Immigration law for independent schools – webinar series round-up

Stone King has held a series of webinars outlining key considerations in immigration law for independent schools.

Delivered by Julianna Barker, a specialist Immigration Solicitor, the sessions covered a range of topics highly relevant to independent schools including student sponsorship, teaching staff sponsorship and immigration risk management.

If you were unable to attend or would like a refresher, a summary is provided below along with links to recordings of the webinars.

These can be watched as standalone sessions or as a comprehensive series intended for those in the education sector where student and teacher sponsorship forms is relevant to their role.

Session 1: Sponsoring students in independent schools

With sponsorship of international students for UK study often an important revenue stream for independent schools, this session covered key considerations relevant to Child Student and Student Sponsorship routes.

Beginning with an overview of some benefits of becoming a Student/Child Student Sponsor this talk included an overview of key sponsorship duties, common safeguarding issues and mistakes made by sponsors alongside a range of other insights.

The presentation also included a comprehensive overview of the sponsorship pathway with practical insights on each step.

A recording of the webinar can be found here.

Session 2: Immigration risk management for Student/Child Student Sponsor licence holders

Building on topics discussed in the first session, this webinar explores compliance requirements for independent schools that are Student/Child Student sponsors.

This included discussion of key sponsorship duties split into four categories: sponsorship reporting, sponsor record keeping, right to study checks and child safeguarding duties.

Also covered in this talk was a further examination of necessary steps to remain compliant alongside discussion of the impacts of non-compliance.

A recording of the webinar can be found here.

Session 3: Sponsorship of teaching staff in independent schools

The third session in the series covered overseas workers under the Skilled Worker route, a topic which is particularly relevant for schools in the context of the ongoing shortage of teachers in the UK.

This webinar included an overview of the requirements of the skilled worker route and salary reforms, costs of skilled worker sponsorship, compliance as a Skilled Worker Sponsor Licence Holder and Right to Work checks.

The session also covered alternatives to sponsorship for overseas staff including Graduate Visas and Dependent Visa Holders.

A recording of the webinar can be found here.