British Schools Overseas (BSO) inspections

Giving families confidence in British education across the globe

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What are British Schools Overseas (BSO) inspections?

If you are a school teaching a British curriculum overseas, a BSO inspection will evaluate your school against standards set by the UK’s Department for Education (DfE). This provides you with a benchmark comparable to schools in the UK, allowing students to transfer seamlessly. EDT is authorised by the DfE as an accredited inspectorate for BSO, with inspections quality assured by Ofsted.

Why choose a BSO inspection with EDT?

Quality assurance and recognition against clearly defined UK standards

Providing reassurance for families, and a focus for further development for your school.

Independent evaluation

Evidence-based judgements on quality, safeguarding, and leadership.

Supports teacher recruitment and retention

In an increasingly competitive world, a positive BSO inspection can help your school attract and retain newly qualified teachers.

20+ years of inspection experience in the UK and overseas

EDT is an experienced leader in the field of inspection, offering a team of well-qualified inspectors with an understanding of your national context.

Value for money

We provide a reputable and reliable service that offers value for money through the quality of our inspectors and process.

How does the BSO inspection process work?

Step 1 OF 5

Initial school enquiry

Contact our head office for general details of inspection requirements and answers to any specific questions.

Step 2 OF 5

Introductory call

Meet with our team to discuss the process, requirements, available dates and costs. Once you are ready to proceed, we will issue a contract to confirm and secure your preferred dates.

Step 3 OF 5

Preparation for inspection

Submit relevant forms and we will provide details of the inspection team, schedule, and requirements, tailored to your school.

Step 4 OF 5

Inspection visit

Our team of qualified inspectors carry out the inspection, gathering evidence through observations, interviews, and samples of students’ work.

Step 5 OF 5

Feedback and report

The inspection visit concludes with oral feedback, followed by a written report, which will be fact-checked by the school and reviewed by Ofsted. The inspection report represents an official picture of the school and its standards at the time of the visit.

For schools, our BSO inspections are more than reports: they provide a clear pathway to improvement that reaps rewards again and again.

“The EDT approach is very well structured and professionally supportive. The recommendations for further development inform our school improvement plan so that the cycle of inspection is supporting our continuing improvement – it is far more than achieving the BSO accreditation.”

John Ridley, Tanglin Trust School, Singapore

“Everyone at EDT supported our schools through the process wonderfully. The pre-meets were clear and concise, and all the forms and processes were articulated well in advance. I thoroughly enjoyed working with EDT and will certainly be looking to use them again in future accreditations.”

Sven Carrington, British International School Riyadh (BAE Schools), Saudi Arabia

“The BSO inspection served as a valuable lens, allowing us to view our institution from an unbiased, external perspective. It pushed us to introspect, affirming our strengths and pointing out areas of improvement with precision. The rigour and high standards set by the BSO reinforced our commitment to providing world-class education, ensuring that we consistently align with best international practices for our pupils.”

BSO-reviewed school, United Arab Emirates

Frequently asked questions

Is EDT authorised to conduct BSO inspections?

Yes, EDT is authorised by the UK’s Department for Education as an accredited inspectorate for British Schools Overseas, with inspections quality assured by Ofsted.

What is the value of a BSO inspection?

Provides an internationally recognised benchmark

Offers assurance to parents and the school community

Produces a report published on the DfE website

Validates the quality of education provided

Why choose EDT for BSO inspections?

EDT offers:

over 20 years of inspection experience

global expertise in school inspection systems

highly qualified inspectors with international experience

a supportive process

value for money.

How long is a BSO inspection valid?

The BSO inspection report is valid for three years, after which your school will be expected to seek inspection again to maintain BSO status.

What is the difference between BSO inspections and the International Schools Quality Mark?

BSO inspections are designed for international schools that offer a UK curriculum and who wish to demonstrate their alignment with standards in England. EDT is authorised by the UK’s Department for Education to carry out these inspections.

The International Schools Quality Mark (ISQM) is EDT’s own accreditation and school improvement framework, and is suitable for international schools seeking a whole-school quality mark. ISQM is aligned with BSO inspection to increase impact and reduce duplication, though a school can teach non-British curricula and be ISQM-accredited.

Ready to book a BSO inspection with EDT?

Speak to our team about how our BSO inspections provide the quality assurance and recognition you need against clearly defined UK standards.

What are British Schools Overseas (BSO) inspections?

As a regulator or education authority, British Schools Overseas (BSO) inspections help you to understand how schools delivering a British-style education are performing against recognised UK standards. These standards are set by the UK’s Department of Education, covering areas such as educational quality, safeguarding, leadership, and student welfare.

We are proud to be one of the providers authorised by the UK government to provide BSO inspections. As per Department for Education requirements, all of our BSO inspection reports are published on our website – you can see the listing of reports further down this page.

Who do BSO inspections matter?

Independent quality assurance

External, evidence-based evaluation, providing an objective view of performance.

A recognised standard

The Department for Education’s standards create a consistent benchmark that is recognised internationally.

Supports teacher recruitment and retention

In an increasingly competitive world, a positive BSO inspection can help schools attract and retain newly qualified teachers.

Experienced and trusted inspection provider

EDT has over 20 years of inspections experience in the UK and internationally. Our team combines knowledge of UK standards with an understanding of different national and regional contexts.

“The BSO inspection served as a valuable lens, allowing us to view our institution from an unbiased, external perspective... The rigour and high standards set by the BSO reinforced our commitment to providing world-class education, ensuring that we consistently align with best international practices for our pupils.”

BSO-reviewed school, United Arab Emirates

“The EDT approach is very well structured and professionally supportive. The recommendations for further development inform our school improvement plan so that the cycle of inspection is supporting our continuing improvement – it is far more than achieving the BSO accreditation.”

John Ridley, Tanglin Trust School, Singapore

BSO reports

EDT has been authorised by the UK’s Department for Education to inspect British schools overseas and produce inspection reports. As a DfE-approved inspectorate, our BSO inspection reports are published on our website.

View our BSO inspection reports

Frequently asked questions

Is EDT authorised to conduct BSO inspections?

Yes, EDT is authorised by the UK’s Department for Education as an accredited inspectorate for British Schools Overseas, with inspections quality assured by Ofsted.

What is the difference between British Schools Overseas (BSO) inspections and the International Schools Quality Mark?

British Schools Overseas (BSO) inspections are designed for international schools that offer a UK curriculum and who wish to demonstrate their alignment with standards in England. EDT is authorised by the UK’s Department for Education to carry out these inspections.

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