Boarding schools are gearing up to accommodate pupils who will be required quarantine upon arrival, with a view of restarting courses in September, Tes has been told.

And confidence is growing that overseas students will come back, with interest reported from Hong Kong and China.

Robin Fletcher, chief executive of the Boarding Schools’ Association, said: “I think a lot of boarding schools will be looking to offer services for students who do need to get through quarantine from probably the middle of August to achieve that 14-day window - that’s something which I think a lot of schools are looking at.

“I don’t think that will be unusual to see boarding schools offering that sort of arrangement.”

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Demand for a British education from overseas families was still high despite the Covid-19 crisis, he added.

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“We are hearing from across the world that there is very strong demand,” he said.

“We have taken part in webinars with parents in Hong Kong an China, with thousands of parents involved, asking questions about the schools and when they can reopen. So I think the demand is there.”

He added that the announcement of the bespoke immigration route for those classed as British nationals (overseas) would spur further interest from Hong Kong.

Commenting on the announcement that citizens of some countries will be exempted from quarantine requirements upon arrival in England, Mr Fletcher said: “It is good news, because obviously we have parents around the world who are very very keen to let their children come back to UK schools and we have got UK schools who are very keen to welcome back those students

“So anything that can make that process easier for schools and for families is very welcome news indeed.”