Supporting
international students in the UK since 1993
For over 30 years, Quest Guardians has been
the trusted link between families, schools and
students worldwide.
Our Story
Quest Guardians was founded in 1993 by Sheelagh Michelmore in Devon, following her experience as both a host family and guardian to international students studying in the UK. What began as a small, personal service grew through trust and recommendation into a respected guardianship organisation supporting students at boarding schools across the country.
For over 30 years, Quest has remained a family-run business. After more than two decades leading the company, Chris Michelmore helped build strong relationships with schools, parents, and host families that continue to define our work today. Quest is now led by Henry Michelmore, continuing the family’s commitment to personal, reliable, and thoughtful support.
Today, we support students at around 200 UK boarding schools, working with experienced coordinators, trusted host families, and a dedicated office team. While the company has grown, our approach remains the same: calm, consistent care built on trust and long-term relationships.
Our Values
Purpose
We aim to provide a premier guardianship service that ensures students are safe, supported, and well cared for in trusted host family environments. We work with professionalism and responsiveness, maintaining clear communication and building long-term, collaborative relationships with parents, schools, students, and partners, always acting in the student’s best interests.
Personal
We take a personal approach to guardianship, treating every student as an individual and ensuring they feel safe, supported, and properly cared for throughout their time in the UK. We focus on understanding each student’s needs and providing calm, responsive support when it is needed.
Professional
We provide a well-organised, reliable, and responsive service supported by experienced staff, safeguarding procedures, and clear communication systems. We take responsibility seriously, ensuring all arrangements are managed carefully, efficiently, and with consistency so parents, schools, and students can feel confident in our service.
Partnerships
We work in close partnership with parents, schools, and host families to support each student’s wellbeing. These relationships are built on trust, openness, and clear communication. We believe trust is earned through honesty, reliability, and keeping people properly informed, especially when it matters most.
Meet the Team
Our diverse team of professionals share a passion for education. We tirelessly work to help you achieve your goals. We recruit and train Host Families who care, and with professional coordinators, bilingual office staff, and systems to match, you can be sure we will be there for your child in your absence.
Hover over the map to see which areas we cover.
Quest Team
Quest Guardians is proud to
be accrediated by AEGIS
Quest Guardians is accredited by AEGIS, the UK’s independent body for guardianship organisations. AEGIS sets and monitors professional standards through a detailed inspection process that assesses the quality of student care, safeguarding, communication, and business practice.
Our most recent inspection in 2025 recognised the strength of our communication with parents and schools, the close relationships maintained by our regional teams, and the consistent care provided to students throughout the year. The report also highlighted our strong safeguarding culture, regular school visits, and the high levels of satisfaction reported by students and parents.
🌍 Global Community
