COBIS Schools: What Parents Should Know
Choosing the right school is one of the most important decisions a parent can make. When you select a COBIS school, you’re choosing excellence, integrity, and care that reach far beyond the classroom.
COBIS (the Council of British International Schools) is a trusted accrediting body representing over 330 high-quality British international schools across more than 85 countries. Our rigorous accreditation and compliance processes ensure that every COBIS school upholds the highest standards in safeguarding, teaching, leadership, and student wellbeing.
Families who choose a COBIS school join a global community committed to academic excellence, personal growth, and cultural understanding - where every child is supported to achieve their full potential, wherever they are in the world.
The COBIS Mission
COBIS’ Mission is to support and empower all British international schools in their provision of high-quality education.
The COBIS Vision
COBIS’ Vision is to reach and connect all British international school communities in order to support them in developing students who will have a positive impact on society.
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COBIS Membership Is a Kitemark of Quality
COBIS is an internationally recognised kitemark of quality. Our schools have demonstrated they meet the high standards required for COBIS membership.
COBIS schools have access to world-class safeguarding, professional development opportunities, and student enrichment activities, ensuring that COBIS schools deliver excellence across the board.
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Safeguarding and Child Protection
We believe that children, young people and adults at risk of harm should never experience abuse of any kind. We have an unfaltering commitment to promote the welfare of all children, young people and adults at risk to keep them safe. COBIS is committed to reducing risk connected to all safeguarding and child protection matters.
COBIS has an unfaltering commitment to promote the welfare of all children, young people and vulnerable adults to keep them safe. COBIS schools meet rigorous international safeguarding, safer recruitment, and child protection standards, aligned with UK and global best practices.
As a COBIS Member, your child's school has met the high standards COBIS sets for child safety and wellbeing.
We are proud to be a founding member of the International Task Force on Child Protection (ITFCP), an ICPC Global Ambassador for the International Child Protection Certificate, and a founding member of the British International Schools Safeguarding Coalition (BISSC). All COBIS Member schools must adhere to the BISSC Code of Conduct.
We are proud to be a founding member of the International Task Force on Child Protection.
We are proud to be the ICPC Global Ambassador.
We are proud to be a founding member of the British International Schools Safeguarding Coalition.
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High Standards of Teaching and Learning
COBIS schools are committed to high standards in teaching and learning, world-class teachers and staff, and high-quality British orientated education delivered internationally. COBIS membership demonstrates a school’s commitment to quality assurance, continual improvement, and meeting rigorous standards.
As a COBIS Member, your child's school has proven its commitment to high-quality teaching and learning.
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A Connected Global Community
COBIS schools are part of a trusted network of British international schools in more than 85 countries around the world. COBIS promotes common values of integrity, inclusion, respect, and continuous improvement. COBIS membership provides opportunities for students from across the globe to come together for diverse international events and competitions, both virtually and online.
As a COBIS Member, your child's school is part of a global network, sharing best practice and learning from each other.
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Developing Global Citizens
COBIS Student Events provide students with a global stage to share their creative talents in areas like art, drama, music, and poetry. COBIS schools have co-curricular opportunities that include student leadership, arts, sports and esports competitions and much more. These opportunities enable students to feel part of a wider global community, develop international-mindedness and prepare for life after school.
As a COBIS Member, your child's school gains access to global opportunities in arts, sports, leadership, and more, helping your child to to build skills and gain further confidence.
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Commitment to Staff Training and Professionalism
COBIS creates pathways for teachers and leaders to continue to develop their skills and network through high-quality professional development, leadership training, and safeguarding updates. COBIS has a rich network of schools that keep teachers and school leaders connected and up to date with global educational best practice. •COBIS provides recruitment support for Member schools to attract, recruit, and retain the highest calibre of teachers.
COBIS Membership ensures your child is taught and supported by knowledgeable and highly qualified professionals.
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Recognised by Governments and Education Bodies
COBIS is recognised by the UK Department for Education and UK Department for Business and Trade and we work closely with inspectorates, safeguarding organisations, and global education stakeholders. COBIS Accreditation also helps ensure schools align with both UK and international regulatory expectations as they are externally validated by the UK Quality Assurance Agency for Higher Education (QAA).
COBIS Membership gives your child’s school a voice with the UK Government, international exam boards, and UK and international universities.