INTERNATIONAL EDUCATION


Securing F


school places out of term time


Schools are rising to the challenge of supporting the last-minute moves often demanded by today’s fast-paced global business world, as Fiona Murchie reports.


inding school places for their relocatees when schools have broken up, particularly over the long summer break, can be a headache for HR teams managing international assignments


and domestic relocations. However, if the business is driving a move, HR global mobility professionals and their outsourced relocation management companies have to deal with it. Luckily, destination services providers and education consultants


are well versed in helping families with short notice to move. With the oil and gas industry in turmoil and the mining industry


cutting back, organisations in these sectors have been pulling employees out of certain locations, which obviously affects schools in these areas, and international schools in particular. This can enable parents from other sectors to find places. Certainly, this summer, with so much global economic turmoil and,


in the UK, the EU referendum, there may still be last-minute moves. But there is also a lot of project activity and movement around growth, as reported in articles throughout this issue. Of course, this can mean inbound and outbound moves to the


relocation hotspots highlighted in various global mobility reports, and to lesser-known destinations, too. As emerging markets become more mature, they are looking for inward investment opportunities, as well as attracting companies keen to get a foothold in new markets. Inevitably, this will impact on employees with families. What can be done to keep up with business drivers? Fortunately,


there are plenty of options, and schools are becoming more practised at supporting last-minute moves and flagging up late availability of places in individual year groups. International schools, in particular, have a long track record of


stepping into the breach when employers need additional places. At Re:locate, we are continually encouraging HR professionals to visit schools in their area – state, independent or international – and to understand admissions procedures. Attending open days and events for new parents is a great way of getting up to speed, so that you are ready when you have to place a family quickly. Linda Kavanagh, dean of admissions at ACS Egham International


School, has some useful advice for HR to pass on to parents. “Summer can be a difficult time to get hold of the teacher references that many schools need as part of the admissions process. Teachers are either away on annual leave or else may be in the process of moving to a new school themselves, so prioritise getting these references before your current school breaks up for the holidays.” Like many international schools, ACS International Schools in


England and Qatar practises rolling admissions, so late-arriving families can still be accommodated in some grades. Employers are encouraged to look around the schools on behalf of relocating parents. For anyone relocating from Scotland to England with children, it


is worth remembering that the summer term ends considerably earlier in Scotland, so there is a chance to finish the academic year there and enrol in a school in England for a short period before the end of term, taking advantage of some school places that may not be available in the new academic year.


School admissions and marketing teams Understanding how admissions work in a school can be your passport to success. The Secondary School Admission Test Board’s (SSATB) 2015 International School Admission Industry


64 | Re:locate | Summer 2016


Bishopstrow College


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