When your child joins this programme, White House Guardianships
and KS Education Consultant will assist you from application
to schools and finding the right homestay family for
your child to meeting your child at the airport and
taking him/her to their host family, to starting his/her
first day in the new school.
| 1. |
What type and kind of schools will
my child be attending? |
| |
A British State School with the Curriculum set
by the Government.
|
| 2. |
If he is not happy with the school can he change
school? |
| |
Before we decided this option, we will try to find
out the underlying problems that are causing your
child’s unhappiness. If all options are exhausted
but to change school, we will of course try to find
another school for your child. But this may not
happen immediately as it will depend on whether
your child is studying the two- years GCSE or AS/
A Level courses, in which case could be very disruptive
to his/ her studies, and in some cases make it impossible
to change school.
However, we have never changed a school for a student
because they are generally very happy with their
schools and host families, so hopefully this will
not arise.
|
| 3. |
Who will sort out the school uniform for my child?
|
| |
They can buy it at school; there is only a minimal
amount to buy at state schools.
|
| 4. |
Will the host-parents teach and help my child
with his homework? |
| |
Yes, they treat them as their own child.
|
| 5. |
Will the host-family clean the room and do the
washing for my child? |
| |
Yes, but the student is expected to make their
own bed, change the bedding as required and keep
the room tidy. A reasonable amount of washing
is done by the family.
|
| 6. |
What is the difference between staying with host-family
and boarding schools? |
| |
Basically they live alone or with another student
with a family, and at school they live in a dormitory.
|
| 7. |
Will my child be getting his own bedroom when
he stays with homestay families? |
| |
Students never share a room with a member of the
family, but in our experience students from Hong
Kong are not happy to be alone in a room, and therefore
generally have another Chinese student sharing with
them.
|
| 8. |
Is it possible for me and my child to meet
with prospective homestay families before arriving
in the UK? |
| |
No, because generally our Local Coordinator will
not appoint a family until she has a good idea about
the student and formed a very good picture of the
sort of family with which he/she would be comfortable.
|
| 9. |
Will I know the contacting details and family
profile of the homestay family before my child leaves
for the UK? |
| |
Yes, all details will be given to you before your
child leaves Hong Kong.
|
| 10. |
Will the family collect my child from the airport
back to their home after Christmas, Easter and Summer
holidays? |
| |
No, transport is arranged by the Local Coordinator.
This generally will save parents money, as transport
costs are shared.
|
| 11. |
Would my child be allowed to use the family’s
phone, computer, TV, kitchen to cook noodles etc?
|
| |
Telephones & Computers: may be used WITH PERMISSION
and in the case of internet, an agreement on cost
must be made. Naturally the TV is available. Use
of kitchen is at the discretion of the host family,
and certainly will not be permitted to younger students
for obvious safety reasons.
|
| 12. |
Will the family take my child to shopping or
out of the house? |
| |
Yes, your child will be treated as part of the
family.
|
| 13. |
Can my child stay at home by himself should he
decide not to go out with the family? |
| |
This depends on the age of the student. It is
illegal in the UK to leave a child aged under 14
alone in the house.
|
14. |
Will the host family takes my child to school
everyday? If not, how will my child go to school
each day? Do I need to pay for transportation to
the host family if they take my child to school
everyday? |
| |
Students go to school by one of the following
ways:
- School bus
- General bus
- Walk
- Family Car
This depends on the circumstances, and the daily
budget should be GBP 3.00
|
| 15. |
Will the host family be in contact with me on
a daily or regular basis about the progress of my
child? |
| |
No, host families are only there for pastoral
care, some reports are sent by the Local Coordinator
each term, and one school report per year is sent
from the school.
|
| 16. |
Will the host-parents attend school evenings
for my child? |
| |
No, the Local Coordinator will do that.
|
| 17. |
If my child falls sick, will they take him to
see the doctors and will they stay at home to look
after him? |
| |
If a child is sick, they are attended by the host
family Doctor. Depends if the Host family is working
or not, and the age of the student.
|
| 18. |
Can we change homestay if my child is not happy
with the host-family? |
| |
Yes, but the Local Coordinator will find out the
reason for the children being unhappy, it has to
be a valid reason before a change is made. For example,
not to live nearer to the disco.
|
| 19. |
How do you ascertain that the family’s background
is ok to look after my child? |
| |
Many of our families have been with us for years
and years and welcome a new student into their home
each year. All families whether new or old are regularly
inspected by our Local Coordinator. If a student
is under 16 years of age we ask the Social Services
to check the family for us.
|
| 20. |
Beside the homestay fees, what other items should
I budget for and how much? |
| |
Just lunches, bus fares and pocket money
|
| 21. |
As lunch is not included in the boarding fees,
how much should I budget for it? |
| |
GBP 3 per day
|
| 22. |
Will the school contact me or the host-family
or Whitehouse if they need to talk about my child?
|
| |
Yes of course, they will contact our Local Coordinator
immediately who will be in touch with KS Education
Consultant or yourself.
|
| 23. |
Will my child need to have a bank account? |
| |
A good idea if the student is 16+ and can handle
their own money.
|
| 24. |
If I accompany my child to the UK, can I stay
with the host family as well to ensure my child
settles down? |
| |
NO. Because this will delay your child in settling
down in the family. We can arrange B&B or hotel
accommodation for you.
|
| 25. |
When my child eventually goes to study in university,
will he be eligible to pay home student fees? |
| |
For Home Student Staus and fees- related matter,
please contact the British Consulate General Hong
Kong Office.
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