Our work in quality assurance, inspections and accountability

We work with governments to raise standards in schools through accountability: we support better education metrics, inspection and quality assurance systems and help policymakers and practitioners use data for decision-making and accountability at all levels. We improve efficiency and expertise in school inspections, designing accredited accountability structures that delivery a positive impact on student outcomes and sustainably build good practice for local inspectors.

 

Pioneering structures for inspections and accountability expertise  

We have pioneered high-quality inspections in the Middle East in partnership with Dubai’s Knowledge and Human Development Authority (KHDA) since 2007. Together, we established the Dubai Schools Inspection Bureau to help shape the inspection framework and develop local capacity to deliver sustained change. 

Developing a highly trained national inspector force 

We supported Bahrain’s Education and Training Quality Authority (BQA) to develop a fully nationalised Bahraini Inspector force. Working in Bahrain since 2010, EDT’s support enabled Bahrain to be the first country in the Gulf to conduct inspections through a highly capable trained cadre of 100% local inspectors. We achieved this by developing capacity within the BQA and embedding the delivery of our industry-standard certification for Team and Lead Reviewers, the Reviewer Competency Quality Mark (RCQM).

RCQM is EDT’s inspector certification, which develops the skills, knowledge, and competencies of inspectors to international standards. The RCQM combines face-to-face instruction with practical on-the-job training, supported by intensive coaching and mentoring. The programme is built on a competency framework that covers key areas of professional expertise at Team Inspector and Lead Inspector levels. Successful completion of the RCQM leads to the endorsement of inspector performance against the best internationally recognised standards.

Download our School inspector training brochure

 

Supporting inspection in a range of settings, from Early Years to vocational 

Our inspections expertise ranges from the earliest stages of education right through to technical and vocational education for older students and school leavers.

We delivered evaluations in Early Years settings in the UAE to support the Ministry of Education (MoE) in developing and implementing a new Framework for Early Years education. We are also supporting the delivery of inspections across a range of private schools on behalf of the MoE in 2022/23. 

Similarly, we have experience of delivering evaluations in schools in Dubai and the Northern Emirates on behalf of the UAE MoE to pilot its new School Evaluation and Inspection Framework.  

We also have experience of conducting institutional reviews of Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) colleges on behalf of the Colleges of Excellence in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.

 

Inspectorate of British Schools Overseas

EDT is authorised by the UK Government’s Department for Education (DfE) to serve as one of the accredited inspectorates responsible for conducting the inspection of British Schools Overseas (BSO) against standards identified by the DfE.   

 

Quality-assurance with the International Schools Quality Mark 

Using our proprietary programme, the International Schools Quality Mark (ISQM) we quality-assure provision in international schools which do not follow the local curriculum and teach in English, reaching into schools in Europe, Africa, and Asia. These inspections are managed by the Dubai office. The greatest concentration of ISQM quality-assured schools is in Thailand, where we have a strategic agreement with the national inspectorate.

 

Find out more about our BSO inspections and the ISQM