Quality assurance procedures in BSA schools are designed to provide confirmation that the educational provision in each school and BSA as a whole supports, encourages and enables high standards of learning. This is accomplished through both internal and external reviews and external accreditation.

Accreditation

International Baccalaureate Diploma Programme (IDBP)

The British Schools of Boston, Chicago, Houston and Washington are all accredited to offer the International Baccalaureate Diploma Programme (IDBP).

The year-long accreditation process includes preparation of resources, teacher training and an authorization visit. Each programme must includes a curriculum and pedagogy, student assessment appropriate to the age range, professional development for teachers and a process of school authorization and evaluation.

Read more about the International Baccalaureate Diploma Programme and what it takes to become accredited.

Learning-Focused Schools

The British School of Chicago and the British School of Washington are both accredited by Fieldwork Education as Learning-Focused Schools. This comes as part of the whole school reviews carried out by Fieldwork Education Services where accreditation is based on the quality and quantity of learning taking place at the school.

Read more about the Learning-Focused School accreditation and what it takes to become accredited.

International General Certificate of Secondary Education (IGCSE)
All BSA Schools are qualified to administer the International General Certificate of Secondary Education.

Council of International Schools (CIS)
The British School of Chicago was awarded CIS accreditation in November 2008 at the annual ECIS Conference in Nice, France. The Council of International Schools encourages high standards of professional performance in international education and a commitment to school improvement through process of continuous self-study and peer evaluation. Read more about the Council of International Schools and what it takes to become accredited.

The British School of Charlotte is also a formal candidate for CIS accreditation and began the process in September 2008.

National Independent Private Schools Association (NIPSA)
The British School of Chicago was awarded an Accredited Member status in 2006 by the National Independent Private Schools Association (NIPSA).

Read more about the National Independent Private Schools Association and what it takes to become accredited.

Reviews

As part of BSA and the WCL Group's internal quality assurance and in addition to annual school-wide self review, each school undergoes a review every two years. Internal reviews are conducted by a team from sister organisation, Fieldwork Education Services and the external reviews by independent consultants. The reviews serve to confirm or disaffirm a school's self-evaluation. Internal reviews focus on student learning and the factors influencing such learning. External reviews evaluate a school's responses to the internal and leadership reviews.

Chicago Review
Boston Review
Houston Review
Charlotte Review
Washington Review