Oxford Guardians

Home
United Kingdom
Northampton
Oxford Guardians

Guardianship services for international students

10/09/2026

Every adult in one of our host family households is enhanced DBS-checked, renewed every three years, and we visit every home in person before a pupil is ever placed there.

We also take two character references for the primary host, review each household annually, and make sure hosts have completed safeguarding training before they welcome a student. Safety isn't a box to tick, it's the foundation of everything we do.

Find out more about how we choose our host families: https://oxfordguardians.com/become-a-host-family/

03/09/2026

What exactly is a "boarding house"? It's the residential building where pupils live during term time, led by a house master or house mistress, often with a matron or dame supporting daily routines and wellbeing. Houses build their own traditions and rivalries, from sports tournaments to singing competitions known as house shouts, and it's these shared experiences that give pupils a real sense of belonging.

New to UK boarding school terms? Our glossary explains the language you'll hear from day one: https://oxfordguardians.com/glossary/

27/08/2026

Not all guardianship packages cover the same things, and the headline fee doesn't always tell the full story.

A complete service should include vetted host family accommodation at exeats and short holidays, airport transfers at the start and end of term, attendance at parents' meetings, 24-hour emergency contact, and regular written reports home. It's worth comparing line by line, not just on price.

Our guide breaks down exactly what to look for: https://oxfordguardians.com/questions/how-to-choose-a-uk-educational-guardian-2/

20/08/2026

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/

13/08/2026

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/

06/08/2026

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.

30/07/2026

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/

23/07/2026

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/

20/07/2026

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/

09/07/2026

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

Address

Northampton
NN73EY

Website

http://www.oxfordguardians.com/

Alerts

Be the first to know and let us send you an email when Oxford Guardians posts news and promotions. Your email address will not be used for any other purpose, and you can unsubscribe at any time.

Want your organisation to be the top-listed Government Service in Northampton?