A COMPANY which provides guardians for pupils at public schools has received industry recognition.

Pippa’s Guardians, based in Church Street in Malvern has been given the seal of approval by AEGIS - The Association for the Education and Guardianship of International Students.

The guardianship equivalent of Ofsted, it carries out rigorous inspections of guardianship providers, ensuring they safeguard the welfare and education of the international students in their care.

Managing director Ben Hughes, whose mother Pippa set up the company in 1997, said: “I’m extremely pleased and proud to say that we’ve passed our AEGIS re-accreditation.

“Everyone in the company played their part, and we look forward to another successful year, making sure the international students we look after fulfil their potential - educationally and pastorally - while they’re in the UK.”

Inspectors described the company as a “market leader” and were impressed with the way it supports students and their families and communicates with schools.

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The final report added: “It’s an extremely well-run organisation.

“Staff are carefully chosen and embrace the ethos that is at the heart of all that the guardianship organisation does.

“Consequently, Pippa’s Guardians successfully meet their aim to be a market leader.

“Students and their families are well-supported prior to arrival and for the duration of their time in the UK.

“Travel arrangements are efficiently arranged and well-documented.

“Care is taken to recruit home-stays of a suitable standard, and the assessment process is rigorous. "Safeguarding is given the highest priority.”

By law, every international student at a UK boarding school is required to have a UK-based guardian.

Pippa’s Guardians works with more than 150 of the top boarding schools in the country.

In the county they provide the service to boarders at Malvern College and St James as well as further afield at Eton and Harrow near London.

The inspection was carried out on Friday, November 29.