A British education, wherever your family lands
inspire, learn, grow
Clear, independent guidance on British international schools: the curriculum, the qualifications, the countries and the practicalities of moving. For parents, and for the teachers who work in these schools.
Every child deserves a school that feels like home
28 country guides and 30 schools checked against their own websites
Schools by country
a place to belongPortugal
A guide to British international schools in Portugal: where they are, how they work alongside the Portuguese system, admissions and what families should know.
Spain
Spain has one of Europe's largest networks of British schools. How they work, where they are, homologation, university access and choosing a school.
France
British and English-language education in France: international schools in Paris and the regions, French sections, the BFI, and what families should know.
Germany
How British and international schools work within Germany's strict compulsory schooling rules, where to find them, and what families moving to Germany need to know.
Netherlands
British and international schooling in the Netherlands: independent British schools, subsidised Dutch International Schools (DIS), and how to choose.
Belgium
British, European and international schools in Belgium: options in Brussels and Flanders, the European Schools, and how to choose for your family.
Italy
A guide to British international schools in Italy: where they are, how they fit Italian compulsory schooling rules, and what families moving to Italy should know.
Switzerland
British and international schooling in Switzerland: day schools in the main cities, the famous boarding schools, cantonal rules, costs and how to choose.
British curriculum
How the English National Curriculum works overseas, from Early Years to A-Levels, and how it compares with the IB and US systems.
The English National Curriculum abroad: how British international schools teach
What 'British curriculum' really means outside the UK: the National Curriculum framework, how overseas schools adapt it, and what parents should check.
Key Stages and year groups explained: UK school ages for international families
A clear map of British school year groups, Key Stages and ages, with how they line up with US grades, for families moving between systems.
IGCSE vs GCSE: what's the difference and does it matter?
How International GCSEs from Cambridge and Pearson Edexcel compare with UK GCSEs on grading, coursework and recognition by sixth forms and universities.
A-Levels explained for international families
How A-Levels and International A-Levels work, how many subjects students take, grading, and how they lead to university in the UK and worldwide.
British vs IB vs American curriculum: which is right for your child?
An even-handed comparison of the British, International Baccalaureate and American systems: structure, assessment, university outcomes and mobility.
British Schools Overseas (BSO) inspection explained
What the UK government's British Schools Overseas scheme is, how BSO inspections work, and how parents can use them to judge a British international school.
Guides for families
Practical, independent guidance for parents choosing a British school abroad: admissions, fees, relocation and support.
How to choose a British international school: a parent's checklist
A practical, step-by-step checklist for comparing British international schools abroad: accreditation, teachers, results, pastoral care, fees and fit.
Admissions at British international schools: timeline, tests and documents
How applying to a British school abroad works: when to apply, entrance assessments, interviews, school reports and the documents you will need.
International school fees: what you actually pay at a British school abroad
A breakdown of the full cost of a British international school, from tuition and capital levies to buses, exams and trips, and how to compare schools fairly.
Moving abroad with children: a school-focused relocation checklist
A month-by-month checklist for families relocating internationally: choosing schools, records, health, language, and helping children settle.
Applying to UK universities from an international school
How students at British schools abroad apply through UCAS: deadlines, predicted grades, the personal statement, admissions tests and home vs international fee status.
Returning to a UK school after living abroad
How to move a child from a British international school back into the UK system: state school admissions, timing, exam boards and settling back in.
Teaching abroad
For teachers and leaders considering a move to a British international school: qualifications, recruitment, pay and contracts.
Teaching in British international schools: the complete guide
What it is really like to teach at a British school abroad: who gets hired, typical packages, contracts, career progression and how to choose a school.
QTS, iQTS and PGCE: which teaching qualification do you need to teach abroad?
How UK qualified teacher status, international QTS, the PGCE and the international PGCE differ, and which ones British international schools look for.
The international teacher recruitment season: a month-by-month timeline
When British international schools advertise, interview and hire, and how teachers can plan applications, notice periods and moves around the cycle.
International school contracts: 12 red flags to check before you sign
What to look for in an international teaching contract: salary terms, housing, notice, end-of-contract payments, visas and the clauses that cause the most problems.
International school interviews: common questions and how to prepare
The questions British international schools ask teachers and leaders, from safeguarding to adapting to a new culture, plus the questions you should ask them.
Moving into leadership in international schools: roles, NPQs and progression
How teachers progress into middle and senior leadership at British international schools, the role of NPQs and other qualifications, and what headships abroad involve.
where the name comes from
From 1981 to 2007, COBISEC was the Council of British Independent Schools in the European Communities, today's COBIS, and cobisec.org was its website. This site is an independent publication and is not connected to the association. Read the COBISEC story.