COVID guidance International Students
Urgent Update - arrivals into the UK from China
Passengers arriving from China to England from 5 January will need to show a negative Covid-19 pre-departure test (PDT) taken no more than two days prior to departure.
Airlines will be required to check all passengers from China have negative pre-departure tests, and passengers will not be allowed to board a flight without providing evidence of a negative test result.
Updated Letter of Parental Consent for Travel April 2023 HERE
Students travelling to the UK without their parent or legal guardian should carry with them a signed letter from their parents or legal guardian providing consent for their travel to, accommodation and reception in the UK. UK border control has been requesting specific signed consent letters for students under 18, requiring flight details (date, flight number and arrival time), parents' names and contact details, and name of the responsible adult meeting the child together with their position and contact details.
This letter is available here to download and complete as well as being sent via SchoolPost. It would also be appreciated if a copy of the completed letter could be emailed in advance of travelling to barbara.pring@tonbridge-school.org and schooladmin@tonbridge-school.org
Travel arrangements for travel (overseas students)
We are able to provide pupils with pre-travel testing for returning home at half-term should this be required using the same clinic and lab arrangements as previously. Please check carefully the entry requirements for your son's destination here as requirements do vary and here for Hong Kong and here for China then email your requests to Emma Day on schooladmin@tonbridge-school.org as well as Barbara Pring on barbara.pring@tonbridge-school.org regarding airport transfers with a copy of your son's airline ticket and passport.
Tests will be carried out at our Medical Centre using specific LFA/RAT test kits with a Fit to Fly Certificate provided.
Costs for this service will be added to your termly bill and are as follows:
|
TEST TYPE |
COST (£) (inc. VAT) |
|
RAT / LFA test kit + Fit to Fly Certificate (F2F) (suitable for Hong Kong) |
£45 |
|
PCR + Lab Report + Fit to Fly Certificate (F2F) (ISO:15189 accredited lab only) |
£169 |
|
PCR Test Courier ( if applicable) (for 24 – 48 hr timelines and/or weekend swabs only) |
£130 (split between # swabs sent) |
Travel to England rulesWhen you travel to England, you:
|
Vaccination Update from GOV.UK Full list of countries and vaccines recognised from Monday 11th October vaccines from more countries will be accepted.
If you have any questions please do not hesitate to get in touch with Emma Day, School Administrator on schooladmin@tonbridge-school.org
UKVI Child Student Visas
Your son’s visa application which should be done under the Child Student Visa application route and the link https://www.gov.uk/child-study-visa gives you helpful advice to make this process as smooth as possible. Applications can be made using the online UKVI form https://www.gov.uk/child-study-visa/apply
- As the education provider (sponsor), Tonbridge School will provide you with a Confirmation of Acceptance for Studies (CAS) which is a unique reference number for your son’s visa application, and also features our sponsor licence number.
- The CAS will cover the period of study, i.e. GCSE or A Level (Sixth Form) depending on which year your son is entering.
- This unique reference can only be used six months prior to the start of term (if applying from outside the UK) and three months prior to the start of term (if applying from inside the UK). The beginning of term for boarders is Tuesday 31 August 2022.
- I would strongly request that your son’s Biometric Residence Permit (BRP) is delivered securely to the School. Therefore, please ensure you enter the Alternative Collection Location (ACL) code 2SC562 in the relevant area of the form when it is requested.
- Please complete the attached Letter of Consent for submission with your application. There is no need to return to me but it should be carried by your son at all times of travel during his education at Tonbridge School.
- Please also complete the attached BSA and Tonbridge International Students travel letter. Again, there is no need to return this to me but should be carried by your son.
Please, if you haven’t already done so via Admissions, supply me with a copy of your son’s passport that will be used for the visa application and if I have any questions I will of course contact you immediately.
- If
your son has dual nationality please advise under which
nationality/passport he will be applying and ensure that this is the only
passport used for travelling to and from school and for school
trips.
Please ensure that your son’s passport is not due to expire within 6 months.
In line with the school’s policy you will also have been asked to pay a term’s fees in advance and this will be shown on the CAS.
Once you have received your CAS reference number from me (password protected) please proceed with the application which I hope will be successful. Please keep me advised of the progress and final outcome. When you received the decision letter from the UKVI you will be granted a 30-day vignette and it is imperative that a scanned copy of this is sent to me upon receipt as some students are asked to register with the police within 7 days of arrival in the UK (the school can arrange this for you, but an appointment will have to be made in advance with the relevant authorities).
UPDATE AUGUST 2022: Registration with the Police is no longer required. Full information is available here.