The Network for Boarding Schools and Agents
Every year more than 25,000 international pupils enjoy the benefits of living and studying at British boarding schools. But how do they find the right school? TheBritish Boarding Schools' Network (BBSN) connects schools and student recruitment agents, making it easy for them to work together.Established in 2006, we provide services and events to enable British boarding schools to successfully recruit international students from a diverse range of countries in a time-efficient and cost-effective way. In addition, we have 'opened doors' for our global network ofApproved Agents to find the right British schools for their client families. In summary, we provide all theContacts, Knowledge and Support that our member schools and agents need to fulfil their important roles.
12 - 14 March 2026
Booking for schools for the BBSW in March 2026 will open at 10.00am on 1st May 2025
How we help British boarding schools and agents
- to increase or diversify your recruitment of international pupils?
- help with the knowledge and know-how in dealing with international markets?
- to build fruitful partnerships with trusted student recruitment agents?
- to know how to use limited resources and budget for best effect?
Are you an educational agent or consultant who needs:
- to expand your portfolio of UK-based boarding schools, colleges and summer schools?
- the tools to help you find the right schools for your client families?
- to build confidence and knowledge to work with the UK sector?
- opportunities to meet face-to-face with Heads and admissions staff from British schools in one place?
Our Network Members
What We Do
We are the Network that connects schools and agents to build positive, effective relationships, enabling both sides to efficiently achieve their recruitment targets.
Contacts
We enable school and agent connections to be made, relationships to be built, and international boarding students to be placed. Agent members have access to a unique, fully-searchable database of British schools with detailed profiles, numbers and nationalities of boarding pupils, and admissions contacts. Our member schools value the database of 400 Approved Agents. We run networking events with a global reputation for excellence, including the British Boarding Schools' Workshops, facilitating face-to-face meetings - vital for building trusted partnerships.
Knowledge
Our team of sector-experts collate and share, with our members, up-to-date intelligence about international markets, the UK education sector, visas and immigration, and international student recruitment into British boarding schools. Our Approved Agents also feed 'on the ground' news and developments from global markets, enabling schools to know exactly where and how to effectively recruit in different countries. Knowledge is delivered through weekly updates, regular webinars, training and market reports, all of which are available 'on demand' via the members' portal.
Support
Our team of strategic-thinkers who have worked in boarding schools, support Heads, Admissions and Marketing staff in schools to make informed decisions. We provide the tools and confidence to recruit international pupils from a diverse range of countries in a cost-effective way. We get to know our Approved agencies via one-to-one meetings, enabling us to understand their needs and helping them to find the right British schools for their client families. We offer bespoke advice to members and provide access to a welcoming community of like-minded professionals.
From the Director
"We have been supporting international boarding recruitment for the last 18 years and are honoured to be considered, and called, ‘leaders in the sector’. Through the important connections made via our Network, thousands of international pupils have benefited from joining British boarding schools. We are passionate about helping the sector to thrive despite the ever-changing and challenging landscape in which we operate, and we know that over the coming years, even more international families will find the right British boarding school as a result of the work we do. "
Suzanne Rowse
BBSN Founder & Director
Benefits of Membership
Our membership services and events provide the Contacts, Knowledge and Support for schools to successfully recruit boarders from a diverse range of countries, and for agents to access a broad portfolio of schools to enable them to find the right UK school for their client families.
British Boarding Schools' Workshop
Our Workshops (BBSW) have a global reputation for excellence. Held each March and November, they bring together 320+ school representatives, agents and service providers for face-to-face scheduled meetings - vital for building partnerships based on mutual-understanding and trust.
These well-established events are known for being the most successful and time-efficient way for UK school staff to recruit international pupils from over 50 countries worldwide - without even getting on a plane. They are held over three days at the Radisson Blu Edwardian Hotel at London's Heathrow Airport.
"I can truly say that our agency would not be where it is today without the incredible support of BBSN and the whole team behind it. We use the schools' database regularly and extensively. The two BBSW events each year are a fixed point in my calendar - they are by far the best and most effective networking events we attend."
Theresa Glasmacher, Managing Director, Barbara Glasmacher Int. Schulberatungs GmbH, Germany
"BBSN is an essential part of any school's Admissions team. The advice, guidance and support available is invaluable to all schools in helping them navigate through new markets, difficult trading periods and they are always at the end of a phone or email to offer help, advice or just a sounding wall!"
Stephen Mullock, Deputy Head External Relations, Ellesmere College
"BBSN has enabled our company to form and maintain close and meaningful relationships with magnificent UK boarding schools. BBSN's excellent resources and events have clarified our understanding of British education, empowering us to make the right choices for our candidates."
Leticia B de Roel, Educational Consultant, Mexico
"Joining BBSN has opened up so many doors and saved me so much time. The team has facilitated numerous agent introductions based on their understanding of our school but more importantly their extensive knowledge of the agents and how they might fit with what we are after. I would heartily recommend BBSN membership to any school."
Ben Pelly, Senior Housemaster, Dulwich College
Networking Days
Held at member schools around the UK, our Networking Days offer further opportunities for school and agent members to meet face-to face and connect in a friendly environment.
Fam Trips
Agents value the chance to visit several schools as part of the Fam Trips (familiarisation trips) which we organise alongside the British Boarding Schools' Workshops (BBSW) held each March and November.
