Become a Host / Host Family
for Students

When you become a host or host family for students, we expect the following:

• To welcome students into your home and integrate them into your family life
• Explain English traditions and customs such as queuing, manners etc.
• To provide healthy, nutritious and filling meals
• To inform us if your student cannot attend school due to illness etc.

For more detailed information about what we require, please read the latest Homestay Handbook on this page.

Unsupervised curfews for under 18’s vary – our school policy is:

• 10, 11 and 12 year olds are not allowed out in the evenings without supervision
• 13 and 14 year olds can stay out until 21:00
• 15 year olds can stay out until 22:00
• 16 and 17 year olds can stay out until 23:00

You will receive payment for your student one week in arrears and usually on a Friday.

Student arrival on a Saturday or Sunday – Payment will be made 1 week after student arrival.

Student mid-week arrival – If student date of arrival is mid-week, payment is different. Payment will be processed on the Friday following their arrival.

Students aged 16+ should be given a key. We do not recommend giving under 16’s a key, as they should not be in the house unsupervised.

Emails will be sent confirming your students arrival. If your student is in a group, text messages will be sent also.

Yes, but students from other schools must not share rooms with our students.

• Students over the age of 18 must not be in the same accommodation as under 18’s, even if they are in separate rooms.
• Students from our school must not speak the same native language as a student from another school, even if they are a different nationality. For example: You should not accommodate our Spanish student with an Argentinian student from another school at the same time, as their native language is Spanish.

Hygiene problems mostly occur with younger junior students. They are away from home and would usually be told by parents when to wash their clothes or have a bath. You have a duty of care to be tactful and encourage them to have regular showers/baths. Also remind them to give you their laundry once a week.

If you have more concerns and are unsure what to do, please contact our Welfare Officer at [email protected]

• When students are more than an hour late from activities and have not contacted you. If you cannot locate your student, or their group leader, then leave a message on the emergency phone.
• Serious injuries or accidents
• Personal emergencies which mean your student will need moving to a new host family immediately.
• Please call office during office hours for general enquiries, arrival times and complaints. Do not use emergency phone.

It is up to you if you allow your student to use the kitchen. Some students like to cook their hosts’ meals as a thank you.

This is standard for many European countries, middle eastern countries, as well as some others. Communication is the best solution. Either place a sign in your bathroom, or simply explain to your student that toilet paper should be flushed.