INTERNATIONAL STUDENTS
Lighting fires
“Teacher appreciation
makes the world of
education go around.”
A global approach
Helen Peters

“The critical factor is not
class size, but rather the
nature of the teaching as it
affects learning.”
tuition is in place. It ensures maintained establishments
CB Neblette
serve their local catchment areas under the Admissions
Code of Practice and do not prioritise fee-paying
“Give me four years to
students over local students.
However, there is a clear argument that the law
teach the children and the
currently unfairly restricts specialist maintained
language schools. At the moment, such schools cannot seed I have sown will never
admit and charge international students even when they
are under-subscribed.
be uprooted.”
They not only lose out on potential fees, but
Vladimir Lenin
their students miss out on the cultural benefits

international students bring in terms of new
attitudes, experiences and general enhancement to “In large states public
the programmes of study.
education will always be
Conclusion
mediocre, for the same
Here at Hockerill we are keen to be educating genuinely
global citizens as part of our international vision. This
reason that in large
inequality cannot be defended educationally or, at a
time of constrained school budgets, financially. kitchens the cooking is
We are not asking for special treatment, we are just
seeking to level the playing field and allow schools the
usually bad.”
same freedoms as enjoyed by the private sector and
Friedrich Nietzsche
further education colleges.
This would allow schools to educate our students as
global citizens with shared educational experiences.
To develop an appreciation of other cultures and
“The dream begins with
ethnic groups and to have the opportunity to learn
a teacher who believes in
alongside students from all parts of the world.
We need to allow schools to become not only you, who tugs and pushes
international in their curricular and experiences, but
international in their student make-up as part of
and leads you to the next
preparing young people to join our modern global
society.
plateau, sometimes poking
SecEd
you with a sharp stick
• Simon Dennis is principal of Hockerill Anglo-
European College in Hertfordshire.
called truth.”
Further information
Dan Rather
www.hockerill.herts.sch.uk
Headteacher's
PA of the Year
Awards 2009
If we believe our role is preparing our students to students applying to state schools unless they fit into a
become genuine global citizens rather than just tourists very limited group of applicants, for example, if they
then this surely is what international education means. are the dependent of an international parent living in the
An opportunity to recognise and celebrate the people
catchment area and with leave to work in the UK.
The legal restraints
Even in these limited situations, a maintained school
who are at the heart of a successful school
Unfortunately, we are sadly constrained by current UK cannot charge the student any tuition fees because under
legislation in developing our international experience sections 450 and 451 of the Education Act 1996 no fees
One of the most vital jobs performed in
further to include students from other countries located may currently be charged to any students in respect
any secondary school is that of the PA to
outside the EEA (European Economic Area) and of the admission to or tuition from any maintained
the headteacher. The PA is invariably the
Switzerland. education establishment. Fees can only be charged for
confidante of the head and a key link with the
EEA students are entitled to enter the UK freely boarding and maintenance costs.
staffroom, the governors, parents and pupils. Good PAs are
and have an automatic right of residence for up to three At Hockerill, we receive many applications from
months without needing to demonstrate that they are excellent students and their families residing in non-
an invaluable asset and few schools can operate efficiently or
effectively without them.
‘
However, there is a clear argument that the
In acknowledgement of this essential and important role,
SecEd is proud to organise for the fourth year running, in
law currently unfairly restricts specialist maintained
association with the DCSF International School Award,
which is managed by the British Council, the SecEd
Headteacher's PA of the Year Awards 2009, which will
language schools. At the moment, such schools
celebrate the achievements and success of the modern
headteacher's PA.
cannot admit and charge international students
Only personal assistants to the headteacher of a
even when they are under-subscribed
secondary school, state or independent, may be
entered. Nominations will only be accepted by the
head or deputy head. To enter, a statement
exercising a right of free movement, for example, to EEA countries who would benefit greatl
’
y from coming
of not more than 700 words must be
study or work. to the UK to study alongside other students from
written, explaining why the
Once accepted on to a course of study, the student all over the world. While it is open to us to arrange
nominated PA deserves
has a right of residence in the UK for as long as the an exchange scheme under which a young person
the award.
course lasts. (normally between 16 and 18 years of age) can spend
In this context, EEA and Swiss students can attend a up to 12 months in the educational system of another
Nominations should be
maintained educational establishment and their tuition country, the Home Office states that student exchanges
sent to Pete Henshaw by
will be free at the point of delivery and fees will should not involve tuition fees.
no later than October 1, 2009.
be recovered by the local authority under reciprocal The irony is that if these students applied to an
For information and guidance for
government arrangements. independent school 6th form college they would be
nominators is also available.
However, international students, i.e. those outside welcomed, and those institutions will be free to raise a
Email pete.h@markallengroup.com,
the EEA and Switzerland, cannot access tuition in the charge for tuition in respect of that attendance.
same way.
write to SecEd, MA Education, St. Jude's
An international student from outside these areas
A change in the law?
Church, Dulwich Road, London, SE24 0PB
requires a visa under the UK Border Agency’s new There are a number of good reasons why the current
or visit www.sec-ed.co.uk
Points Based System. Visas will not be provided for law prohibiting maintained schools from charging for
pa 2009.indd 1 23/3/09 15:49:07
SecEd • April 23 2009 9
Page 1  |  Page 2  |  Page 3  |  Page 4  |  Page 5  |  Page 6  |  Page 7  |  Page 8  |  Page 9  |  Page 10  |  Page 11  |  Page 12  |  Page 13  |  Page 14  |  Page 15  |  Page 16  |  Page 17  |  Page 18  |  Page 19  |  Page 20