Oxford Guardians

Boarding school pupils need somewhere to stay during exeats (weekend breaks) and short holidays, when the school is closed. Our host families welcome international students into their homes for these short stays.

That's why it matters to have host families close to schools. Being nearby means a student can settle in quickly, keep up with friends and routines, and get back to school easily when term resumes.

We carefully vet all our host families and their homes to make sure they offer a safe and suitable environment, and we try to match students and families well, even checking whether they'll be comfortable with any pets. We also arrange transport, so students travel safely to their homestay and on to holidays or visits with friends and family.

Find out more about how our homestays work: https://oxfordguardians.com/become-a-host-family/

Hosting is about more than a spare room, it's sharing everyday UK life with a student who's a long way from home. Host families come in all shapes and sizes, and no two homes look the same. If you think you could offer that, we'd love to hear from you.

Get in touch to find out more: https://oxfordguardians.com/become-a-host-family/

Meet Galina, one of our wonderful homestay hosts. Originally from Kazakhstan, Galina has a background in education, teaching and school inspection before settling in the Malvern Hills with her husband. She's hosted international students since 2022, and loves sharing traditions, history, cooking and conversation with the young people who stay with her.

It's hosts like Galina who make studying in the UK feel like home.

British independent schools have a long and distinctive history, some going back several hundred years, and with that comes a whole world of tradition, buildings and terminology that can feel unfamiliar to families who are new to the UK education system. At Oxford Guardians we support international pupils across many independent and boarding schools throughout England and Wales. We know the routines, the terminology and the cultural expectations, and we're here to help families feel confident from the very first day.

Find out more about what we do: https://oxfordguardians.com/about/

An educational guardian is a UK-based adult who represents parents living overseas: liaising with the school, organising travel, helping with pastoral issues and arranging safe accommodation during exeats and holidays. Most schools require this to be provided by an AEGIS accredited organisation, and Oxford Guardians is AEGIS Gold accredited.

Confused by school jargon? Check out our full glossary of UK boarding school terms: https://oxfordguardians.com/glossary/

Educational guardianship doesn't stop when a student turns 18.

We support international students at universities across the UK, whether they're under 18 or older, helping with everything from settling in and paperwork to day-to-day welfare, so families abroad have a trusted, familiar presence throughout their time at university.

Find out more about our university guardianship service: https://oxfordguardians.com/guardianship/university-guardianship/

One of the most common questions we hear from parents is: "What happens if something goes wrong when I'm not there?"
The answer is simple: we're there.

Oxford Guardians provides 24/7 emergency support for every student in our care. Our team is always on call - day or night - and we coordinate directly with schools, host families and medical professionals to make sure your child gets the help they need, fast.

Because peace of mind isn't just a nice-to-have. It's the whole point.

📞 Find out more about how we support students and families: oxfordguardians.com

Karen brings 32 years of teaching experience - predominantly in the independent sector, in schools including The King's School Canterbury and Headington School Oxford - plus hands-on experience as a Housemistress, Head of Boarding and Deputy Head Pastoral.

She was even a boarder herself, so she genuinely understands what young people away from home need.
Energetic, encouraging and deeply committed to helping every student reach their potential - Karen is exactly the kind of guardian we're proud to have on our team.

Read more about Karen here: https://oxfordguardians.com/teacher/karen-o/

💬 "Oxford Guardians' personalised support gives students in the UK the best chance of success."

This means a lot coming from Linh - our very first student, who arrived from Vietnam in 1997 to study at Bromsgrove School.
Nearly 30 years on, he's settled in Ho Chi Min with his family and we're still in touch. That's what educational guardianship is really about - not just getting students through their time at school, but being a genuinely positive part of their story.

One of the most important people in your child's boarding life - and one of the first they'll turn to when they need support.
The Matron is a key member of house staff who looks after pupils day to day - from minor health concerns and lost uniform to homesickness and emotional wellbeing. They're a warm, trusted constant in what can be a very busy school environment.

https://oxfordguardians.com/glossary/