able to raise concerns about safety and welfare in the knowledge that these will be dealt with appropriately and sensitively.

The welfare of the students is everyone’s responsibility, particularly when it comes to protecting them from abuse. The School’s policy and the supporting procedures are based on the following principles:

• The welfare of children is the primary concern.
• All children – regardless of age, culture, disability, gender, language, racial origin, religious belief or sexual identity – have the right to protection from abuse.
• It is everybody’s responsibility to report any concerns of abuse or neglect.
• All incidents of alleged poor practice and abuse will be taken seriously and responded to swiftly and appropriately.
• Confidentiality is upheld and personal data is processed in accordance with the requirements of the Data Protection Act 1998.

Terms & Conditions:

Educational Guardians are advised that they are legally obliged to declare to the Inland Revenue details of payments received for providing accommodation and board to students.

Prior to being accepted as a Guardian, all members of your household over the age of eighteen are subject to checks under the Disclosure Scotland Protecting Vulnerable Groups Scheme. No person(s) may be resident in your home at the same time as the students without having undertaken this check.

Prior to being accepted as a Guardian, a full check will be carried out on potential homes to ensure our students needs will be met.

If you’re excited to learn more, please email pastoraloffice@gordonstoun.org.uk or complete an application form and return it to pastoraloffice@gordonstoun.org.uk

Application Form