What makes British international schools stand out

I had just finished a “fireside chat” talk at a conference recently, when I found myself drinking tea next to the former schools’ minister, Sir Nick Gibb.

We ended up talking in depth about the value of British education overseas, the model, the values, the organisations, the individuals, and how it brilliantly projects the UK in a positive light around the world.

British education has been synonymous for a very long time with high quality, academic, traditional, innovative and character-building education globally. It is more than just about speaking English in schools.

The UK has some of the oldest schools in the world, going back centuries, and many of the outstanding universities. British education also represents a level of culture and achievement known throughout the world from Shakespeare to Jane Austin, Paddington Bear and Harry Potter; from Charles Darwin to Tim Berners-Lee.  

It is about more than just speaking English in schools.

The UK influences global education through leadership and design in innovative curricula, such as Cambridge International, the most popular curriculum globally for international schools. The cultural powerhouse of the British Council impacts everything from education to art, representing the very best of British creativity in music, fashion, design and so on. 

A global network of international schools supported through organisations such as COBIS (Council of Overseas British Schools) and BSO (British Schools Overseas), enables us to raise standards of education and to respond to the challenges of technology, AI, and societal trends.

This is not necessarily uniquely British but the standards and experience of a British international school model are what so many schools and education systems aspire to. This year, my former school, Heritage International School, is working with Cambridge International and the ministry of education in Moldova to improve the national system in a formal way. This is a project that has largely grown from the leadership of Tatiana Popa, the head of secondary at Heritage.

Essential components of any successful school such as a strong culture of safeguarding or effective governance in an accountable and transparent system, are also seen as the hallmarks of British education and greatly admired globally. 

Brexit has made the importance of British influence on European and global education even more vital. 

This is timeless and one of the strengths of the British international school model is that it continues to evolve and deliver education without being impacted by, say, a political decision such as Brexit. If anything, Brexit has made the importance of British influence on education in Europe and globally, even more vital.

International schools have an outward facing culture and are often part of an international school group or a global network of schools. These connections help develop key aspects and values of an international school such as diversity, international mindedness, global citizenship and intellectual curiosity. Again, not values unique to the UK, but often associated with Britain and its schools’ educational vision and mission.

But it is not about “creating values” in an abstract way. Instead, schools following the British model take a holistic approach to education. It is about balance and development of the student through opportunities in a clubs programme or student leadership councils. There are also important structures such as counselling, the tutor system and the development of skills for universities, careers and life beyond school. 

Great education is timeless. 

Very few school leaders, governors and educators believe in “spoon feeding education”. We have to prepare students with skills, knowledge and characteristics to take on the world confidently that exists in this tumultuous decade and beyond.  

There are many international schools to choose from across the globe, some claiming to have a better way of learning, but like the idea of British education, great education is timeless.  

It is about a child being happy and safe and cared for in school. It is about teachers sharing their passion for learning and being able to challenge and develop a young mind as they progress through schools.

It is about preparing young people so they can feel confident to take their place in their society, knowing who they are and how to make a good impact.