the Bright World podcast

A guest Podcast from Charlene Shaw, Director of English at Your Favourite Teacher.

Lia Ferris chats with members of the Guardianship Care Team, discussing the last few weeks of work changes and home-stay challenges.

While the majority of our students have managed to travel home safely, some are still stranded in the UK, due to flight restrictions. This week, Lia talks with Leanne Poole and Fi Williamson, our Accommodation & Travel Managers, to find out how our host families have risen to the occasion and how our students are getting on in lockdown.

With students isolating at home and schools offering online classes. It is now more important than ever that our students know how to stay safe online. Lia talks to Jenny Rumble, Bright World Safeguarding and Operations Manager and special guest - Safeguarding expert, Fiona Lee of, Safe-Guarding.co. Content warning - Please be advised that this episode includes the mention of safeguarding topics that some listeners may find distressing

Charlotte Hamson, our Director of Sales and Marketing, is joined by Su Hayter, from one of partner agents, UKEAS Worldwide. Listen in to a fascinating insight into how agents have been affected by the Coronavirus situation and what parents are saying about it all. Do they still want their children to come to the UK? 

 Betty Dagistan, Director of International Recruitment at MPW Schools talks to Bright World's Managing Director, Lana Foster about MPW's new virtual learning environment and how students, teachers and guardians are coping with the "new normal."

British boarding schools and their overseas students continue to adapt and face the challenges of online learning. Today we are joined by Mark Jeynes from Bishopstrow and Padworth Colleges to talk about the benefits and challenges that come with learning online, especially for students in Years 11 and 13 at Padworth College who are now not sitting examinations. 

Travel restrictions have meant that some of our international students have been unable to go home while their boarding school is closed. Accommodation & Travel Manager, Fi is joined by one of our lovely host families, Jennifer and Tim Kenn who have been taking care of one such student.

Lana Foster, Managing Director and Lucy Barnwell, Director of External Relations at Rossall School talk about the Safe Schools UK initiative. Bright World is proud to support #safeschools which allow schools and AEGIS accredited guardians to quickly and clearly communicate to students, parents and their communities the safety measures that will be in place.

With UK schools remaining closed to most year groups it is now more important then ever for our students to remain motivated and engaged when they are learning online. Charlene Shaw from the award winning learning platform joins us on Bright Sounds to discuss.

Bright World's Admissions Manager, Cory Holden speaks with Zeba Clark, Deputy Head Academic at King Edwards Witley about how Coronavirus has affected UK examinations in the UK. Download our latest podcast here.

Bright World MD, Lana Foster talks to Yasemin Wigglesworth and Adam Lubbock of AEGIS about their inspection process and the importance of independence in accreditation. She finds out why AEGIS is such a powerful organisation and basically is PURE GOLD. 

Ever since the announcement of the government’s plans to impose a period of quarantine on all overseas visitors, the topic has featured heavily in conversations between schools and Guardianship Organisations. But how will the new restrictions affect overseas students at boarding schools; And how likely is it that the measures will remain in place come September? We speak to Michael Voice, the Principal of Cambridge Melchior College, the location of Bright World's Quarantine and Settling in programme to find out more.

When UK Schools closed in March amid The Coronavirus outbreak, some international students were unable to make it back to their home country. Stranded and in the absence of family members in the UK, our hosts have gone above and beyond to keep our students safe and well taken care of during the UK lockdown. Tune in to Bright World's Podcast Channel as we speak with one such host family and their student Ian.

Listen to our expert panel of Headmasters, Principals and industry experts as we discuss quarantine, social distancing, safety measures, medical facilities and much much more.

Jenny Rumble, Director of Safeguarding & Operations talks to Tina Knapman of Alan's Airport Services about some of the changes we are making to ensure our students get back to school safely.

Our panel of expert judges meet our winner and special guest narrator, Stephen Roberts from Study Travel Magazine brings his story to life.

The Legendary Loo Roll by Jaden Seributra won the hearts of the judges and came in first place. This week we are announcing second and third prize holders from our short story competition.

Safe, friendly, professional drivers have always been vital to the running of our guardianship programme bur during a pandemic where flight changes are frequent, our drivers have been invaluable. Listen to the lovely Mo from International Student Transfers on today's podcast.

The Bright World Senior Management team reflect on the key issues discussed during our Q&A webinar including; flight availability, quarantine and Coronavirus Contingency planning.

Lana chats to our Local Coordinator and Bright World Buddy for London and Surrey, Jalpa Lai about how we are going to manage our student visits and safeguarding care during the first term of the 2020/21 academic year.  

Bright World's MD Lana Foster and Director of Sales & Marketing Charlotte Hamson sign off on what has been a less than predictable Season 1 of Bright Sounds. 

To kick off Season 2 we chat to two of our fantastic Host Families and find out more about the extra steps and precautions they are taking keep students safe during the holidays.

Lia is joined by Managing Director, Lana Foster, and Regional Manager, Louis Spice, to discuss what provisions are in place for students who have to stay in the UK over the Christmas holidays.

Lia and Louis are joined by Bright World Director of Safeguarding & Operations, Jenny Rumble, and Local Coordinator, Sarah Bozier, to discuss how Bright World is supporting their students upon their (less than normal) return to school, particularly in terms of their mental health and wellbeing.

Last week, Lana, James and Jenny attended a two day DSL training programme, led by Adam Lubbock, a safeguarding practitioner and founder of Kings River Education. Adam joins us as a special guest in this weeks' episode, to talk about what was covered.*Please be advised that this episode includes the mention of safeguarding topics that some listeners may find distressing.

Lia and Louis are joined by Bright World Managing Director, Lana Foster, and Mary Doody, Director of Young Learners at Kings Education, who reveal Bright World's new Relax & Revise @ Christmas programmes, and take a detailed look at the centres and activities planned. 

This week Lia is joined by Bright World Director of Sales & Marketing, Charlotte Hamson, Director of Guardianships & Operations, Su Warren, and Guardianship Care Manager, Robbie Piper, to discuss how the first half term of the year went. 

Bright World Directors Lana Foster and Charlotte Hamson, and Director of Young Learners at Kings Education, Mary Doody, were joined by guests from boarding schools and education agencies, as well as some parents, to discuss the upcoming Relax & Revise @ Christmas programmes.

It is Anti-Bullying Week and so we are joined by Fiona Lee from Safeguarding.co to have a natter. Fiona provides bespoke Safeguarding and child protection advice, training and consultancy for Organisations who work with Children and young adults.

With the Christmas holidays rapidly approaching, Su Warren sits down with Lia and Louis to discuss what the guardianship team are doing to help students get home, and what else they have been up to this term. 

We can hardly believe that next week we will be welcoming students to our brand new Christmas programme at Padworth College. Listen in to Lana, Mary and Hermes talking about what's in store at Relax & Revise @ Christmas.

The UK Government has launched it's 'Test to Release Scheme' in a bid to cut the quarantine period for overseas arrivals in England. Director of Guardianships, Su Warren joins Charlotte to make sense of the new scheme.

This week we are joined by special guest Naomi Goldshtein, Senior Manager at Fragomen, a leading legal firm dedicated exclusively to Immigration services Worldwide. Naomi helps to answer some frequently asked questions regarding the new immigration routes for EU students which come into effect from 1st January 2021, when the UK officially leaves the EU.

We have been left "Coverwhelmed" by the announcement that UK schools will close until the end of February half term "at least". Join us today as Lia chats to Bright World's Managing Director, Lana Foster, Guardianship Care Manager, Robbie Piper and Charlotte Hamson from the Marketing and Admissions department.

With schools not set to reopen until at least mid-February, and travel restrictions making travel home unfeasible for many, where exactly are our students staying, and what ramifications does this have for us, as guardians? Lia is joined by Regional Manager, Louis Spice, and Director of Safeguarding & Operations, Jenny Rumble, who help to shed some light.

On this week's episode, Cory is joined by Casper Jones, Guardianship Care Manager and Leanne Poole & Fi Williamson, Accommodation & Travel Managers, to discuss the impact of the The third UK national lockdown and what we are doing to continue to support our students until schools can reopen.

On this week's episode, Cory is joined by returning guest, Zeba Clarke, Deputy Head Academic at King Edward's Witley. We look at the GCSE and A level assessment proposals made by Ofqual in their recent consultation.

On this week's episode, Lana chats with Amandine Smilevich, Head of Boarding and Joanna Leite, Deputy Head (Pastoral) at Sidcot School about boarding life in lockdown.

Safer Internet Day 2021 has arrived! James is joined by Charlotte to discuss this year's theme: #AnInternetWeTrust.

It is finally official! Schools will be reopening on 8th March. This means many students will be back a few weeks before Easter and will be needing something interesting to do for the holidays.  On this episode, Lia introduces Lana, Su and our special guest, Michael Voice, Principal of Cambridge Melchior College. We are discussing our special Easter residential programme Relax & Revise @ Easter running through March and April.  

Jenny chats to Bright World Host Family, Ellie about Homeschooling. Ellie and her Family have successfully adapted their routine during lockdown to provide Bright World student, Kevin the best learning from home experience possible, whilst his school is closed.

Scarborough College has played a key role in the community during the pandemic. With a Rugby Club turned Vaccination Centre, vital vaccine transport links for the elderly and not to mention an NHS clinical trial, this leading independent boarding school has embraced the local community spirit and offered some much-needed peace of mind to overseas parents. Remco Wheeler, Director of Admissions and Houseparent at Scarborough College joins us to tell all.

On today's episode, we are joined by Adam Lubbock, Director of Kings River Education and the provider of our new Safeguarding Training Platform for Host Families and Bright World Staff. Lana, Lia and Jenny discuss this exciting new development with Adam as we enter our third week since launching this amazing new dashboard.

It is back to class for our students and Bright World is armed with a new Welcome Back Guide to help them adjust. In today's episode, Lia sits down with Safeguarding Director Jenny Rumble and one of our champion Local Coordinators, Sarah Bozier, to talk about back to school nerves, excitement and the importance of keeping in touch.

Hot off the press from their win at the StudyTravel Secondary School Awards, Lia sits down with Lana and James Foster to talk about the excitement that surrounds these awards, the new Guardianship category, and why winning the ST Secondary School Award - Guardianship Organisation 2020/21 means so much to all of us here at Bright World