Do It Yourself

have been more circumspect, commenting that noises coming out of the Home Office and UKBA at the highest level were indicating our message had landed. All students, and all educational sponsors, are not similar; independent schools, independent sixth form and our pupil breadth represents minimal, even zero, immigration risk.

First analysis of the consultation document indicates that UKBA understands this. The consultation states, “We propose no tightening of the Tier 4 (Child) route; this is a relatively small part of the Tier 4 composition and one which poses us least risk”. Indeed, the consultation is peppered with qualifications, carefully distinguishing independent schools from the rest (see, for example, the section on “stricter accreditation procedures for education providers in the private sector” which takes pains to differentiate independent schools from others). We are absolutely delighted to see this recognised in print our campaigning has not been for nothing.

There are subsequent areas in which ISC will push UKBA to go a step further than the status quo. Our goal is to lift all ISC schools out of the General Student visa route, with all the complications that brings, and accommodate all ISC schools and their overseas pupils within the Child Student visa. This means adapting the Child Student rules to allow them to deal with pupils who are over 18; the door is ajar, following a concession granted over the summer for extending pupils, and we will continue to push. And there are other changes which we will look for: a single visa to cover GCSE and A level study has long been sought, for example.

Teaching jobs within  schools are imperative!