National accrediting organisations
ASIC accreditation is an internationally renowned quality standard for schools, colleges, universities and online learning providers, and is recognised by the UK Home Office.
Accreditation through ASIC will help students and parents make a more informed choice and will also help a school, college, university, training provider or distance education provider demonstrate to the international student body that they are a high-quality school.
The goals of ASIC are:
To be a globally recognised authority on the accreditation of international universities, colleges, schools, training organisations and distance education providers.
To assist schools to develop into providers of quality higher education, respected worldwide.
To ensure that all the ASIC areas of operation are adhered to and the best possible education experience is given to their students.
ASIC will assist accredited schools to:
Implement continuous quality assurance systems.
Develop comprehensive, internal audit and self-evaluation systems.
Develop quality, strategic partnerships worldwide.
Develop strategic, ethical marketing strategies.
Gain international recognition for their school and its courses.
Develop fruitful partnerships with ethical, professional education agents worldwide.
An international school describing itself as ‘British’ is subject to recognition by the British government under the voluntary inspection scheme. The intention is to inform parents of pupils in British Schools Overseas how standards measure up against the standards that apply to independent schools in England.
By achieving UK inspection-based approval, participating schools will be able to demonstrate that they provide a British education that has similar characteristics to an education in an independent school in England.
BSO approve the following organisations for inspection:
Educational Development Trust
Independent Schools Inspectorate
Penta International
An inspection must take place every 3 years.
The inspection will look at the following elements as part of the inspection:
Quality of Education
Spiritual, moral, social and cultural development of pupils
Welfare, health and safety of pupils
Suitability of staff, supply staff and proprietors
Premises and accommodation at schools
Provision of information
Manner in which complaints are handled
Quality of leadership in and management of schools
Minimum standards for boarding (if applicable)
COBIS is a membership association that represents more than 450 schools and organisations, globally. High-quality COBIS schools can be found in Europe, Asia, Africa, the Middle East and the Americas.
Being a member of COBIS will provide each school with the following:
Representation of members and their interests, lobbying on their behalf with Government, education authorities and educational associations.
Quality assurance of the highest standard with our Patron’s Accreditation and Compliance.
Opportunities for career advancement through our professional learning and CPD courses.
Valuable networking opportunities, both online and face-to-face, for our members based all around the world.
Engaging, educational and inspiring inter-school competitions and events for students of all ages.
Valuable resources to promote and maintain excellent child protection and safer recruitment standards at our member schools, by processing Prohibition Order checks, providing safeguarding policies and templates, and via our partnership with ACRO on the International Certificate for Child Protection
COBIS membership enables access to quality assurance through the Patron’s Accreditation & Compliance schemes. Members can choose which scheme they wish to apply for and COBIS will provide guidance on the best fit.
Independent Schools Inspectorate is appointed by the Department of Education to inspect association independent schools in England. They are also approved by the DoE to inspect British Schools overseas.
The inspection report is issued based on the degree to which the Independent Schools Standards are met.
KHDA oversee private education in Dubai, from early learning and schools through to higher, technical and vocational education and training. They are responsible for the growth and quality of private education in Dubai and support schools, universities, parents, students, educators, investors and government partners to create a high-quality education sector focused on happiness and wellbeing.
Any school wishing to operate in Dubai must apply for an Educational Services Permit and follow the requirements regarding curriculum, employment, school fees, building and advertising. Many documents issued by a school must be verified or authorised by KHDA.
MSA-CESS is a well-established accrediting organisation who have been helping school leaders reach their goals for over 130 years.
Accreditation begins with a self-study conducted by the school and requires input from a coalition of school leaders, teachers, parents and students.
Member schools will choose one of two protocols - Designing our Future (DOF) or Excellence by Design (EBD). DOF is recommended for a school seeking accreditation for the first time or having undergone significant changes. EBD is for schools seeking re-accreditation.
During the process, MSA will look at twelve key areas that make up the Standards for Accreditation. Following the self-study, a team of volunteer educators from the Middle States accredited schools conducts an on-site peer review to observe school operations and interview various stakeholders. The team then makes its recommendation to the Middle States, where it undergoes a multi-level review.
Becoming accredited by MSA-CESS will:
Help the organisation and its colleagues successfully establish and reach goals, develop a strategic plan and promote staff development.
Give staff a sense of pride in their work and provide opportunities for professional development.
Build coalitions of parents, teachers and administrators and unite diverse groups in an effort to provide the best possible outcomes for students.
Give the school an advantage with parents who want their children to attend a school with high standards where student achievement is paramount.
Provide graduates with documentation upon finishing school which is supported and validated by recognised external organisations.
NEASC is a membership organisation that partners with over 1500 public, independent and international schools in the US and worldwide to assess, support and promote high-quality education for all students through accreditation, professional assistance and pursuit of best practices.
To be recognized as a candidate for accreditation by NEASC as an international educational school the following criteria apply:
English is the primary language of instruction and communication throughout the school.
Demonstrate the international nature of the school through a mission which includes creating international citizens, through demographics of the student body and staff, and through the co-curricular experiences and programs offered.
Provide a curriculum that in content, design, implementation, and assessment reflects best practices in American and International education.
Have several years of operating history.
Operate outside the United States.
The process of accreditation with NEASC, like others, requires the school to adopt an ongoing, voluntary cycle of comprehensive internal and external assessments, strategic planning and occasional reporting sustained by professional partnership and support.
WASC is a regional agency in the United States that works closely with the Office of Overseas Schools under the U.S. Department of State. They provide assistance to schools worldwide, including California, Hawaii, Guam, Asia, the Pacific Region, the Middle East, Africa and Europe.
The commission encourages school improvement through a process of continuing evaluation and recognizes schools through granting accreditation to the schools that meet an acceptable level of quality in accordance with the established criteria.
WASC advances and validates quality ongoing school improvement by supporting its member schools to engage in a rigorous and relevant self-evaluation and peer review process that focuses on student learning.
They provide services to over 5,200 public, independent, church-related, and proprietary pre-K–12 and adult schools. They work with twenty associations in joint accreditation processes, and collaborate with other organisations such as the California Department of Education (CDE).
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