These days, Pippa’s son, Ben Hughes, is at the helm. We look after more students around the UK now, and have more staff than ever catering to their needs, but the fundamentals remain constant. We are still driven by Pippa’s desire to provide the best possible service, and our family of staff share her founding values and passion for going the extra mile.
We are rooted in quality
We are a family business. Like all good families, a good family business has relationships, communication and shared values at its heart. The strength in a family business lies in these shared values driving decision-making and relationships for long term good. Our family of staff share our values and passion for the Guardianship service we provide. And, as in any loyal family, important guiding principles are carried from one generation to the next. This means that students join an established, close-knit, welcoming and supportive community, committed to building strong relationships.
: Nicky has three grown up children, two sons and a daughter. Her oldest son works as a business analyst and the younger two are still studying, at Leeds and Durham University.
Belinda Maunsell, North of England
Belinda Maunsell
: Belinda is area manager for Yorkshire. She lives in a village 20 miles south of York. She is a graduate of Huddersfield and Leeds Universities and her background is in secondary school teaching. Most recently she has been head of the Drama Department in a local independent school. She has also run her own local business publishing a parenting magazine.
Sarah has been a host family herself so understands first-hand the importance of international students having an approachable, caring and helpful person available whenever needed.
: Felicity attended boarding school when her parents lived abroad so she knows what it is like to be at school far from your parents. She spent nine years working in Admissions in a leading Buckinghamshire independent school so is experienced at welcoming children from overseas.
: Vicky lives in Oundle in Northamptonshire and is the Area Manager who looks after our students in the East Midlands. Vicky spent her early career in a number of managerial positions with retailer Marks & Spencer including Retail Operations Manager for the International Franchise Business. She later joined the Education Sector and spent many years as a School Business Manager.
: Vicky has two sons who attended a Day and Boarding Prep School for eleven years before they both moved on to Public School. Vicky has a good understanding of how boarding schools work and through her role as a School Business Manager is experienced in many aspects of school life.
: Helen is the Area Manager for Shropshire and lives 10 miles outside of Shrewsbury. Her background is in global distribution and manufacture; she travelled extensively in that role to ensure that global business practices were implemented whilst honoring local laws and traditions.
: Helen has been a host family herself so understands first-hand the importance of international students having an approachable, caring and helpful person available whenever needed.
: Prior to joining Pippa’s Guardians, Debbie worked for 14 years as an Admissions Registrar in both day and boarding independent schools. Having worked with international families from all corners of the globe, Debbie has a good understanding of the needs and concerns of boarders and their families and of the importance of a friendly, welcoming, caring individual to whom they can come for help and advice when needed.
: Sally attended boarding school from the age of 8 whilst her parents worked overseas, travelling back and forward to many African countries as an unaccompanied minor. She went on to travel extensively before settling in Devon where she has worked for two independent schools latterly in admissions. Sally has been a host family herself so understands the needs of international students.
: Elaine taught at Leaden Hall School in Salisbury, the independent school her daughters attended, where she held a variety of roles. Most notably, she had responsibility for caring for boarders after school and at weekends, which has provided invaluable insight for this role.
: Nicky is the Area Manager for Kent and lives in a village near the cathedral city of Canterbury. After graduating from Cambridge University she embarked on a career in publishing, and has worked as an editor and author of children’s non-fiction books for more than 20 years. More recently she has been involved in marketing and admissions for Rydal Penrhos School in North Wales, where she worked as Registrar.
: Susan is a host family herself so understands how important having a caring, empathetic, helpful host mother can be to the students.
I was really fortunate to have Pippa’s Guardians looking after me whilst I was at Wycombe Abbey. Not only did they provide me with a kind and caring host family, but Pippa also visited me regularly and we had long, free chats and I felt like I could tell her anything – she was a breath of fresh air from outside the bubble of boarding school, helping to provide a broader perspective to any issues I had. Pippa showed so much personal interest in my wellbeing and by the end of the two years I felt like she really knew me as a person – a feat I wouldn’t be able to say for relatives I’ve known for over a decade!
