Information for Group Organisers and Group Leaders

Melton College is a multinational college. We welcome students from many different countries, cultures, languages and religions. Please help us to maintain a friendly atmosphere. Remember, if you have any questions, we are here to help!

English Only!

Your group is here to learn English and so are all the other students. Moreover, English is what we all have in common; it allows all of us to participate in everything. More importantly, it stops people from being excluded, so at Melton College we have a simple rule:

When you are in the College, or with other students on an activity you must speak English and only English!

Communication takes place in lots of situations, not just in the classroom. It is very important that you encourage your students to ask their own questions! Please do not act as a messenger! Of course, if the student wants you present when asking a question, you will be welcome.

Group Organiser

A Group Organiser has selected Melton College and has organised a group of students to come for a course. Typically, a group organiser is a teacher and the students are his or her pupils but this is not always the case. Most Group Organisers have arranged their groups’ course through a specialist language travel agent.

If you are a Group Organiser and have arranged your course through an Agency it is important to remember that the financial relationship is between you and the agency and between the agency and the College. Both relationships are confidential.

What the College has agreed to provide is, however, common knowledge between all three parties.

Group Leader

A Group Leader is employed by an agency or a school to lead a group of students. The contractual relationship is between your employer (the agency) and the College. You are not employed by Melton College and will not be asked to carry out any duties for the College. Your duties to your group will be assigned to you by the College. You may have additional duties required by your employer which you will have ample opportunity to discharge during your stay.

As the College will, at all times, act in accordance with our agreement with your employer, the College holds primary responsibility for the students unless this is specifically delegated to you. You have no authority to override instructions given to your group or to you by the College.

Whether you are a Group Organiser or a Group Leader, your relationship is with the College. The tuition, homestay and other services are provided by the College or subcontracted by the College. You do not have a direct relationship, for example with the host families and requests, queries or complaints should be channelled through the College.

Naturally, in all areas of responsibility, all activities will remain within the law of the UK.

What is a Closed Group?

Closed groups have their own programme, including classes, activities and excursions. Of course, this does not mean they are the only students in the College!

What we would like you to do

Below is a list of the things we would ask you to do to help with the smooth running of the College. However, first and foremost, we need to to share our commitment to Safeguarding.

With this in mind, we would ask that you read and accept that you will follow and support the implementation of our Safeguarding Policies - These are available in the BLUE downloads section.

We also need to to confirm you have access to emergency contact details and insurance for your group and will be available to help the College or authorities at all times should there be a problem.

When you have done so. please follow this link and complete the form to confirm.

Contact

Ensure that we can contact you at all times in case of an emergency. Please ensure that the office has your mobile phone number and ensure that when you are not in the College you carry it with you!

First Day

Please be at the College in good time to help us check your students have arrived.

Weekdays

Please remain in the College until all your students have arrived. . After this your time is your own until lunch but please ensure you are back at the College about 10 minutes before the start of lunch.

In the Evening

Please be at all your group's activities. Please help the staff running the event to ensure that students go home straight after the event finishes, particularly younger students with an earlier curfew.

Additional evening events

Please do not arrange additional evening events without first speaking to the College. We require at least 48 hours’ notice to allow us to inform the host families! Please do not assume that the students can inform the families themselves. Hosts should not be expected to provide additional services if you have arranged additional events. You must not, under any circumstances, take students from other groups or courses on your activities.

Additional weekend events

Ideally these should be arranged in advance of your arrival. If not, please ensure we have as much notice as possible so that we can inform the host families. Remember, if your group is an open group then additional activities can isolate the students from their class mates. You must not, under any circumstances, take other students on your additional activities.

If a student is not well

If a student is unable to attend class, we may ask you to go to the homestay to babysit. As an alternative, we may move the student to a room in Melton Guest House for the day.

If the student is ill at the weekend, you or another leader may have to miss the excursion to remain with the student.

The Law in England

The law in the UK is different from the law in your own country. Some things are allowed, some things are forbidden and some things you can only do from a certain age! Please read the list below carefully and refer to it if you are ever unsure. If you have any questions, ask the Welfare officer or Deputy Principal. It does not matter if the law in your own country is different. When in the UK you must accept UK law.

When do you become an adult?

In Britain you become an adult on your 18th birthday. When you are 18 years old you can make legal decisions for yourself. When at Melton College, if a student is under 18 the College or you will, in certain circumstances, make decisions on behalf of your parents. This is called being in “loco parentis”.

What you cannot do if you are not 18