BBSN Timeline

Launched the first British Boarding Schools' Workshop (BBSW) in Richmond, London. Sold out in 2 weeks, bringing together 30 schools and 45 agencies.

Relocated the event to Beaumont House, Windsor, expanding capacity to meet growing demand.

Expanded to two annual events in March and November. We introduced an International Marketing Conference before the BBSW and post-BBSW Fam Trips for agents to visit schools.

Relocated the event to Wokefield Park, Reading, expanding to 75 schools and 90 agents, marking a significant phase of growth.

Introduced dedicated pre-BBSW training days to support professional development. 

Hosted an indoor British-themed ‘Street Party’ at the BBSW, creating a vibrant and memorable networking experience.

Launched British Boarding Schools’ Connected — a membership programme with a dedicated portal designed to create an online community for schools and agents.

Relocated the event to the Radisson Blu Hotel, Heathrow, London, and proudly celebrated the company’s 10th Anniversary — marking a decade of growth, partnership and impact across our community.

Rebranded the company as the British Boarding Schools’ Network (BBSN), strengthening our identity while continuing to deliver our membership programme and the flagship British Boarding Schools’ Workshops (BBSW).

Produced the first of many International Market Reports, drawing on agent survey insights across the Top 30 markets for British boarding schools to deliver data-driven intelligence to our member schools.

Restructured the membership model, bringing both schools and agents directly into the Network and retiring the ‘Connected’ brand. Expanded the member offering to include dedicated Networking Days, providing more opportunities for members to connect. 

The Covid-19 pandemic struck, with national lockdown announced just two weeks after the March Workshop.

We responded swiftly, pivoting to structured individual member support through scheduled Zoom consultations. Alongside this, we launched a comprehensive programme of country masterclasses, training webinars and live market updates, delivered online by our global network of experienced agents and supported by targeted survey reports — ensuring schools remained informed, connected and strategically prepared during a period of unprecedented disruption.

By 2021, following our extensive programme of member support during the pandemic, the Network had grown to represent 2,000 staff across more than 240 schools and 450 agent offices worldwide. 

We expanded the BBSN team to include highly experienced sector experts with extensive backgrounds in British boarding schools, strengthening the strategic insight and practical guidance available to our community.

Introduced the BBSN Approved Agent Membership Programme, formalising our rigorous screening and reference-checking processes to strengthen quality assurance and elevate professional standards across the Network.

The first cohort of Approved Agents was awarded official status, receiving the BBSN Approved Agent logo and certification — providing schools with enhanced confidence, transparency and trust in their international partnerships.

In November 2022, we delivered our largest-ever in-person British Boarding Schools’ Workshop (BBSW), welcoming more than 320 delegates. As our first post-pandemic Workshop, the event marked a powerful return to face-to-face connection, with schools and agents coming together once again with renewed energy, optimism and commitment to international partnership.

UK Visas & Immigration (UKVI) confirmed that our member schools can rely on BBSN approval activity as part of their own sponsor compliance due diligence on student recruitment agents if they wish to.  

While ultimate responsibility remains with each school, this recognition enables schools to draw upon BBSN’s rigorous agent screening and reference-checking processes to support their compliance frameworks.

Following this confirmation, demand from agents to join the BBSN Approved Agent Programme increased significantly. 

Membership continued to grow, reaching 260+ schools, alongside rising demand from agents seeking to achieve BBSN Approved Agent status — reflecting the increasing value placed on quality assurance and trusted partnerships within the Network.

We launched a new website and an enhanced, mobile-friendly version of the BBSN members’ portal, improving accessibility, user experience and year-round engagement for schools and agents worldwide.

We continue to be driven by our values - to innovate and improve our services to further support the changing recruitment needs of our schools and agents, and to continue to offer excellent value for money.