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How we help UK schools with their sponsorship duties

Our clients are many of the UK’s most prestigious universities and colleges, independent schools, and other educational institutions – as well as their talented and ambitious students.

We provide a consulting and advisory service to schools that can be tailored to any level of requirement, from general guidance to complex projects. We can assist schools with applying for their sponsorship licences as well as acting as a level 1 and 2 user on the Sponsor Management System (SMS).

We liaise with UKVI on behalf of the school on all compliance matters, as well as overseeing all sponsored students records that are required by UKVI. We will also represent the school and students with Home Office inspections and queries.

Compliance health check service

With constantly changing immigration rules and compliance requirements, the management of overseas students is becoming an increasingly daunting task for educational institutions and their admissions staff.

We have designed immigration compliance solutions specifically for educational institutions. Our support can range from general guidance to complete management of compliance requirements and representation before authorities.

We offer a “compliance health check” where one of our specialists will make a visit to your school to assess the sufficiency of your current student compliance systems and make recommendations for improvement. We check all files and data recording to ensure that you are prepared for an unannounced UKVI inspection.

UK study visas for international students

Prestigious schools across the UK attract many international students who are looking for the best education. We take the burden of obtaining the UK Student/Child visa off the shoulders of the parents and students, allowing them to focus on the excitement of studying in a new country and experiencing a new culture.

We will ensure that all the documents needed for their visa applications are compliant before a Confirmation of Acceptance of Studies (CAS) is issued, ensuring a smoother visa application for the student. This way the school can be assured that only those applications that can be legitimately submitted are put forward – preserving their refusal rate and protecting their sponsorship licence.

Skilled Worker visa for teachers and other staff

To teach in England you will need:

  • A job offer allowing you to apply for a Skilled Worker visa
  • Teaching skills and experience you can demonstrate to an employer
  • To pass criminal and professional safeguarding checks (these will be organised by your employer)

It will also be very helpful to have English ‘qualified teacher status’ (QTS). While it is possible to teach in the UK for up to four years without QTS in the independent school sector, it will make finding a teaching position much easier.

You’ll be able to apply for a Skilled Worker visa if:

  • You have a job offer from a school that is a licensed Home Office sponsor
  • You can speak, read, write, and understand English
  • Your salary meets the requirements for a Skilled Worker visa

How many points do I need to get a Skilled Worker visa?

You will need to obtain 70 points to qualify for a visa to enter and work in the UK. The majority of the points (a core 50) will be given for a job offer from a licensed sponsor, at the right skill level, with English speaking skills and the other 20 are tradable (can be gained in a number of ways).

The salary threshold for teachers depends on whether you have QTS and the region you are applying to work in.

Inner LondonOuter LondonLondon fringeRest of England
QTS£34,502 £32,407 £29,344 £28,000
Non-QTS£24,254 £22,924 £20,594 £20,480
 

Meet your UK education corporate services team

Talk to our experienced consultants, OISC-registered advisers to see how we can help with your education immigration needs

  • Steve Paxton
    Managing Director: UK Education Corporate Services
  • Saskia Johnston
    Service Delivery Director
  • Ruben Van Niekerk
    Ruben Van Niekerk
    Admin Assistant
  • Maxine Furlong
    Maxine Furlong
    Business Immigration Consultant
  • melissa-king-bw
    Melissa King
    UK Consultant Support
  • Nicola Digby
    Nicola Digby
    Senior Consultant
  • Coco Chen
    Education Corporate Service Consultant
  • Steve Paxton
    Managing Director: UK Education Corporate Services

    Steve is the Managing Director of the UK Education Corporate Services division. He is an experienced international investment business owner, UK independent school boarding expert, UK Child/Student sponsor licence specialist, including overseeing many UKVI compliance inspections and has been the Commercial Director of a UK immigration firm.

    As a student global mobility specialist, he intends to make Sable International a trusted supplier of advice and support to UK independent schools and their worldwide agents, in the complex sector of Home Office compliance and visa acquisition for UK-bound international students.

    Outside of work, Steve loves travelling, spending time with his family and new grandchild, a quadruple World Cup hockey coach and player, and is currently an England hockey masters player. 

  • Saskia Johnston
    Service Delivery Director

    Saskia has over 10 years of experience within the Sable International Team. Saskia graduated from the University of Cape Town with a B. Sc. (Masters) in finance and a sub-major in economics. She has a keen interest in financial services and immigration which made her the perfect candidate to help drive our Business Immigration team forward. Saskia has a passion for exceptional customer service and is now responsible for the Business Immigration team’s service delivery.

    A confident, enthusiastic individual with a great attitude and a keen motivation to learn. Saskia has spent the last decade growing a very strong and powerful professional business development network in London. Her growth and strategic approach to relationship-led new business has produced some fantastic results and she has enjoyed implementing these successful sales strategies with her team in London. She has extensive experience in all aspects of foreign exchange and business immigration and can apply her high-level, target-driven sales and account management approach to the success of her role.

    Outside of work, Saskia loves experiencing new cultures and travel is at the top of her “spare time” list.”

  • Ruben Van Niekerk
    Admin Assistant

    Ruben grew up in a small town in the Northern Cape. He has a background in hospitality and has worked in some of South Africa’s finest restaurants and hotels.

    He previously worked in sales as a sales consultant for a company that specialises in short-term accommodation. At Sable International, Ruben is an Admin Assistant and provides our clients with the best service and assistance.

    In his spare time, he enjoys hiking, the outdoors, gardening, meeting up with friends and road trips.

  • Maxine Furlong
    Business Immigration Consultant

    Maxine grew up in Cape Town, South Africa and has completed her BComm degree.

    She joined our Immigration team in our Cape Town office where she gained valuable experience in UK immigration and citizenship casework.

    Maxine has since moved to our London office and has completed her OISC level 1 exam; and continues to broaden her knowledge and experience in UK immigration.

    In her spare time Maxine will take any opportunity to travel, explore new cities and cultures.

  • Melissa King
    UK Consultant Support

    Melissa is a culinary trained chef and she has predominantly worked in the hospitality industry. She is passionate about customer service and attention to detail. Prior to joining Sable International, she was a restaurant manager for Chart Farm as well as a part-time events coordinator.

    She is a bubbly, creative person who loves to travel and experience new things. In her free time she enjoys cooking, spending time with family and watching movies.

  • Nicola Digby
    Senior Consultant

    Nicola has over 14 years of immigration experience in private and corporate immigration, with a focus on large-scale, multinational business immigration. She graduated from the University of Wolverhampton with a Bachelor of Law and has worked in the immigration sector since this time. 

    She joined Sable International as a Senior Consultant and is registered with the OSIC as a level 2 UK immigration adviser.

    Outside of work, she enjoys seeing as much of the world as possible, spending time with friends, family and her two cats. She also plays netball for her local club.

  • Coco Chen
    Education Corporate Service Consultant

    Coco was born in Taiwan and raised in Hong Kong. She completed her bachelor law degree in the United Kingdom.

    Before joining Sable International she worked in a London city law firm as an immigration paralegal.

    Outside of work she enjoys oil painting and spending time with family and friends.

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Authorised to practise immigration law by the OISC under Registration No F200100004.
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