Accreditation

Patron's Accreditation and Compliance: Set your school up for success

The Patron’s Accreditation and Compliance scheme is the primary route to COBIS membership.

School development lies at the heart of our non-judgemental approach, based on professional partnership and rigorous standards

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A tailored approach

We recognise that every school is unique, operating in a particular context and at a different stage of development. We strive to understand each school and appreciate its special qualities and conditions.

Globally recognised external validation

With school improvement, learning, safeguarding and well-being at the core, our programme supports schools with a British educational ethos worldwide in their development journey. As a COBIS school, you will become a member of a global-wide network of educators.

Professional ongoing support

The process begins with honest self-evaluation and involves extensive dialogue with a COBIS-trained Lead Improvement Partner as we build up a professional relationship in advance of the visit with the aim of setting schools up for success.

Robust international standards

Gain valuable insight into your progress benchmarked against the best British and international practice, whilst working on your development priorities.

How does it work in practice?

You can choose the scheme you want to apply for – Compliance or Patron’s Accreditation – and we’re here to help you make this decision

Once you’ve applied, we will schedule a visit to your school at least 6 months in advance, and allocate a Lead Improvement Partner who will guide you through the process and assist you in preparing the evidence for a successful visit.

Within six weeks following the visit, you will receive a written report which will have been comprehensively reviewed by the COBIS Accreditation Team and the COBIS Membership and Accreditation Committee of the COBIS Board, before final ratification by the COBIS Board. The report will contain ‘Priority Next Steps,’ as well as other recommendations. These will form the agenda for annual review video meetings with the Lead Improvement Partner.

In addition, schools may be commended in areas where they have made important strides and, in some cases, may be awarded ‘Blue Circles’ for outstanding practice. Such awards are given to the school on the understanding that they will be open to sharing areas of excellent practice with other COBIS schools in our network.

READ A step by step overview of the process

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FAQs

What is the difference between Patron’s Accreditation and Compliance?

For Compliance, standards 1-5 are mandatory (plus standard 6 for boarding)
Standards 7-10 are only available with Patron's Accreditation
Compliance is the minimum requirement for COBIS membership and features a 2.5-day LIP visit
A successful Compliance visit confers COBIS Member (Compliance) status while a Patron’s Accreditation visit leads to Patron’s Accredited status
Patron's Accreditation validates learning and teaching and leadership with a three-day team visit along with areas of compliance against our standards
Compliance visits are carried by a Lead Improvement Partner without a team
Schools in their early stages of operation are recommended to opt for Compliance but this can be negotiated in the application stage
A stepped approach may be preferable by first choosing Compliance and then considering Accreditation further down the line. We recommend at least 18 months to two years between visits

What is the COBIS approach to Patron's Accreditation and Compliance?

COBIS Compliance and Patron’s Accreditation is based on the validation of evidence provided by our schools. It is not an inspection regime, nor do we form judgements. It is not a pass/fail regime, or a one-off snapshot. Instead, it is an interactive process over a five-year cycle, involving supportive dialogue with a Lead Improvement Partner and the COBIS Accreditation Team to build solid professional relationships and lasting partnerships.

Our approach is differentiated. We recognise every school is unique, sitting in its particular context.
Our Standards are high and unimpeachable and schools will meet them in different ways according to their stage of development.
Nevertheless, schools must meet all of the Standards – whether Compliance or Patron’s Accreditation.
The preparation period of around six months before a visit, where schools work with their Lead Improvement Partner, is designed to help set schools up for success.
Patron’s Accreditation involves observation of learning and teaching with optional feedback for each teacher observed during a visit.

Key Programme Facts

Compliance: Mandatory Standards: 1-5 (+ potential Boarding)

Visit: 2.5 days by a Lead Improvement Partner (LIP)

Cost: £3869* + visit (LIP accommodation, travel etc.)

Please note this cost is payable up front.

Membership Status: COBIS Member – valid for 5 years

Patron’s Accreditation: Mandatory Standards: 1-5, (plus Boarding if applicable) and Accreditation: 7-10

Visit: 3 days by a Lead Improvement Partner and team of 3 Peer Accreditors

Cost: £8943* + visit (accommodation, travel etc. for visiting team)

Please note this cost is payable up front.

Membership Status: Patron’s Accredited Member – valid for 5 years

Please note: Annual membership subscription fees (based on pupil numbers) are payable in addition.

*All costs are subject to change.

The Process – step by step

School chooses programme to follow – COBIS Compliance or Patron’s Accreditation.
School applies online and makes full payment for COBIS Compliance or COBIS Patron’s Accreditation. School is given access to the Digital Workbook and School Handbook and completes the School Profile (basic details). COBIS will contact the school to confirm visit dates.
A school undergoing the full Patron’s Accreditation will also be initially contacted by either the Director or Assistant to Director of Accreditation to discuss the scope of the visit and the additional subject area the school would like us to look at.
Once dates have been agreed school is given full access to the Compliance/Accreditation tabs in the Digital Workbook and allocated a Lead Improvement Partner (LIP) to guide them through the process of uploading evidence against the COBIS Compliance/Accreditation Standards.
The LIP maintains contact with your school and organises calls, video meetings and any interviews before the visit as well as the visit schedule covering the areas of focus agreed by Head and LIP and other practical matters.
Once the visit has been completed, the LIP and the team will draft the report. If the school is admitted to membership, the school will receive Membership documents plus a detailed report within 4-6 weeks of the visit. A Summary report may also be provided to share with the school community after an Accreditation visit.
The school will be sent a certificate confirming their member status.
The school is contacted annually by the LIP to discuss progress against the Priority Next Steps and other recommendations and a short report is drawn up.
4 years after the visit COBIS will contact the school, giving them a year’s notice to schedule their next visit. The review cycle is designed to be on a 5 year basis.

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