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Join the COBIS global network of schools

We are a global network of British international schools committed to providing a high-quality education that develops students who will have a positive impact on society. At the heart of COBIS is rigour and quality assurance. Schools can join COBIS through our external routes (CIS, BSO, WASC, NEASC, ISI, OEASC) or through our own COBIS Accreditation and Compliance scheme which provides a kitemark of quality. We ensure that every member school demonstrates accountability, strong governance, and a commitment to student wellbeing and achievement. 

Discover how your school could join and benefit from COBIS membership

Why join a global organisation like COBIS as well as a regional association?

Regional associations play an important role in supporting collaboration, professional development, and networking within specific geographic regions. They provide valuable local expertise and opportunities for schools to connect with peers facing similar regional contexts.

Joining a global organisation such as COBIS can complement this regional engagement by connecting schools to a wider international community. Global membership provides access to broad networks, international recognition, and opportunities for collaboration with schools across multiple continents. It also further strengthens advocacy for British international education worldwide and offers additional professional development, research, and student opportunities that extend beyond regional boundaries.

Together, regional associations and global organisations provide schools with the best of both worlds: strong local collaboration alongside global perspective, influence, and opportunity. And throughout all, COBIS promotes and recognises choice, supporting schools to do what is best for their own priorities and context. COBIS membership is open to schools from any region in the world. 

Find out more about joining COBIS

School Membership Benefits

Professional Learning

Promotion

  • Use of the COBIS logo
  • School listing on website
  • Announcement of membership on social media and social media amplification of school news and recognition of achievements

  • Global visibility through COBIS events, competitions, and conferences

  • Opportunities for case studies, research participation, and collaboration

Communications

  • Regular newsletters for sector information
  • Blogs featuring best practice from the networks
  • ConnectED - online networking sessions
  • Buddy Scheme for mentoring

 

Services

“Through COBIS, we connect with like-minded schools, share best practice, and access professional development that empowers our staff and students to thrive in a global context.”
Dubai College
COBIS Accredited Member (BSO)

Alignment with IB Values

COBIS aligns strongly with the principles of the International Baccalaureate:

  • High standards and academic integrity
  • Intercultural understanding and respect
  • Global-mindedness and international outlook
  • Development of reflective, principled, and open-minded learners

For IB World Schools, COBIS membership enhances — rather than replaces — existing frameworks, offering access to British educational traditions and benchmarking while reinforcing shared educational values.

What do we mean by "British"? 

We recognise that the term British can sometimes cause uncertainty. Within COBIS, “British” refers not to nationality, but to a distinctive educational ethos grounded in:

  • Educating the whole child — academic achievement alongside character development and wellbeing
  • A broad and balanced curriculum, including British-style curricula and the IB where relevant
  • Commitment to international-mindedness and intercultural learning
  • Rich co-curricular and wider curricular opportunities
  • External examinations recognised in the UK, including IB where applicable

For schools joining via the CIS route, we require a Statement of Commitment to British Educational Ethos and Values. This ensures that even where “Britishness” is not explicitly assessed by the accrediting body, schools are aligned with the core principles of British international education.

For further clarity, we direct schools to Standard 5 of the COBIS Accreditation and Compliance Standards, which outlines our interpretation of British educational ethos and values in detail.

Find out more about COBIS Accreditation and Compliance

 

For us, it's an opportunity to be part of a worldwide network of schools, that operate using similar standards. COBIS is an opportunity for us to engage in high-quality dialogue, and high-quality professional development.The British School, Rio de Janeiro
COBIS Accredited Member (CIS)