The COBISEC story: British schools in Europe, 1981–2007

This page records the history of the name. COBISEC.org is independent and is not the association. For COBIS today, visit cobis.org.uk.

1981: a council for British schools in the European Communities

In 1981 a group of 24 British independent schools operating across the European Communities formed the Council of British Independent Schools in the European Communities, or COBISEC. The first Chairman was Sir Dick Pantlin CBE, with Colin Sharman as Vice Chair.

The schools had a shared problem. They taught the English curriculum to British expatriate and international children, but they sat outside the UK's own school system. COBISEC gave them a common voice, a forum for heads and governors, and a network for sharing practice.

1996–2007: growth beyond Europe

Sir Roger Fry CBE, founder of the King's Group of schools, became Chairman in 1996 and held the role until 2011. Under his leadership membership grew from the original two dozen schools to more than 100. In 2002 the council signed a cooperation agreement with FOBISSEA, the Federation of British International Schools in South and East Asia.

2007: from COBISEC to COBIS

By 2007 the "European Communities" label no longer described the membership. The council dropped the "EC" and became the Council of British International Schools (COBIS). Affiliate schools outside Europe could now join as full members. The cobisec.org address belongs to that earlier era.

What the old cobisec.org website tells us

The association's website at cobisec.org ran from around 2000 until the end of the decade, and copies survive in the Internet Archive. It shows how the council worked in practice:

• Inspection through the UK system. The council was a member of the Independent Schools Council (ISC), and member schools were inspected by the Independent Schools Inspectorate (ISI), the body that inspected ISC schools in England. According to the site, COBIS schools had been undergoing ISI inspections since 2000.
• Demanding membership criteria. To become a full member, a school had to have existed for at least three years and pass a visit of two to three days. The visit checked that the curriculum was broadly in line with the English National Curriculum, that books and teaching methods matched UK practice, and that teachers were appropriately qualified.
• A code of ethical practice (2001) committed members to put students and parents first, follow host-country law and adopt good recruitment and employment practice.
• A royal patron. HRH Princess Alexandra was the council's patron, and attended annual conference receptions.
• Conferences for heads and teachers. The annual conference was held in London each May. The 26th, in May 2007, drew more than 90 delegates, with speakers including the ISI Chief Inspector, the general secretary of the Association of School and College Leaders, and a closing "Question Time" with former Chief Inspector of Schools Chris Woodhead. Teachers' conferences were hosted by member schools in cities such as Amsterdam and Prague.
• Information for parents. The site published guides to UK education, the curriculum, GCSEs, higher education and choosing a school. That tradition continues in our curriculum and guides sections.

The road to British Schools Overseas

For years the council lobbied for UK government recognition of British schools abroad. On 11 October 2008 the government announced that schools abroad claiming to offer a British education would be expected to meet standards similar to those for independent schools in Britain, and to be inspected regularly. The council welcomed the move. It led to the British Schools Overseas (BSO) inspection scheme, introduced shortly afterwards.

Member schools in the COBISEC era

The old directory listed member schools across Europe and, increasingly, the Middle East, Asia, Africa and the Americas. Many of them still operate today, among them long-established schools in Lisbon, Madrid, Paris, Brussels, The Hague, Rome, Milan, Prague and Athens. Explore today's British schools in our country guides.

After COBISEC

Why this history matters to families today

The COBISEC years set the template that British international schools still follow. They teach the English curriculum outside the UK, they are held to UK-style standards through inspection and accreditation, and they connect through professional networks. Understanding that model helps parents judge a school's claims. Read our guides to BSO inspection and choosing a British international school.