A WORLD OF DIFFERENCE IN IMMIGRATION

At Fragomen, we understand the daunting prospect of applying for a UK Child Student visa and are here to help. Our dedicated Education Practice established 15 years ago has experts on hand every step of the way.

We provide premium support with UK Child Student visas to ensure the process is smooth and seamless.

We assist with the gathering of supporting documentation for UK Child Student visa applications to meet the UK Government requirements.

We can liaise directly with the relevant UK School (with family consent) so that your child secures the sponsorship required.

We prepare and submit the UK Child Student visa application and provide extensive representations from Fragomen to support it.

As part of our premium service, we can also liaise with the UK Government regarding UK Child Student visa applications (where necessary).

Contact: studentenquiries@fragomen.com

Boutique investment management services

A few weeks ago, I interviewed my good friend Mo Baluchi of Standard Bank/ Melville Douglas, who works on the sunny island of Jersey.

He explained that “Melville Douglas provide boutique investment management services for High Net Worth Individuals, charities, intermediaries such as trusts and corporate service providers for a wide range of clients.”

These clients are based within Africa, outside of Africa, and globally.

People make contact with Melville Douglas for a number of different reasons says Mo.

“We have a very highly experienced and qualified team who have been with the business for many years.”

He adds: “We also have very strong performance both short and long-term performance has been strong for quite a number of years.”

“We are also experts and dealing with multi-currency portfolios so not just sterling but also dollar portfolios and euro portfolios,” he concludes.

Mo works mainly building networks, enhancing existing relationships and managing relationships for the firm. He can be contacted at Mo.Baluchi@standardbank.com

Uk

A former Head of a leading boys’ school in Durban says that UK boarding schools provide “incredible connections” and are an “aspiration” for many parents in South Africa.

Elwyn van den Aardweg, explained this in a recent live virtual “chatshow” for parents in South Africa organised by Genius Premium Tuition and Mark Brooks Education.

Even though schools in South Africa follow the Southern Hemisphere academic year, Bronwyn Britz says that Genius Premium Tuition provide solutions to ensure that each student moving to the UK “is aligned with the UK curriculum”.

“We put together an individualised programme to determine the way forward and make the transition as smooth as possible,” she adds.

Lindi Smit, who leads the admissions department at LVS Ascot, says that parents from the country who join her school do so for the “educational balance – placing the same emphasis on the co-curricular as academia.”

Addressing the question of when to join she says: “We take in-year transfers all the way through. Children tend to fit in very easily. The sooner a child gets in and integrates the better”.

How do you differentiate one good school from another? Dave Watkin, Assistant Head at Culford School makes the point that “values are critical because they make a school distinctive. Many schools offer great facilities, teaching, pastoral care, and a wealth of opportunities. But values really shine through”.

Eugene du Toit, originally from South Africa who leads Wellington School in

Somerset agrees. “Independent schools in the UK place the same emphasis on character development; on personal attributes – a values-based education that sits alongside academic endeavour.”

Sometimes families from South Africa are looking for a day school.

“We have as many families living close by as those who have a son or daughter boarding with us,” says Sarah Travis from TASIS England.

The international dimension in the UK is also a draw. “We have an international society with social events which help with immersion into the new culture” says Vanessa Bowles from Mount Kelly.

Matt Turner from Rossall adds that “we have 67 nationalities” creating a “mix of friendships that can last a lifetime”.

Matt Hird from David Game College enthuses “a crucial part of what we do is preparing students for good destination universities.”

He says that college counsellors “go through a series of interviews with each student, take them to open days at universities, and help them to understand which university is the best fit for their chosen subject”.

The visa process is straightforward too. “We offer advice on which type of visa, help with visa applications – ensuring requirements are met,” reassures Dirk van Niekerk, from Breytenbachs.

Abbey College Cambridge

Abbey College Cambridge, Homerton Gardens, Cambridge, CB2 8EB

Abbey College Cambridge is a Boarding School located in the historic university city of Cambridge. It offers GCSE, A Level and International Foundation for students aged 13 to 21 years.

There is a strong focus on students’ academic achievement, personal development, and university progression. In recent years around 65% of A Level students have progressed to Russell Group universities, and around 30% joined top-5 ranked universities. Nearly half of the college’s Foundation students moved on to Russell Group institutions.

The college offers weekly university preparation sessions, and gives additional support for students applying to Oxbridge and G5 universities, and to Medicine. During term-time there are also nightly academic lectures and workshops for students to attend as part of its ‘Abbey Inspires’ Programme.

Away from academics, the college offers more than 50 weekly extra-curricular clubs, as well as regular college-led activities and trips at weekends. Most students live in college boarding in single rooms with ensuite bathrooms and fullboard meals on offer.

Badminton School

Westbury Road, Bristol BS9 3BA

Badminton is a thriving independent day and boarding school for girls aged 4-18, which has remained at the forefront of girls’ education for well over 160 years.

The size of the campus and community gives a homely and vibrant feel to the School. This, coupled with our excellent pastoral care, leaves no scope for anonymity, but rather lends itself to strong mutually supportive relationships between girls as well as between girls and staff.

Whilst the school retains a nationally outstanding academic record, its focus continues to be on nurturing the girls’ natural curiosity and fuelling their passion for learning. Therefore, we select girls on their personal strengths and all-round ability, as well as their academic potential.

It is a characteristic of Badminton girls that they are thoughtful individuals, able to evaluate information and decide for themselves.

This approach extends beyond their studies and into the day-to-day life of the School, where girls are given a wide range of opportunities to grow, develop and express themselves in an enormous range of activities.