We spoke to Robin Silk, Principal of The King’s School Canterbury, Vattanacville, Cambodia, about taking their school through the COBIS Compliance scheme, and the impact it has had on the school. The King’s School Canterbury, Vattanacville is the first COBIS Member school in Cambodia.

Tell us a bit about your school – what are you particularly proud of?

Our school is less than two years old. We’re obviously set up under the aegis of King’s Canterbury, and that school is over 1,400 years old, so we’re the newest version of King’s Canterbury.

We’re really proud of the fact that it’s a really safe, secure environment, with excellent teachers, really nice facilities, and we’re growing.

Why did you want to pursue COBIS Compliance?

I’ve been involved with COBIS a long time, and they’ve increasingly become a benchmark of quality because they have expanded their remit. They are the number one British organisation for accrediting schools around the world and they have the reputation that goes with that. We wanted to get that kitemark of quality. We also know that going through accreditation is an excellent tool for any school, and that it makes the school better because you follow really good advice and high standards that really help you when you have them in place.

How did you find the process of COBIS Compliance?

It went absolutely fine. It was a team effort, as a school leader you need that help and support from your team. But once we understood the process it was straightforward. And the Lead Improvement Partner was really helpful and supportive and worked us through each standard. She helped us through the process and that was brilliant.

How did you find working with the Lead Improvement Partner?

Our Lead Improvement Partner came from Rugby School Thailand, and she was really, really good. She talked us through everything, and explained anything we were unsure of. She helped us reach the goals COBIS required, and gave us all of the information we needed to reach those goals which was really helpful.

What impact will COBIS Compliance have on your school?

First of all, it’s made us establish the standards needed for a really good school, making sure we have all of the key policies and procedures in place. Making sure we do all the basics really well; making sure our safeguarding is top notch.

It’s helped our governance understand what we need to do, because they’ve had to engage with the standards, and the governance has improved as well. It’s been an excellent process for the Senior Leadership Team and the staff, and that’s been great.

And I think it’s a good start. We definitely want to continue on and do full COBIS Accreditation as well. We know it’s important to keep self-evaluating and that it’s an ongoing process of school improvement, not just a one-off.

What do you hope to gain from membership?

A whole range of things. Definitely professional development, that’s really important. We’re also the only school in Cambodia to be COBIS quality assured so when teachers are looking to work here we know we will stand out to them.

Safeguarding is a key focus for us, so the safeguarding offer and safer recruitment support is something we use a lot of.

What specific member benefits are you looking forward to engaging with?

Aside from CPD and Safeguarding support, we’re looking forward to making connections between different schools as well, around the world.

What would you say to other schools thinking of joining?

Don’t hesitate. Join. It’s a big network; a big family of schools that benefit from COBIS, and you can as well. COBIS facilitates connections between different schools, the network and the community is really beneficial. It’s a kitemark of quality, it’s a really good organisation to be involved with and stands your school in good stead.

For any questions or for more information about the COBIS Accreditation and Compliance scheme, please contact sharon.gallagher@cobis.org.uk.