Peer-to-Peer Support
FOBISIA provides a professional forum in which member schools can exchange experience, share good practice and support one another across different levels of school leadership and teaching.
FOBISIABritish International Schools in Asia
NTES International School Networks Library
Federation of British InternationalSchools in Asia
Explore FOBISIA's role in connecting British international schools across Asia through professional development, leadership collaboration, student enrichment, safeguarding support and peer networks.
FOBISIA is a professional membership federation. Membership provides access to professional and student opportunities, but should not automatically be treated as equivalent to formal accreditation or regulatory inspection.
Founded
1988
Member Schools
109
Coverage
20 countries & regions
Organisation
Not-for-profit federation
Important professional distinction
FOBISIA membership is not the same as formal accreditation
FOBISIA supports schools through professional networking, CPD, safeguarding guidance, quality-assurance support, representation and student enrichment. Membership should not automatically be described as equivalent to institutional accreditation, programme authorization or government inspection.
Understanding FOBISIA
A regional professional community spanning Asia
FOBISIA is a not-for-profit membership federation supporting and promoting British international education across Asia.
The Federation provides peer-to-peer support, continuing professional development, student enrichment and professional networking across its member-school community.
It also maintains relationships with other international school associations and professional bodies across different regions.
FOBISIA professional ecosystem
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School membership
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Professional development
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Leadership collaboration
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Safeguarding & quality guidance
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Student enrichment
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Regional representation
Member-school value
How FOBISIA supports British international schools
The Federation's membership model combines professional collaboration, leadership support, safeguarding guidance and student opportunities.
Professional Development
Member schools participate in conferences, webinars, workshops, training, collaborative learning and Job Alike Workshops across the region.
Student Enrichment
FOBISIA coordinates a wide range of sporting, academic, creative and leadership opportunities for students across Asia.
Safeguarding & Quality Support
FOBISIA provides guidance and professional support relating to safeguarding, quality assurance and effective international-school practice.
Leadership Collaboration
Heads and senior leaders can engage through the Annual FOBISIA Leadership Conference and wider professional networks.
Regional Representation
The Federation provides a collective professional voice for British international schools operating across Asia.
School membership
Membership connects schools to a regional professional community
FOBISIA school membership gives eligible schools access to peer networking, professional development, student enrichment opportunities and wider Federation support.
Schools considering membership should verify current eligibility criteria, application requirements and membership conditions directly with FOBISIA.
View Current Membership Information✓
Access to a large professional network of British international schools in Asia
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Peer-to-peer support and exchange of professional practice
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Participation in professional-development events and conferences
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Access to student enrichment events and the FOBISIA Friendly Games
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Guidance relating to safeguarding, quality assurance and recruitment
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Opportunities for staff to participate in Job Alike Workshops
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Access to the FOBISIA CONNECT online community
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Regional and international networking with other school associations
Continuing professional development
Professional learning designed around member-school needs
FOBISIA's CPD programme aims to support school improvement through networking, collaboration and relevant professional learning across the region.
Annual Leadership Conference
Heads and senior leaders from member schools come together with educational thinkers, professional organisations and partners to discuss leadership and school development.
Teaching Community Conference
Teaching staff can participate in professional conferences designed to share classroom practice, innovation and professional learning.
Job Alike Workshops
JAWS
Role- and subject-specific collaborative workshops enable educators working in similar positions to exchange ideas and solve common professional challenges.
Regional CPD
FOBISIA coordinates continuing professional development through regional collaboration, member-school expertise and specialist providers.
Online Professional Community
Member schools can use professional online communities and collaborative platforms to maintain professional dialogue across countries.
Wider professional support
Beyond conferences and networking
Continuing Professional Development
FOBISIA's CPD programme is designed to support school improvement by identifying member-school needs and sharing high-quality professional learning across the region.
Safeguarding
Safeguarding is one of the areas in which FOBISIA provides guidance and professional support to member schools.
Quality Assurance
FOBISIA provides professional guidance around school quality while remaining distinct from formal external accreditation or inspection bodies.
Recruitment
The Federation provides a central platform through which member schools can advertise teaching opportunities and extend recruitment reach.
Student enrichment
Regional opportunities beyond the classroom
FOBISIA provides student events across sporting, academic, arts and leadership activities, creating opportunities for students from member schools to collaborate, compete and participate across the region.
FOBISIA Friendly Games
The Friendly Games bring students together through regional sporting competition while promoting teamwork, friendship and intercultural understanding.
Academic Competitions
Academic events can include mathematics, science, design, coding, writing and other subject-focused challenges.
Performing Arts
Drama, music and other performing-arts festivals provide opportunities for students to collaborate, create and perform.
Student Leadership
Leadership conferences support student voice, collaboration, confidence and future-focused leadership development.
Environmental & Community Events
Regional conferences and initiatives allow students to explore sustainability, service and wider community issues.
Sporting Invitationals
Member schools participate in regional sporting events such as swimming, gymnastics, climbing, tennis and other competitions.
International collaboration
Connected to a wider global British-school community
FOBISIA maintains relationships with British international-school associations and professional bodies operating in other regions, helping connect its member schools with the wider international education community.
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Association of British Schools Overseas (AoBSO)
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Council of British International Schools (COBIS)
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British Schools in the Middle East (BSME)
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Latin American Heads Conference (LAHC)
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National Association of British Schools in Spain (NABSS)
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The Heads' Conference (HMC)
Professional distinction
FOBISIA and formal accreditation serve different purposes
A professional federation can support quality and school improvement without replacing institutional accreditation, programme authorization or government inspection.
| Area | FOBISIA | Formal Accreditation / Inspection |
|---|---|---|
| Primary role | Regional professional federation connecting British international schools across Asia. | Accreditation bodies formally evaluate schools or programmes against defined standards and quality frameworks. |
| Membership | Schools join a professional federation to access collaboration, CPD, student events and sector support. | Schools enter a formal accreditation, authorization or external-evaluation process. |
| External review | FOBISIA membership itself is not a substitute for formal institutional accreditation or government inspection. | External review, inspection, verification or peer evaluation is normally central to accreditation. |
| Professional learning | Professional learning, networking and collaboration are core functions of the Federation. | Professional development may support accreditation, but institutional evaluation is the primary function. |
Official FOBISIA resources
Access current Federation information directly
Membership conditions, events and professional services can change, so schools should confirm current information through FOBISIA's official website.
FOBISIA Official Website
Official Federation website containing information about member schools, professional development, student events and membership.
Visit FOBISIAFOBISIA Member Schools
Official directory of current FOBISIA member schools across Asia.
Explore Member SchoolsSchool Membership
Official information about school-membership benefits, application processes and professional opportunities.
View School MembershipFOBISIA CPD
Official continuing-professional-development information, including collaborative and regionally coordinated learning opportunities.
Explore FOBISIA CPDStudent Events
Official FOBISIA student-events hub covering sport, academic competitions, arts, conferences and collaborative activities.
View Student EventsFOBISIA FAQs
Official FAQs covering school membership, professional development, student events and the Federation's professional role.
View FOBISIA FAQsi
Always verify current FOBISIA membership information
Membership criteria, fees, services, events, safeguarding support and professional-development programmes can change. Schools should confirm current information directly with FOBISIA before making formal membership or participation decisions.
NT Education Solutions is an independent education provider. Inclusion of FOBISIA or related information does not imply endorsement, membership, approval, partnership or affiliation.
From international collaboration to school improvement
Combine professional networks with rigorous internal evaluation
Regional collaboration can broaden leadership knowledge, professional learning and student opportunities. Sustainable school improvement still depends on reliable evidence, structured self-evaluation and measurable priorities.