Further News

As of today, April 2, 2025, visitors holding a passport from an EU or EEA country are required to obtain an Electronic Travel Authorisation (ETA) to enter the United Kingdom.

The UK ETA is similar to the ESTA, which has been required for travel to the United States for several years. It can be applied for via the official link "Apply for an electronic travel authorisation (ETA) - GOV.UK." The current fee is ten pounds, but it will increase to sixteen pounds on April 9, 2025. The application time for an ETA typically takes between three and seven days.

Exemptions from this requirement include holders of a British or Irish passport, as well as students in possession of a valid Child Student Visa or Student Visa.

Our student Philipp made history with our hockey team, securing Worksop’s first national title (Winners Notts Sport U18 Tier 3 Finals) ). The team played four games, won them all, and had two Worksop College players finish as the tournament’s top goal scorers. Our congratulations go to the entire under-18 hockey team and to Worksop College for this outstanding success!

Many schools are grappling with the challenge of establishing clear guidelines for the use of AI. Especially in preparation for final exams or international qualifications such as the IB, AI can serve as a valuable tool – but how can it be used effectively? And where should the boundaries be drawn?

Many of our partner schools in the UK have already developed clear policies on AI, which they actively communicate to students – whether in the classroom or during weekly school assemblies. The International Baccalaureate (IB) was also quick to define an official stance on the matter. While recognizing AI’s potential benefits, the IB emphasizes transparent and responsible use in line with academic integrity principles. More details can be found in the latest IB Statement on AI.

Parents often wonder how they can help their children navigate the use of AI. A highly relevant episode of the ARD AI Podcast, titled “Does AI Make Us Dumber?”, offers practical insights. One particularly thought-provoking prompt from the episode encourages students to use AI as a learning partner rather than a shortcut for homework:

"Don’t ask AI – tell AI to ask you.": You are here to challenge my thinking. No matter what we discuss, structure your responses in a way that encourages me to reflect critically. Pose meaningful questions whose answers will help me better understand my task or goal. Then review my responses with me until I am satisfied with the solution. Listen to the podcast.

At the end of 2023, we explored this topic in depth during a webinar featuring Dr. Andy Kemp, Principal of the National Mathematics & Science College. He demonstrated practical ways students can use AI to enhance their own writing – for instance, by improving the structure of literary analyses: Watch the webinar recording.

If you’re studying in the UK or preparing for GCSEs or A-levels, there are some excellent free learning platforms that can help. These platforms offer interactive resources, video tutorials, and practical exercises tailored to different age groups and learning levels. BBC Bitesize is a fantastic choice, with structured learning materials, videos, and interactive exercises covering a range of GCSE subjects, from maths and science to languages and humanities. Its summaries and practice tests are especially useful for exam prep. Cognito is another popular platform, offering free study notes, clear video explanations, and interactive tools for a variety of GCSE- and A-level subjects. Seneca Online is also a great option, providing a wide range of interactive resources across multiple subjects. Its exercises adapt to your learning style, making it easier to review and understand what you’ve been taught.

Here is a list of our suggestions: 

• GCSE- and A-Levels: Cognito, BBC Bitesize, Seneca Online
• IB Subjects: Revision Village, IB Clinic
• Study Notes and Skills: Quizlet
• Concentration: Pomodoro Technique (YouTube Tutorial), Forest App

Anyone applying for a British boarding school or looking to improve their academic performance can really benefit from these digital resources.

A growing number of British boarding schools are opening their doors to international students who want to get a taste of English boarding school life for a short period of time (less than one term). These so-called immersion courses are a great opportunity to experience regular British school life for two to eight weeks, improve your English and gain valuable experience abroad. In contrast to English language courses, students are fully integrated into boarding school life, attend normal classes and experience everyday life just like British students - from academic subjects to sports, music and clubs. The Immersion Courses are a great opportunity for families whose children cannot or do not want to be away from German school for a longer period of time, or for those who are considering a long-term stay at a British boarding school and would like to get to have a taste of British school life first.

Please contact us if you are interested. Spaces are limited, so it pays to plan early!

We are organising several events on the topic of life at British boarding schools in the first half of 2025. For example, we will

• provide detailed information on the two most common school leaving qualifications, the British A-Levels and the International Baccalaureate Diplome (IB DP),
• guide families step by step through the visa application process or
• invite all students who will be going to boarding school in the autumn to a webinar on how to best prepare for a successful start.

You can find an overview of the topics and dates here. Some of the events will be in German, some in English. They are all free of charge. Please find a list of the topics and dates here.

Jonathan Anderson, currently headmaster of Merchiston Castle School in Edinburgh, will take over as headmaster of Campbell College in September 2025. With this change, he continues the tradition of all boys' schools and underlines the special strengths and advantages of this type of school.

All boys' schools offer a special learning environment that specifically addresses the needs and strengths of boys. The teaching methods and daily structures are designed to promote their specific learning patterns, particularly in areas such as mathematics, natural sciences and technology. At the same time, boys are given the opportunity to freely pursue their interests and develop their personalities in a protected environment, without the social pressure sometimes present when having to prove themselves in front of girls. Whether academic, artistic or athletic – boys' schools create an environment in which boys can fully develop their potential. For some students, they are just the right type of school.

While Merchiston Castle is known for its great successes in tennis and golf, Campbell College in the east of the Northern Irish capital Belfast stands for excellent achievements in rugby, football, hockey and volleyball.

Jonathan Anderson has over two decades of experience at renowned schools, including Worksop College and Christ's Hospital School. Regarding his appointment, he commented: ‘I am excited to build on the outstanding work of Robert Robinson and look forward to working with the staff, students and wider Campbell community to shape the next chapter in the School's history.’

One of the best IB schools in England, St Edward's Oxford (also known as Teddies) will be in Germany from 14-16 January 2025 and is pleased to invite interested families and alumni to a presentation followed by a drinks reception. St Edward's Oxford will be represented by its Warden Mr Alastair Chirnside along with three other senior members of staff. As one of the few remaining full boarding schools with around 650 boarders, St Edward's Oxford is pleased to welcome you to these events.

The dates are:

• Tuesday, 14 January in Hamburg
• Wednesday, 15 January in Dusseldorf
• Thursday, 16 January in Munich

The event will always start at 5 pm with the presentation, followed by drinks and canapés from 6 pm to 7.30 pm. If you are interested in attending, please contact us under Tel. +49-89-3840540 so that we can give you the exact address. If you would like to know more about St Edward's Oxford, please click on Teddies at a Glance or visit stedwardsoxford.org.

We wish you and your families a wonderful Christmas season, peaceful holidays, and a fantastic start to the New Year 2025. End the year with charm, style, and a surprising twist of the hips. Keith Metcalfe, Headmaster of Malvern College, shows you how it's done here: Celebrating Christmas at Malvern College | TikTok

Education opens doors and creates more equal opportunities – a principle that has guided us for over 25 years in placing students at British boarding schools. We see every day how access to good education develops talents and changes lives. But not all children have the same opportunities. That is why we are involved in bcause, a platform that connects donors and social projects to enable sustainable support.

With bcause, we are currently supporting four initiatives that we know personally and consider to be very valuable. Their projects help children and young people to overcome barriers and discover their potential:

• 21future: Learning journeys about the UN Sustainable Development Goals for socially disadvantaged young people.
• Stiftung Startchance: Individual support for students from disadvantaged families.
• Apropolis: Democracy workshops that empower young people to actively shape our society.
• coach@school e.V.: Promoting reading skills with the ‘book suitcase’ programme.

We know from our work that education is much more than just knowledge – it also means self-confidence, prospects and social participation. Our involvement in bcause is our contribution to opening up these opportunities to more children and young people.

You can find more information here: Education for all: The Glasmacher School Advisory Service recommends these 4 organisations