The School Accreditation programme administered by the International Education Quality Commission (IEQC) is a comprehensive system designed for the independent evaluation of general education institutions, assessing their teaching quality, safety standards, and developmental potential. This process is constructed upon the guidelines of the United Kingdom’s Office for Standards in Education (Ofsted) and the requirements of the Council of Europe’s Framework for Education Quality. It aims to support schools in achieving international standards while preserving their national values, providing a structured approach that contributes to continuous institutional improvement. Accreditation serves as a holistic audit mechanism encompassing not only academic but also socio-cultural functions of a school. Through this programme, schools gain the opportunity to systematically analyse their operations, have their strengths validated at an international level, and identify clear priorities for future development.
The Essence and Strategic Importance for School Development
School accreditation is the systematic examination and evaluation of all operational directions of an educational institution. This spans from strategic development plans and in-classroom teaching practices to the professional preparedness of teachers and the environmental safety of student spaces. This process serves a dual purpose: on one hand, it establishes transparency and a quality guarantee for parents, students, and educational authorities; on the other, it cultivates a culture of self-assessment and continuous improvement within the institution. Accreditation empowers schools not only to assess their current status but to create a realistic development roadmap for the next 5-10 years. It plays a decisive role in enhancing the effectiveness of the educational process, implementing modern pedagogical technologies, and creating a student-centred environment. An accredited school demonstrates its successes and commitment to quality to the wider community, thereby securing a leadership position within the educational landscape
Comprehensive Evaluation Standards and International Foundations
The IEQC school accreditation process involves a deep, multi-level assessment across the following five key domains:
- Quality and Modernity of Teaching Programmes: This primary domain includes the harmonisation of curricula with national requirements and international standards, the establishment of interdisciplinary links, the personalisation of learning, and the application of inclusive education principles. The implementation of modern teaching methods (project-based learning, problem-solving, cooperative learning) and the effective integration of digital tools in classrooms are of particular focus.
- Professional Potential of Pedagogical Staff: This area covers the qualification level of the teaching staff, pedagogical excellence, ongoing professional development activities (seminars, training, masterclasses), and innovative teaching practices. Teachers’ skills in using modern educational technologies, their ability to respond to students’ individual needs, and their level of pedagogical creativity are analysed in detail.
- Complex Safety of the Educational Environment: This critical domain encompasses the suitability of classroom physical equipment and ergonomic conditions, adherence to sanitation and hygiene norms, the creation of psychological safety (cybersecurity, emotional support systems), and emergency response measures. The alignment of the school’s infrastructure with students’ age and developmental characteristics, and the ecological cleanliness of the living environment are also verified.
- Effectiveness and Transparency of the Management System: This evaluates the school’s strategic planning capability, resource management (budget, human resources, material-technical base), the democratic nature of decision-making mechanisms, and the functionality of public oversight systems. The management skills of the leadership team and their level of engagement with teachers and parents in the governance process are of special importance.
- Monitoring of Educational Outcomes and Development Dynamics: This final domain includes the systematic assessment of student achievement, statistical analysis of academic results, tracking of students’ social-emotional development, and investigation of graduate career success. The school’s ability to analyse its own performance outcomes and devise continuous improvement measures is evaluated.
Organisation of the Accreditation Process: Complex Stages and Expert Dialogue
The school accreditation process consists of five sequential, complementary stages, each based on a defined methodology. The process begins with the School’s Self-Study and Preparation Phase, where the institution prepares a detailed report reflecting all aspects of its activity based on the standards provided by IEQC. This report is a fundamental tool for the school to understand its own strengths and weaknesses and to define development priorities. The second stage is Documentary Analysis and Preliminary Expertise; education experts appointed by IEQC meticulously study all materials submitted by the school (curriculum plans, teacher qualification documents, infrastructure passports, financial reports, etc.) to form an initial expert opinion.
The third and most crucial stage is the On-Site Visit by the International Expert Panel. This is an intensive, typically 2-3 day inspection process. Experts conduct direct meetings with the entire school structure, including the director, teachers, students, parents, and administrative staff. They observe real lesson processes in classrooms, review teaching materials, inspect special rooms such as laboratories and sports halls, assess safety measures, and gauge the general atmosphere of the school environment. The fourth stage is the Compilation of the Expert Panel’s Detailed Report. This report outlines the school’s strengths, aspects requiring development, and concrete improvement recommendations for each evaluated domain.
The fifth stage is the Decision by the Independent Accreditation Committee and Certification. The Committee, composed of independent IEQC members, deliberates on the expert report and the school’s materials to reach a final decision. Upon a positive verdict, the school receives the International School Accreditation Certificate, and its status is published in the official IEQC register and website. The entire accreditation is completed within a 30-day timeframe and is granted for a period of 5 years, during which annual interim reports and a mid-term monitoring review in the 3rd year are conducted.
The Global Impact and Value Creation of Accreditation for the School
International school accreditation is valued as a multi-level, value-creating process that drives strategic transformation within an educational institution. It significantly enhances the school’s prestige and recognition in both local and international educational spheres, making it more attractive to parents and students. Accreditation expands opportunities for integration with international educational programmes (e.g., IB, Cambridge), opening doors for teacher and student exchanges. For the school, this means refining its own teaching model, providing teachers with access to international training, and creating additional funding opportunities for innovative educational projects.