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Provisional Schools

We wanted expert guidance on quality assurance for the early development stages. COBIS very quickly became the backbone to the initial opening phase when writing policies and deciding to how to implement an ethos which would define us as an outward–thinking international schoolLady Eleanor Holles, FoshanFormer COBIS Provisional School

We are committed to supporting British international schools through all stages of their development.

Provisional School status is for schools that are still in the planning stage and expect to open within one to two years.

COBIS Provisional School status offers tools and support for schools planning to open an international British school. It is awarded to schools in the planning stage or early stages of operations. 

Schools must demonstrate a high level of quality across 5 areas throughout the application process:

  1. Nature of the school: including ethos and values and admissions policy.
  2. Staffing: including recruitment processes and training, and safer recruitment practices.
  3. Students and Curriculum: including planned curriculum and support for EAL and AEN students.
  4. Facilities: including safety compliance and provision for students with physical disabilities.
  5. Governance and Steering: including vision, school development plan, planned governance structure and school policies.

Provisional Schools benefit from:

  1. Expert guidance on quality assurance for the early development stages
  2. Support from our dedicated staff and Accreditation Team
  3. Member rates on safeguarding training and Prohibition Order checks to ensure the highest levels of compliance
  4. Access to a global and regional network of established and future schools for peer-to-peer advice
  5. Full calendar of residential and online professional development opportunities for teaching and non-teaching staff at member rates
  6. One complementary delegate registration for COBIS Annual Conference and member rates for additional delegates
  7. Access to a network of service providers dedicated to supporting British international schools

I think the strength of the COBIS approach is that it is genuinely collaborative, they’re open to discussions and concerns about how to meet the standards. Amidst all the busyness of pulling together all that is needed to breathe life into a brand new school, it was certainly useful to have a critical friend on call, someone to engage with, someone with the knowledge to advise and guide us.

Shrewsbury International School, IndiaCOBIS Provisional School

FAQs

The following schools have achieved COBIS Provisional School status:

 

  • Charterhouse Lagos, Nigeria
  • Durham International School, Kenya
  • Fettes College, Guangzhou, China
  • Haileybury Bhaluka, Bangladesh
  • Lady Eleanor Holles International School, Foshan, China - Read their blog here
  • Queen's Qatar
  • Rugby School Japan
  • Shrewsbury International School Phnom Penh, Cambodia
  • The King's School, Vattanacville, Cambodia
  • Shrewsbury International School, India - Read their case study here
  • The Lisboan, Portugal
  • St. Michael Abbey School, UK
  • Wellington College Independent School Jakarta, Indonesia

 

If you're interested in becoming a COBIS Provisional School, please contact our membership team.

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COBIS Provisional School status is designed to deliver the excellence and high standards of the British education to schools, particularly new schools opening, with formal review, Board ratification, and a commitment to quality assurance. This status provides reassurance to parents, staff and students that the school is committed to high standards from the very beginning. 

Schools awarded Provisional status gain access to expert guidance, resources and a global network of international schools. This support helps founders navigate the planning phase and early stages of operation, ensuring that every new school is built on strong foundations of quality and compliance. Schools awarded Provisional status also commit to formal quality assurance within the first year of operation, usually through our Accreditation and Compliance scheme. 

This is more than a label; it is a commitment to formal quality assurance. This early assurance is vital for British schools overseas, where many inspectorates only assess schools once they are fully operational. Provisional School status is designed to help schools start as they mean to continue, with quality at the heart of what they do. 

By becoming a COBIS Provisional School, schools benefit from global recognition, professional development opportunities and best practice sharing across a vibrant community of international schools. COBIS’s support in the establishment of high-quality, British education through its Provisional School status helps schools develop robust systems, policies, and educational practices from the outset. 

Provisional School status is the first step towards becoming part of a trusted network committed to excellence and continuous improvement. Applications for Provisional School status are subject to the same review process as our membership applications. They are reviewed by our Membership and Accreditation Committee and ratified by our Board. Schools with Provisional School status also commit to completing their formal quality assurance within their first year of operation, usually through our Accreditation and Compliance scheme.