Our Partners
We are pleased to work with a host of partners.
These valuable partnerships allow us to bring the most to our members and help shape the education sector as a whole.
Government Bodies
As the voice of the sector, we work in partnership with the UK Department for Business and Trade (DBT). Colin Bell, our CEO, represents our members, supporting associates, the wider British international school sector and the Independent Schools Council as an appointed member of the UK DIT Education Sector Advisory Group. In addition, our association is recognised as a UK DBT Trade Challenge Partner and it plays an active role in British educational Trade Missions worldwide. The Department of Business and Trade works with UK based businesses to ensure their success in international markets through exports. DBT is responsible for: international trade and investment; helping UK companies achieve their potential overseas through exporting; encouraging investment in the UK by overseas businesses. This partnership also enables us to offer our members increased ways of accessing quality information, services and opportunities available in international markets.
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We are proud to be official partners of the Education is Great campaign. The UK offers world-class education, a global reputation and a strong presence in international markets, and we work with DIT and Education is Great to promote British curriculum schools and encourage international students to take advantage of the UK's excellent education system. The Education is Great campaign understands the mutual benefits of hosting international students, who make an invaluable contribution to British society, bringing with them new knowledge, cross-cultural understanding and global friendships, enriching the education experience of domestic students.
COBIS Partners
The Planet Mark, in partnership with the Eden Project and Cool Earth, is a certification programme recognising commitment to continuous improvement in sustainability by supporting organisations to measure and reduce their carbon footprint. We work closely with The Planet Mark on sustainability initiatives and encourage our schools and Supporting Associates to do the same.
Find out how you can work with The Planet Mark to become a more sustainable organisation here.
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Our partnership with ACRO promotes the International Child Protection Certificate (ICPC) as a rigorous safeguarding tool to reduce risk in British International Schools worldwide. The ICPC is a criminal records check for anyone who lives, or has lived, in the UK and who is looking to work with children overseas. We are the Founding Global Ambassador for the ICPC.
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The Safeguarding Alliance is a firm of specialists with a mutual passion and commitment in driving forward safeguarding excellence. They aim to raise standards, professionalise and empower practitioners of today, to safeguard and protect future generations of tomorrow. They aim to put an end to safeguarding failure by researching, developing and promoting policy, education and training around the world. The Safeguarding Alliance offer a range of services and support to help school practitioners and leaders ensure their safeguarding is watertight. Services include policy and procedure audits, training, legislative updates, plus access to a dedicated email and helpline. COBIS members can access Safeguarding Alliance membership at a 10% discounted rate. For more information, please contact hannah@thesafeguardingalliance.org.uk.
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The EduTec Alliance are our Digital Advisory Partners, supporting COBIS and its members in navigating today's edtech and AI market. The EduTec Alliance is a consulting organisation specialising in digital and AI transformation in the international schools sector, helping schools, school groups and associations make the very best use of educational technology. Their team comprises some of the best in the field; educators, edtech specialists, programme managers, solutions integrators, AI veterans and cyber security specialists.
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The Chartered College of Teaching is the professional body for teachers. They work to empower a knowledgeable and respected teaching profession through membership and accreditation. They are dedicated to bridging the gap between practice and research and equipping teachers with the knowledge and confidence to make the best decisions for their pupils.
This partnership recognises the mutual aims of COBIS and the Chartered College of Teaching to empower a knowledgeable and respected teaching profession worldwide.
COBIS members and alumni can join the College with a 10% discount with further discounts on group membership available to COBIS schools.
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Tes is proud to have been an integral part of the global education community for over 100 years, empowering schools and enabling great teaching through our tailor-made products, flexible training and development, sector-leading magazine and teaching resources platform.
As the go-to place for schools wanting to recruit and teachers looking to find the best-fit role, we help the international community to recruit, retain and develop the staff they need to give their students the outstanding education they deserve, and their parents want.
We support schools to achieve these outcomes and collaborate with both students and parents along the way, with our suite of proven solutions for staff and student management, wellbeing, learning plans, safeguarding, timetabling and more. All our products enable you to monitor outcomes and make informed decisions about the best way to resource effectively, deliver learning and support your whole school.
COBIS members are eligible for a 5% discount off many of our products, find out more about how we can support your school today.
Accreditation Partners
The Department for Education have put in place a voluntary inspection scheme for overseas schools. This ensures schools provide their pupils with the skills and qualifications they need to enter or re-enter the British education system. The scheme helps to inform parents about how the standards in these schools measure up against the standards that apply to independent schools in England. To become accredited you must have an inspection every 3 years which shows that your performance against all the standards is at least satisfactory. Inspectorates are approved by DfE and monitored by Ofsted to inspect British schools overseas and produce inspection reports. Visit the website for more information.
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The Council of International Schools
The Council of International Schools (CIS) is a membership community of more than 1330 schools and universities around the world committed to high quality international education. As a leader in the field of school evaluation and accreditation worldwide, we provide a unique international accreditation with a focus on learning and teaching, well-being, and global citizenship. The quality and rigour of CIS International Accreditation is recognized by ministries, departments of education, and universities around the world as demonstration of a school’s commitment to high quality international education. Learn more about CIS International Accreditation on their website.
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The New England Association of Schools and Colleges
The New England Association of Schools and Colleges (NEASC) is an independent, voluntary, non-profit membership organization whose mission is to partner with schools to assess, support, and promote high quality education for all students through accreditation, professional assistance, and pursuit of best practices. A globally recognized standard of excellence, the granting of NEASC Accreditation attests to a school’s high quality and integrity. Founded in 1885, NEASC has established and maintained high standards for all levels of education longer than any other accreditation agency in the United States. NEASC establishes rigorous standards of quality for all accredited institutions while respecting their unique populations, missions, and cultures. More than 1500 public, independent, and international schools in the United States and in over 80 countries around the world are NEASC members. American, AP, IB, British, Cambridge, and IPC curricula, among others, are represented. Visit their website here.
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The Accrediting Commission for Schools, Western Association of Schools and Colleges
ACS WASC is a world-renowned accrediting association and one of the six regional accrediting agencies in the United States, works closely with the Office of Overseas Schools under the U.S. Department of State. ACS WASC provides assistance to schools worldwide, especially in California, Hawaii, Guam, Asia, the Pacific Region, the Middle East, Africa, and Europe.
The Accrediting Commission for Schools, WASC, extends its services to over 5,200 public, independent, church-related, and proprietary pre-K–12 and adult schools, works with 20 associations in joint accreditation processes. ACS WASC advances and validates quality ongoing school improvement by supporting its private and public elementary, secondary, and postsecondary member institutions to engage in a rigorous and relevant self-evaluation and peer review process that focuses on equity, inclusion, and access to high-level, rigorous learning opportunities for all students.
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Independent Schools Inspectorate
ISI is an independent inspectorate, appointed by the Department for Education to inspect association independent schools in England.
Their inspection reports inform the Department for Education on the extent to which the statutory Independent School Standards are met.
They are also approved by the Department for Education to inspect British schools overseas, and by the Home Office to inspect private further education colleges and language schools.
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We are Cyber Essentials certified, demonstrating our commitment to robust cyber security practices. This government-backed accreditation confirms that we protect our systems and data against cyber threats, providing peace of mind to our school members and partners. Find out more about Cyber Essentials here.
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COBIS is pleased to announce a partnership with UK Study Options (UKSO), giving member schools access to tailored support for students, families, and staff considering higher education in the UK.
Through this partnership, COBIS member schools will benefit from exclusive discounted rates on UKSO services, including:
- Personalised guidance for students and families on UK university Home fee eligibility.
- Support for British and Irish expatriate staff and their families relocating to or from British international schools.
- Expert advice on university courses, entry requirements, and career pathways.
- Practical resources and events – including termly blogs, regular updates, and an annual webinar for schools.
This partnership provides support to school leaders and counsellors to strengthen the guidance they can offer families and staff within their communities.
