As you prepare to join the Boarding School Association (BSA) Conferences in January and May 2025, we are delighted to extend an invitation to attend our breakout session:

“Competing Globally, Connecting Locally: Access to Gateway Students Essential for UK Boarding Schools.”

The session will explore the topic of maintaining seamless travel access for young international students in the face of evolving challenges. We look forward to sharing insights, discussing solutions, and collaborating with you to safeguard the UK’s position as a global leader in education.

We are pleased to be a Gold Certified Supplier and the Drinks Sponsor for this year’s events.

UK boarding schools are respected providers in the global education market, standing shoulder-to-shoulder with elite institutions in Switzerland, Austria, the USA, and Canada. However, recent restrictive U14 airline travel policies, coupled with VAT changes under the Labour government, present a dual threat that could significantly impact the sector. 

As the aggregator of travel data for UK boarding schools, I-GTM is well positioned to explore solutions to ensure the sector remains healthy for the next 100 years. 

• Market Opportunity: With circa 40% of the 80,000 UK boarding school students coming from international backgrounds, accessible and reliable travel solutions are essential to maintaining the UK’s position as a global leader in education.

• Current Challenges:

• The impact of restrictive U14 airline travel policies by major carriers such as British Airways and Virgin Atlantic.

• Identifying opportunities with more accommodating airlines like Cathay Pacific and Emirates.

Strategic Solutions:

• Leveraging the collective buying power of 384,000 flights annually.

• Developing air corridors for smoother travel experiences.

• Creating buddy systems linking U14 travellers with older peers.

• Using Airport Guardians to ensure safe arrivals and onward travel.

This session will bring together leaders from UK boarding schools, BSA experts, and I-GTM specialists to discuss proactive strategies and best practices. Together, we aim to secure the future of U14 international student travel and present a united front to families considering the UK as an educational destination. 

Session Title: Competing Globally, Connecting Locally: Access to Gateway Students Essential for UK Boarding Schools 

Annual Boarding Conference 

January 28-29 at Crowne Plaza Nottingham 

Annual Conference for Heads 

May 06-07 at York Racecourse 

We invite you to register your interest in attending our breakout session at the upcoming BSA Conferences 2025 or to receive a synopsis of the discussion and its key conclusions.