About COBIS
COBIS is a Membership Association of British Schools of quality and is a member of the Independent Schools Council (ISC) of the United Kingdom. By virtue of this and its agreement with the Independent Schools Inspectorate (ISI), it is able to accredit British Schools abroad, anywhere in the world. Please see the section "Accreditation" for details.
The current mission statement of COBIS includes the following as its main objectives:
- Quality assurance in member schools.
- Representation with the British Government, with educational bodies and with the corporate sector.
- A forum for discussion through conferences, seminars and continuing professional development..
- A network of support through contacts, consultancies, information and marketing.
COBIS holds an Annual Conference in London in May for Heads, Governors (Board Members) and members of school Senior Leadership Teams.. The programme includes talks and seminars on developments in British and international education and gives delegates an opportunity to meet and listen to leaders of education.
COBIS also holds conferences for teachers at different venues outside the UK based in its member schools. Details of such conferences are available on the website. The Annual Conference in London and the Teachers' Conferences provide excellent opportunities for personal meetings between delegates and for the development of professional contacts and friendships.
A fundamental aim of COBIS is to support its members and represent their interests in Britain and overseas, particularly with Government, education authorities and educational associations in order to advance the interests of British schools outside the UK. Unlike many other countries, the British Government does not support schools abroad. British schools outside Britain therefore depend entirely on independent, non governmental organisations.
COBIS was founded in 1981 as COBISEC (Council of British Independent Schools in the European Communities) and is a Charitable Association registered in The Hague. The Association is managed by an elected Executive Committee which includes both Heads and Governors (Board Members). In 2000 the Association became affiliated to ISC, and adopted the ISI inspection scheme as the route to full Accredited membership for its European members.
The Annual General Meeting in May 2007 unanimously decided to shorten the name to reflect the increasingly international composition of the membership, and signed an agreement with ISI to enable British schools abroad, anywhere in the world to be inspected and accredited.
The work of COBIS is supported by a UK Secretariat.
