HMC Projects in Central and Eastern Europe - ICCG

A Company Limited by Guarantee: Company No. 3636789 Registered Charity No. 1074491Chairman of Trustees: Dr Nicholas England, Headmaster, Ryde SchoolDirector: Andrew BoggisScholars' Co-ordinator: Tony LawrenceAdministrator: Dr Jonathan WolstenholmeAdministrator of the Teachers' Work Experience Scheme: Peter de VoilFrom the Director: Andrew BoggisSCHOLARSHIPS TO SCHOOLS IN THE UNITED KINGDOM 2013 – 2014Information for Parents of Montenegrin ApplicantsStudents are asked to translate this paper for their parents if necessary in order to ensurethat it is fully understood.The purpose of this paper is to describe the arrangements for the scholarships offered inthe United Kingdom through HMC Projects in Central and Eastern Europe. You willfind further details of the nature and work of HMC Projects at www.hmc.org.uk/projects .HMC (Headmasters' and Headmistresses' Conference) is an association of theHeadteachers of many of the leading independent schools in the United Kingdom. HMCProjects is a registered charity and is a company with limited liability. Its specificpurpose, since its inception twenty years ago in 1992, has been to enable young studentsfrom the countries of Central and Eastern Europe to study in the UK and, in doing so, tomake contacts and friendships with British young people, to gain a better understandingof what the United Kingdom stands for, to perfect their mastery of the English languageand to strengthen links between their countries and the UK. In consequence, over 1,200students have received 100% scholarships to spend a year in British schools. Quite apartfrom the benefit to the students, the British schools have also greatly enjoyed theirpresence and have gained much. The scholarship scheme is run by HMC Projects butstudents are placed not only in schools belonging to HMC but also in some otherindependent schools and in two very good government boarding schools.The British schools are of various types. Some are schools mainly for boarding pupils(boys and girls who live at the school during the school terms). Other schools have bothboarding pupils and day pupils. Scholarship students from Central and Eastern Europetake up boarding places in their schools. The schools are located throughout the UnitedKingdom. Many of the schools are coeducational but some take only girls and others takeonly boys.

2Scholarships for students in Montenegro are arranged through cooperation between threeparties:HMC ProjectsHMC Projects coordinates the general programme in the UK and liaises both withLondon Bridge and ICCG and with the schools. We ensure that students aremet when they first arrive in the UK, we arrange the introductory OrientationCourse, we ensure the students’ safe travel to their schools and we provide(through the school) a Bursary of £300 for each student.Once the student has arrived at the school, formal responsibility for each studenttransfers to the school.Even so, our Scholars’ Co-ordinator, Mr Tony Lawrence, will play a key role inmonitoring the continuing welfare of students. He is able to offer support andadvice as needed. On the recommendation of the Scholars’ Co-ordinator financialhelp may be given to students confronted with exceptional expenditure (forinstance cultural expeditions, field trips, etc.).London Bridge and ICCGLondon Bridge and ICCG administers the programme in Montenegro, organisesstudent interviews and provides support and advice for the scholars before theirdeparture to the UK.The School:Your son or daughter will become a full member of the school chosen by HMCProjects and you will be asked to sign the home-school agreement signed by allother parents. The School provides a full scholarship, covering all costs of tuition,food and accommodation, and accepts responsibility for the students at all timeswhen the school is in session. The School will appoint a Contact Person (seebelow) to make arrangements for the students at times when the school is not insession.We try to match our scholars with schools best suited to their individual talentsbut I should emphasise that all the schools within the scheme have been selectedbecause we see them as entirely suitable and because we know that they will offera very valuable experience to the students who are their guests. Once the schoolhas accepted the student assigned to it, a change cannot be made.

3A different way of lifeStudents need to be ready to adapt to the boarding way of life and to desire positively tosupport the school’s philosophy and rules. Inevitably our scholars do find that somefeatures of British schools are very different from their schools at home – for example:1. Students live in boarding houses. Normally about thirty to forty students live inone house, supervised by two or more members of staff. The houses are usuallyfor boys only or for girls only. For young people who have always lived at homeit takes some time to become accustomed to this situation. Of course our scholarsmiss their homes but they quickly make friends and enjoy being members of theirhouse and school communities.2. Most students will share a room with another student, where they sleep, study andkeep their personal belongings, clothes, books and other items. Most schools willexpect their boarders to undertake communal responsibilities within their houses.3. All boarding schools have rules designed to protect the needs and interests of eachone of their members. For example one rule will be that students will be expectedto be in their own rooms by a particular time at night and will be required to bequiet so that others may sleep. Another rule will be that students are not allowedto smoke. Students in boarding schools are not normally permitted to seek orobtain paid employment outside school. At home rules of this sort are probablyunnecessary. Our experience is that these rules do not usually create difficultiesfor students, but we must emphasise that students need to be willing to acceptthem – otherwise they should decline the scholarship.4. In most schools (but not all) students wear a uniform during teaching hours andfor special occasions. Schools will send full information about this to those whoare selected for scholarships and there is no need for parents to spend muchmoney on these items before the students leave for the UK.5. An important difference is that students in Britain study far fewer academicsubjects. This applies to all the present examination systems in the UK – ALevels, the IB (International Baccalaureate), Scottish Highers and AdvancedHigher and the Cambridge Pre-University Examination. Students usually takeonly four or perhaps five main subjects (from 15-20 different possibilities), plus asubsidiary subject and/or a general studies course.In other words, HMC Projects scholars will study a smaller number of subjects, ingreater depth, than they would have done at home. The consequence is that theywill think more deeply about the subject, rather than just study to absorbinformation. Of fundamental importance is the fact that they will be speaking,listening, reading and writing in English all the time, so that their command ofEnglish will develop enormously during their time in the UK. When they are

4selected and assigned to their schools, they will become actively involved in theselection of their course of studies, with full information supplied by their school.6. Another important difference is that, whereas many European schools aim toprovide only teaching in the academic subjects, British boarding schools offeralso a wide range of other activities which give opportunity for students todevelop sporting or other talents. For example, many schools offer excellentopportunities for music with orchestras and choirs. All schools offer drama anddebating. Facilities for sport are excellent. Scholars can be assured that they willbe able to enjoy themselves besides working hard. It is indeed important that theydo make time for these other activities since these contribute to the lastingfriendships which are for many the most important feature of the year in Britain.7. The HMC Projects Scholarship is for one year only and students can have noexpectation that they will be able to stay for a second year. The scholarshipdoes not carry with it the opportunity to study at a British university.EligibilityIt is important, therefore, that students should consider carefully whether or notthey would wish to accept a scholarship from HMC Projects to study in the UKfor one year. They should find out from local universities and from their ownschools which examinations or courses of study (if any) will be necessary if theyare to resume studies at home without disadvantage when they return. In generalthis has not been a problem for students in the past and certainly the benefits ofthe year in the UK have far outweighed any disadvantages, although a fewstudents have needed an extra year on their return to their own schools.1. To be eligible for the HMC Project Scholarship a student should be sixteen yearsold and not older than seventeen years and six months on 1 st September 2013, i.e.a student's date of birth must be between 1st March 1996 and 1st September 1997.2. HMC Projects Full Scholarships are intended to benefit those whose parentscannot afford to pay full United Kingdom boarding school fees. Schoolsparticipating in the Scheme consider this to be part of how they offer publicbenefit. HMC Projects has therefore decided that the combined parental income ofapplicants must not exceed £25,000 as assessed during 2012.The parents of applicants must sign a declaration that their combined annualincome during 2012 will not have exceeded the equivalent of £25,000.Applicants, whose combined parental income exceeds £25,000 during 2012 andso who are not eligible for full scholarships, are welcome to apply for a ReducedFee Scholarship.

53. A student may not accept an HMC Projects scholarship if he or she is holding aplace at another British Independent school.After SelectionMost successful candidates will be informed that they will be offered scholarships in themonth following their interview (probably February 2013) At this point parents will beasked to return the attached form, indicating that they have understood how thescholarships are awarded and that they agree to their son or daughter taking up thescholarship in the school which has awarded it.Scholars will not learn which school they will attend before April 2013, since I have toawait the outcomes of all the interviews before I select the right school for each of theselected scholars and obtain the agreement of the schools to accept my nomination. InApril I shall write with the details of the school and with further procedural information.The Head of the school will also write at this time and will normally send a prospectus ofthe school together with any formal documents for signature.Travelling to the UK and to the new SchoolLondon Bridge and ICCG will coordinate travel arrangements to the UK.HMC Projects scholars will normally be expected to travel to the UK on Friday 30thAugust 2013, when our three day Orientation course in Cambridge will commence, butsome will travel before that date because the school year starts earlier in their schools.The students flying to Britain on 30th August, and also some students flying fromEdinburgh or Glasgow following the earlier commencement of their terms in Scottishschools, will be met at the airport and taken to Cambridge. A few students will traveldirectly to Cambridge from their schools in England.The Orientation Course is the one occasion in the year when all the students on thescheme gather in one place together. Mr Tony Lawrence, our Scholars’ Co-ordinator,will explain his key role in helping students during their time in Britain. We explainmore fully to our scholars the way in which British schools function, including the natureand shape of the academic curriculum, and we provide guidance as to how to make themost of their opportunities. Through discussion groups and informal conversation duringmeals and throughout the course, there will be frequent opportunities for students to raiseissues and ask questions.At the end of the Orientation Course careful arrangements will have been made for eachstudent to travel on to his or her school. The cost of such travel is met by HMC Projects.Students will be fully informed about their journeys and they will know who will meetthem on arrival.

6The Shape of the School YearThe school year in Britain is usually divided into three terms, with holidays at Christmas,Easter and in the summer. At the end of each term the school will ensure that the studentknows the arrangements for travelling home and returning to Britain. Parents have fullresponsibility for our scholars during school holidays.In addition, most schools close for a half-term break in the middle of the term. The lengthof this break will vary from school to school – from a few days to a maximum of twoweeks. At these times a member of the school staff (the Contact Person) will undertakethe responsibility of making suitable arrangements for the student during the half-termbreak. This member of staff will contact parents to ensure that they agree with these halftermarrangements. On the Parental Consent Form attached to this information, youwill see that parents are asked to authorise the School’s Contact Person to makehalf- term arrangements on their behalf.MedicalHMC Projects asks parents of applicants to sign a Health declaration – see below.Schools will ask parents to provide information relating to any previous or currentmedical problem from which their child suffers. Schools will hope to be able to welcomestudents with any controllable condition but must be informed of it beforehand. Schoolshave the right not to accept students into a residential community if the medical conditioncould cause extreme difficulties and had not been declared in advance. Parents shouldnot worry about this but schools may wish to seek further information in some cases sothat they can be sure that they can give the necessary medical support to students.Schools will expect all new students to be adequately and currently protected byimmunisation against MMR (Measles, Mumps and Rubella), Polio and Tetanus.FinancialWe charge an administrative fee of £1,300, payable to HMC Projects by parents of allHMC Projects scholars as a necessary contribution to the funding of such expenses asinterviews, orientation course, student bursaries and half term support. For the parentsof every student from a country outside the EEA who has to obtain a UK visa, thisfee will be reduced by £300 to 1,000, in order to defray (some of) the cost of a UKBATier 4 Student Visa (currently £289 but likely to increase before travel in 2013). Thelatest date for payment is 1 st July 2013. Thereafter, this fee is not refundable.We must emphasise that the cost of living in Britain is very much higher than at home.Despite their Bursary from HMC Projects, and despite the financial help which we mayprovide towards the costs of half-term accommodation, school trips and travel, your sonor daughter will almost certainly need to turn to you, from time to time, for additional

7spending money. Moreover, parents should expect to receive a termly bill from theSchool for ‘Extras’ (for uniform, books, trips, clubs etc).HMC Projects Reduced Fee Scholarship schemeSince 2006 as a means of expanding the number of opportunities open to students inCentral and Eastern Europe, HMC Projects has run a Reduced Fee scheme for studentswho, although they did not win a full scholarship, showed in their applications and atinterview that they would have been worthy of such a scholarship. Each year, asignificant number of the schools offering full HMC Projects scholarships state that, inaddition, they will offer reduced-fee scholarships to students who come close to theaward of a full scholarship and who, on that account, are nominated by HMC Projects asworthy of consideration for Reduced-Fee Scholarships. Roughly 20 Reduced Fee placesbecome available in this fashion, with fee reductions ranging from 25% to 75% of fees.Students whose parental income would debar them from consideration for full feescholarships are encouraged to enter the competition for HMC Projectsscholarships, as the means to consideration for Reduced Fee scholarships.In 2010, 2011 and 2012 students nominated for the Reduced Fee scheme won fullscholarships to attend the Bromsgrove International School in Bangkok, Thailand.Parents of these scholars will pay an administrative fee of £400 to HMC Projects.A Commitment for scholars and parents alikeIn my ‘Information for Students’ document I emphasise that acceptance of the HMCProjects scholarship represents a commitment, not least because it is a scholarshipwhich would otherwise have been won by another very deserving candidate. It alsorepresents a very substantial amount of money given that full boarding school fees at anUK independent school now cost well in excess of £25,000 p.a.It follows that parents should know that they can and will fully support their child’sapplication. Being separated for a large part of the year will, in most cases, be a newexperience for parents and children alike. Every HMC Projects scholar is entitled tocome to the UK confident that he or she is there with the full support of parents.For the vast majority of our students, the HMC Projects scholarship has been awonderfully positive, fulfilling and enjoyable experience. This is because they have metthe opportunities and the challenges with enthusiasm and commitment.September 2012

8Summary of ResponsibilitiesLondon Bridge and ICCGAdministers the scholarship scheme in Montenegro.Provides support and advice before departure.Is responsible for communicating financial arrangements to parents.The SchoolProvides a full scholarship for tuition, food and accommodation.Accepts responsibility for the student when the school is in session.Has full authority in regard to the student when the school is in session and keepsin contact with the student's parents.HMC ProjectsCoordinates the programme in the UK.Works closely with London Bridge and ICCGArranges for the students to be met on arrival in the UK.Arranges an Orientation Course during the first few days.Arranges and funds the transport of students from the Orientation Course to theirschools.Provides a Bursary of £300 to each HMC Projects scholar.Provides help in making half-term arrangements, including supervised stays inyouth hostels.Provides financial assistance, when necessary, for attendance of field trips,cultural visits, etc.ParentsSign an agreement with the School accepting the normal conditions of the School.Declare that their combined annual income during 2012 will not exceed £25,000.Sign a Consent Form authorising the Contact Person appointed by the School tomake arrangements for mid-term breaks and any other times when the School isnot in session.Parents are responsible for their sons/daughters during the school holidays atChristmas and Easter and will, unless otherwise agreed with HMC Projects, meettravel costs for return journeys at these and other times.Parents will pay the termly ‘Extras’ bill charged by the School and meet suchpersonal costs of their son/daughter as are not funded by HMC Projects.Parents pay a fee of £1,300 to HMC Projects, reduced to £1,000 to parents whohave to pay for their child’s UBKA Tier 4 Student Visa. This payment is due by1st July 2013 at the latest. Thereafter the fee is not refundable.

9HMC PROJECTS IN CENTRAL AND EASTERN EUROPEConsent Form to be signed by parents of students accepted for scholarships. Thisform should be returned to London Bridge and ICCG (who will pass it on to HMCProjects)To The Director, HMC Projects in Central and Eastern EuropeName of student ...........................................................Country: MONTENEGROI have understood the paper dated September 2012, giving details of the generalarrangements for my son or daughter to take up a scholarship at a school in the UnitedKingdom.I confirm that combined parental income during 2012 will not exceed the equivalent of£25,000.I give my provisional agreement for my son/daughter to be nominated to a school for ascholarship for the academic year starting September 2013 under the arrangements set outin the paper from HMC Projects and I understand that I shall subsequently be asked bythe school to sign the normal forms of agreement with them.I agree to pay the administrative fee of £1000 to HMC Projects (the standard fee of £1300is reduced because my son or daughter will have to pay for a UKBA Tier 4 Student Visa).An invoice will be sent in March 2013 and payment is due at the latest by 1st July 2013.I agree that the Contact Person nominated by the School may act on my behalf to makesuitable arrangements for my son/daughter when the school is closed during term-time.These arrangements may include independent travel in Great Britain.My son’s/daughter’s HEALTH (Please delete or complete as appropriate )My son/daughter is generally in good health.He/she is currently protected by immunisation from MMR (Measles, Mumps andRubella, Polio and Tetanus.Please Turn Over

10During the past five years he/she has received hospital treatment for........................................... . ( state the condition )He / she suffers from........................................................................... ............................................................................ .I certify that my son/daughter is not at present receiving medical or psychologicaltreatment for any condition, except those named above, and that he/she has nomedical or psychological problem known to me which may require specialist orhospital treatment.Signed by parents or legal guardian…………..............................................................................Please PRINT name(s) ................................................................................................e-mail address(s) …………………………………………….…………………………………………….Date .................................................Please return this form to London Bridge.