Open your school community to the world
Become a host school
Thank you for your interest
Thank you very much for considering hosting an exchange student at your school through MyEducation. Without the support of British schools we would not be able to run our programs and offer an incredible opportunity to young people from around the world who dream of coming to the UK to live like a local and attend a high school. Our students are eager to learn and are extremely grateful for the chance to travel to the UK and experience our way of life.
MyEducation knows that teachers and administrative staff are busy people so we work to keep the enrolment process as simple and easy as possible. Through careful management of our programs we aim to be able to answer any questions that you have about our students, host families and management as quickly as possible.
We thank you for taking the time to read this page and learn more about our students.
Our students:
- Come from a variety of countries including Germany, Denmark, Norway, Italy, USA, Brazil and Australia.
- Arrive for an exchange of 4, 5 or 10 months. Arrivals are in August/September (a small number of students arrive for 4 months in January).
- Are aged 16-18 and will be enrolled in a local school (some students might be 15 on arrival).
- Are interviewed and screened before departure to ensure they are ready for an overseas exchange.
- Are able to speak a moderate/good level of English on arrival and will work to improve their skills.
- Are looking forward to living with a family who will welcome them and care for them.
- Are looking forward to attending school in the UK and becoming part of the school community.
What support is in place for the students?
While on exchange, our students and host families have the following support structure in place for them. An exchange can be a challenging time for a student and we want to make sure they have all the support that they need:
- Area Representative: this is a local volunteer who will be in contact with the host family and student at intervals during the exchange. They are there to support them and to help make the placement a success. Students and families are able to contact the Area Representative as they need to and can ask questions and seek guidance on how best to manage any issues.
- MyEducation office: staff in the office are available during usual work hours to answer any questions and to give guidance and support. We will happily talk through any concerns and give specific advice. When needed we will alert the Area Representative to any issues that need additional support and we will speak with the school when required.
- Documents: all students are provided with a handbook and attend an arrival orientation where the expectations of the program are explained and information is given about life in the UK.
- Emergency phone: you can access the MyEducation team 24 hours a day, 7 days a week if you have an issue that requires urgent management. If the safety and well being of the student or the host family is in question you can call the emergency number and speak with a staff member.
Enroling an exchange student is a wonderful way to bring the world into your school and your community. If you are keen to know more, please contact the team on 02380 970 924 or email info@myeducationuk.co.uk
It might help to know...
- All of our applicants and their parents are carefully screened and prepared for the exchange program. Each applicant is interviewed in person by a staff member in their home country and must complete a full application, including school references, school transcripts, medical certificate and a personal letter in order to be accepted onto the program. Our interviews are extensive and applicants are asked about their motivations, expectations and aims for the program. They also complete a section of the interview in English to allow staff to assess their ability.
- We work only with long established and trusted partner organisations in the countries where our students come from
- Prior to departure students attend a pre-departure orientation where the rules and details of the program are covered at length. A similar orientation is completed after arrival to ensure that students understand the opportunity that is ahead of them and what is expected of them by their host family, Area Representative and school.
- All students are placed with a local family and have the support of a local Area Representative as well as the support of staff in the MyEducation office. Host families are volunteers but are reimbursed a modest amount each month to cover the costs of having an additional person in their home.
- All of our host families are interviewed in person in their home in order to assess their suitability for hosting. The adult members of the home also complete DBS or PVG checks and reference checks before they are approved.
- Many of our host families have hosted for several years with MyEducation or with other organisations and greatly value the opportunity to welcome a young person into their home.
- School places for EU students are fully funded when they stay for an academic year. MyEducation will try to share as much information with you about funding but advice can also be sought through the Education Funding Agency (EFA).
- Our students are aged between 16 and 18 and hope to be enrolled in Year 12 or Fifth or Sixth Year at a school, but are aware that no guarantees can be made with regards to what subjects they may study.
- Our students continually prove that they are driven and capable and work hard while placed in a British school. They appreciate the opportunity that is being given to them and hope to show their appreciation through their commitment to their school life.
- In our global community the opportunity to learn English and live in the UK is becoming more valuable to young people. Many of our students hope to return to the UK and attend a university once they have completed their exchange program.