Guide · updated 2026-10-16
How to vet an international school before you sign
Check who has accredited or inspected the school, read the published report, read GOV.UK travel advice for the country and have the contract reviewed before signing. A badge on a website is a claim, not proof.
International schools range from long-established institutions to new openings, and the word international has no legal definition that guarantees quality. Anyone can put a logo on a page. Vetting means finding the body that issued the badge and checking the school appears in that body's own records.
The steps below are in the order most teachers find useful: accreditation, inspection, country and safety, then the contract. None of this replaces speaking to current staff, which is the check most likely to tell you what a school is really like.
Check the British Schools Overseas list on GOV.UK
GOV.UK publishes a list of British schools overseas that meet the school standards under the DfE's voluntary inspection scheme, with their inspection reports and the date of the most recent inspection. The DfE says an accredited school is registered on Get information about schools (GIAS).
The list is updated. At the time of writing, the page was last updated on 5 October 2026, when 15 schools were removed and 4 existing reports were updated. Because schools are removed as well as added, check the current page on the day you are deciding, not an old copy. The scheme is voluntary, so a school being absent from it is not proof of a problem, but a school claiming to be on it should be.
COBIS, CIS and the IB: what each badge can tell you
COBIS is a membership association of British international schools. Its own site says it represents more than 400 schools and organisations, and that member schools are expected to follow its Code of Ethical Conduct, with safeguarding and safer recruitment standards a requirement of continuing membership. COBIS also runs an accreditation and compliance scheme, so ask a school which of these it holds, because membership and accreditation are different things.
The Council of International Schools (CIS) describes its international accreditation as a school evaluation programme built on standards in three areas, with evaluation by the school community and peer evaluators, and says only CIS member schools can register. The International Baccalaureate publishes a find an IB school search, so you can check whether a school claiming to offer an IB programme is listed.
Read the inspection report, such as KHDA ratings in Dubai
Where there is no public inspection regime, ask the school for the last external review and who carried it out.
Country, safety and the contract
GOV.UK foreign travel advice covers 226 countries and territories, including entry requirements, safety, health and local laws, and you can sign up for email alerts by country. Read the page for the country, and the entry requirements section in particular. For example, the UAE entry page warns that working on a visit visa can bring a fine, prison or deportation, and that if you enter Dubai on a visit visa you must get a probationary work permit from the Ministry of Labour before working.
On the contract, ask for the full document before you resign from a UK post. Check the term, notice, who pays the visa, flights and medical insurance, what happens if you leave early, and which law governs it. Ask whether you may speak to a current teacher in your subject. If anything is vague, ask for it in writing and consider independent advice from your union.
Questions teachers ask
How do I check a school is accredited as a British school overseas?
Use GOV.UK's British schools overseas list, which gives inspection reports and the most recent inspection dates. The DfE says accredited schools are also registered on GIAS.
Is COBIS membership the same as accreditation?
No. COBIS describes itself as a membership association and separately offers an accreditation and compliance scheme. Ask which one the school holds.
Where can I read a Dubai school's inspection report?
KHDA publishes inspection results for Dubai private schools. Look up the individual school, read the report and note its date and rating.
Should I check travel advice before accepting a job?
Yes. GOV.UK foreign travel advice covers entry requirements, safety and local laws by country, and offers email alerts. Read the page for your destination before you commit.