Council of British International Schools

What Council of British International Schools does

COBIS (Council of British International Schools) is a London-headquartered, non-profit membership association founded in 1981 that serves as the global representative body for British international schools. Its core customer base comprises 339 member schools spanning 86 countries, educating approximately 262,000 students and employing 25,500 teachers, complemented by 193 Supporting Associate organisations (vendors and service providers) that gain access to the school network. The organisation's flagship product is the COBIS Accreditation and Compliance Scheme — a quality assurance programme launched in 2017 and externally validated by the UK Quality Assurance Agency, with fees ranging from £6,522 (Compliance) to £13,641 (Two-Part Accreditation) per cycle.

COBIS monetises through three primary revenue streams: recurring annual membership subscriptions scaled to pupil numbers, one-time accreditation and compliance fees, and Supporting Associate programme revenue. Distribution is direct via online application portals on cobis.org.uk, supplemented by an annual conference, weekly webinars, the ConnectED virtual networking series, and a Tes-integrated Global Jobs recruitment platform. The organisation is governed by an elected Board of school leaders and holds formal recognition from the Japanese Ministry of Education (MEXT, February 2025) and the Saudi ETEC, positioning it as the de facto British international education quality standard in regulated markets.

COBIS is not a technology business and operates no proprietary platform or AI product; its competitive value derives from brand, regulatory standing, network density, and content rather than software. The organisation is supported by an executive team of approximately 26 staff led by CEO Colin Bell (in role since 2010) and Chair Lord Jim Knight (since 2023), with a wider pool of 200+ trained Lead Improvement Partners and Peer Accreditors delivering on-site accreditation visits. Recent strategic moves include international regulatory recognition in Japan and Saudi Arabia, a 45th-anniversary milestone in 2026, and ongoing partnerships with the UK Department for Business and Trade (DBT), Department for Education (DfE), ACRO, The Planet Mark, and The EduTec Alliance.

Name

Council of British International Schools

Legal name

Council of British International Schools

Website

https://cobis.org.uk

Company type

Private

Founded year

1981

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

COBIS is a London-based non-profit membership association founded in 1981 that accredits, supports, and represents 339 British international schools across 86 countries, generating revenue through annual subscriptions, accreditation fees, and Supporting Associate memberships.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Educational Quality Assurance / School Membership Association

NAICS

Professional Organizations (81392), Educational Services (611)

SIC

Services-Educational Services (8200), Services-Membership Organizations (8600)

akta.pro primary industry

Program Quality Assurance, Accreditation & Compliance (Secondary Overseas Programs) (EDAIAHAM)

Keywords

• International school membership
• School accreditation services
• Safeguarding certification
• Professional development education
• British curriculum schools

Headquarters

HQ city

London

HQ country

United Kingdom

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. School Membership Subscriptions: Annual membership subscription fees based on pupil numbers. Schools pay recurring fees to maintain membership and access COBIS benefits, accreditation services, and network resources.
2. Accreditation and Compliance Fees: One-time fees for accreditation visits and compliance verification. COBIS Accreditation (Two-Parts) starts from £13,641, One-Part Accreditation from £11,862, and Compliance from £6,522, plus additional section fees and travel costs.
3. New Member Application Fee: One-time COBIS membership application fee of £372 for new members. Schools in the UK are subject to VAT charges.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels9 records

Core offering

COBIS is a membership association that provides quality assurance accreditation, professional learning, safeguarding services, student engagement programs, and advocacy to British international schools worldwide. Its core offering is the COBIS Accreditation and Compliance scheme (validated by the UK Quality Assurance Agency), complemented by annual membership subscriptions, CPD courses, conferences, networking, and representation with government bodies.

Product overview

COBIS (Council of British International Schools) is a membership association providing a portfolio of interconnected services to British international schools worldwide. The core offering centers on the COBIS Accreditation and Compliance Scheme, a quality assurance programme validated by the UK Quality Assurance Agency, which serves as the primary route to membership. This is complemented by Professional Learning and CPD Courses (conferences, webinars, training), Safeguarding Services (safer recruitment, ICPC processing, training), Student Engagement Activities (Model UN, E-Sports, Student Council), Global Jobs Platform (via Tes integration), ConnectED Virtual Networking, the Buddy Scheme, Knowledge Hub resources, and Representation/Lobbying. COBIS is not a technology product but a service organisation supporting over 300 member schools across 80+ countries.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• COBIS Accreditation and Compliance Scheme A quality assurance and accreditation programme for British international schools, validated by the UK Quality Assurance Agency. Offers Compliance (2.5-day visit, standards 1-5) and full Accreditation (3-day visit with team, standards 1-10) pathways, with optional Two-Part process combining both.
• Professional Learning and CPD Courses Continuing professional development offerings including conferences, webinars, training courses, and events for teachers and school leaders. Includes safeguarding training, middle leadership programmes, and ITT & ECT induction support.
• Safeguarding Services
• Student Engagement Activities
• Global Jobs Platform
• ConnectED Virtual Networking
• COBIS Buddy Scheme An informal peer support scheme for new Heads, Senior Leadership Team members, and middle leaders in the COBIS network. Connects new colleagues with experienced leaders as a sounding board for challenges and rewards of international school leadership.
• Knowledge Hub A resource repository providing topical, practical support and guidance on safeguarding, wellbeing, DEIJB, sustainability, and speaking to children about world issues. Includes resources from Supporting Associates and partner organisations.
• Representation and Lobbying Services Advocacy services representing member schools' interests with Government, education authorities, and educational associations. Works with Department for Business and Trade and Department for Education.
• Research Services Research offerings including an Annual Research Survey and reports on Teacher Supply in British International Schools. Provides data-driven insights for the network.

Quantifiable outcome

• 339 member schools across 86 countries serving 262,000 students with 25,500 teachers
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers13 records

Segments2 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

15 partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Department for Business and Trade (DBT)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCOBIS works in partnership with UK Department for Business and Trade as the voice of the sector. Colin Bell, CEO, represents members as an appointed member of the UK DBT Education Sector Advisory Group. COBIS is recognised as a UK DBT Trade Challenge Partner and plays an active role in British educational Trade Missions worldwide.
• Education is GreatcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerOfficial partner of the Education is Great campaign promoting British curriculum schools and encouraging international students to take advantage of UK's excellent education system. Works with DBT to promote British education internationally.
• The Planet MarkcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership with The Planet Mark, in partnership with Eden Project and Cool Earth, is a certification programme for sustainability. COBIS works closely with The Planet Mark on sustainability initiatives and encourages member schools and Supporting Associates to reduce their carbon footprint.
• ACRO (Criminal Records Office)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership with ACRO promotes the International Child Protection Certificate (ICPC) as a safeguarding tool. COBIS is the Founding Global Ambassador for the ICPC, a criminal records check for anyone who lived in the UK and is looking to work with children overseas.
• The Safeguarding AlliancecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe Safeguarding Alliance provides specialist safeguarding services including policy and procedure audits, training, legislative updates, and access to dedicated email and helpline. COBIS members access membership at 10% discounted rate.
• The EduTec AlliancecoreTechnology or IntegrationDigital Advisory Partners supporting COBIS and members in navigating edtech and AI market. The EduTec Alliance is a consulting organisation specialising in digital and AI transformation in international schools with team of educators, edtech specialists, and cyber security specialists.
• Chartered College of TeachingminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership recognises mutual aims to empower a knowledgeable and respected teaching profession worldwide. COBIS members and alumni can join with 10% discount with further discounts on group membership available.
• TesminorGTM or Marketing PartnerTes supports schools with recruitment, retention and development of staff. COBIS members eligible for 5% discount off many Tes products. COBIS Global Jobs page hosted by Tes with bi-weekly Recruitment Bulletin.
• UK Study OptionsminorGTM or Marketing PartnerPartnership gives member schools access to tailored support for students, families, and staff considering higher education in UK. Exclusive discounted rates on UKSO services including university guidance and career pathway advice.
• British School Overseas (BSO)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerBSO is a voluntary inspection scheme by UK Department for Education for overseas schools. Ensures schools provide pupils with skills and qualifications needed to enter British education system. Schools must have inspection every 3 years.
• Council of International Schools (CIS)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCIS is a membership community of more than 1330 schools and universities committed to high quality international education. Provides international accreditation with focus on learning, teaching, well-being, and global citizenship.
• New England Association of Schools and Colleges (NEASC)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerNEASC is an independent membership organisation partnering with schools to assess and promote high quality education through accreditation. Globally recognized standard of excellence; over 1500 schools in US and 80+ countries worldwide are members.
• The Accrediting Commission for Schools, WASCcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerACS WASC is a world-renowned accrediting association and one of six regional accrediting agencies in US. Provides assistance to schools worldwide, especially in California, Hawaii, Guam, Asia, Pacific Region, Middle East, Africa, and Europe.
• Independent Schools Inspectorate (ISI)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerISI is an independent inspectorate appointed by Department for Education to inspect association independent schools in England. Also approved by DfE to inspect British schools overseas and by Home Office for private further education colleges.
• Department for Education (DfE)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCOBIS works closely in partnership with the Department for Education alongside DBT. The DfE oversees the British Schools Overseas (BSO) inspection scheme.

Scale indicators12 records

Recent moves8 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Regional players

• Federation of British International Schools in South and East Asia (FOBISSEA): FOBISSEA is a federation of British international schools in South and East Asia, with which COBIS has a cooperation agreement dating back to 2002. It operates as a regional sub-network with comparable objectives in CPD, competitions, and member support.
• Association of International Schools in Africa (AISA): AISA is a membership association supporting international schools across Africa with professional development, advocacy, and networking. It overlaps with COBIS's African member base and competes for member school subscription and CPD spend in that region.
• Association of American Schools in South America (AASSA): AASSA is a regional association of American/international schools across South America, providing professional development, athletics, and arts programmes. It serves a partially overlapping cohort with COBIS schools in the Americas region.
• Near East/South Asia Council of Overseas Schools (NESA): NESA serves international schools in the Near East and South Asia with professional learning, accreditation support, and leadership development. It overlaps with COBIS's Middle East and South Asia membership footprint, providing comparable CPD and accreditation-adjacent services.
• East Asia Regional Council of Schools (EARCOS): EARCOS is a membership organisation for international schools across East Asia, offering leadership conferences, professional development, and student activities. It serves a geographically overlapping subset of COBIS members in Asia and competes for the same member-school engagement time and budget.

Direct peers

• WASC / ACS WASC: The Accrediting Commission for Schools, WASC, is one of six US regional accrediting agencies with a strong international footprint in Asia, the Pacific, the Middle East, Africa, and Europe. It is a COBIS-listed partner and direct competitor for international school accreditation.
• Council of International Schools: The Council of International Schools (CIS) is a global membership community of 1,330+ schools and universities offering international accreditation with a focus on learning, well-being, and global citizenship. It is COBIS's most direct competitor for international school accreditation and membership, overlapping closely on target customers (international schools) and product (accreditation + CPD).
• NEASC Collaborative for Excellence in Education (NEASC-CEE / CPS): NEASC-CEE provides accreditation to 1,500+ schools across 80+ countries. It is listed by COBIS as a strategic partner but also competes for international school accreditation engagements, with globally recognised accreditation standards.
• European Council of International Schools: ECIS is a membership organisation for international schools primarily in Europe, providing accreditation, professional development, and networking services. It overlaps directly with COBIS's European membership base and competes for the same international schools seeking accreditation and CPD.

Others

• Independent Schools Inspectorate (ISI): ISI is an independent inspectorate approved by the UK Department for Education to inspect British schools overseas and appointed to inspect association independent schools in England. While not a membership association, it is a COBIS partner and indirect alternative/adjacent to COBIS Accreditation for UK-touchpoint inspection and quality assurance.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks7 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/3342106
• Xx.com/cobisorg

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles11 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

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Frequently asked questions about Council of British International Schools