Championing Quality

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Championing Quality

Our ISO certified Accreditation process is an internationally-recognised quality assurance mark for schools and an acknowledgement of a commitment to Improving Learning.

Quality assurance with the ICA involves a systematic review of provision with the purpose of improving and maintaining agreed standards of quality.

As a process, this encompasses a school-led self-review including all key stakeholders – learners, teachers, leaders and members of the community – along with an external evaluation through the ICA to determine how well relevant standards are being met.

Each school that is beginning the pathway to Accreditation is assigned a dedicated and supportive mentor who brings the whole school community together to cohesively analyse and improve the impact of both the learner and the learning.

Are you an ICA subscribed school? Learn more about Accreditation.

Why consider accreditation?

01 A quality assurance mark

Accreditation status is a public-facing message that a school meets external standards of quality. It is an assurance to parents, the school community and governing bodies.

02 Attract world-leading teachers

ICA Accredited schools attract world-leading teaching talent through their official status as progressive learning communities, committed to improving the lives of both students and staff.

03 Steer the future of education

Schools that achieve Accreditation are invited to participate in International Curriculum Steering Groups and Advisory Boards to help steer the direction of the future of an ICA education.

The process

Recognition is the first stage of the ICA quality assurance framework. To gain Recognised school status a school is required to demonstrate that it meets the ICA Recognition standards and International Curriculum specific criteria. Schools recognised by the ICA for the implementation of the International Curriculum are awarded Recognised School status for a two-year period.

A school with ICA Recognition status continues its journey to Accreditation with the continued support of an ICA mentor. The process of building the Improving Learning Portfolio for Accreditation is focused on a comprehensive school self-review.

For support with your school’s unique learning journey

Our Accreditation Process

01 Application

The first stage of the Accreditation process is for schools to submit an application to the ICA . For this, we require a school to:

Have an ongoing subscription to the International Curriculum (IEYC/IPC/IMYC)
Be committed to a cycle of continuous quality improvement

The submitted application leads the school to a consultation with the ICA team, following which schools are required to complete an ICA Registration Form. This information is used to help in matching the school with an ICA mentor and initiate the journey to accreditation.

02 Candidacy

Candidate schools work in partnership with allocated mentors to undertake a comprehensive self-reflection of their processes and systems for sustainable and effective self-review. The learning partnership between the ICA mentor and a candidate school is structured around the schools’ preparation for Recognition by the ICA. Candidate schools work with their mentors to define learning conversations emerging from their own unique starting point. For this reason, whilst there is no fixed period of candidacy, schools are expected to have been implementing the International Curriculum for at least two years prior to a Recognition visit.

03 Recognition

Recognition is the first stage of validation in the ICA Quality Assurance Framework and provides a strong platform for continuous school improvement. To gain Recognised status a school is required to demonstrate that it meets the ICA Recognition Standards and International Curriculum specific criteria. During the Candidate school phase, a school prepares evidence of its alignment with the Recognition criteria, which is verified with a Recognition visit carried out by an ICA Evaluator. Schools recognised by the ICA for the implementation of the International Curriculum are awarded Recognised school status for a two-year period.

04 Accreditation

Accreditation with the ICA has one explicit and transparent aim - to improve learning. The intrinsic value of accreditation lies in its process, with the ICA's approach rooted in analytical reflection, informed by evidence and focused on the impact on the learner and the learning. The process of building an 'Improving Learning Portfolio' for accreditation is focused on a comprehensive school self-review encompassing perspectives of learners, teachers, leaders and members of the wider school community to establish a cohesive and holistic view of quality implementation.

Improving learning through accreditation

Our Micro-Credentials Model

In addition, the ICA offers a flexible and tailored approach to Recognition and Accreditation.

The Micro-Credential model breaks down the process of Recognition and Accreditation requirements into manageable, targeted modules enabling schools to focus on key areas of improvement and innovation and demonstrate measurable progress and commitment to excellence.

The ICA Mentor works with the school and Learning Partner in a learning partnership to identify the pathway for Recognition and Accreditation. The mentoring package includes 24 mentoring sessions.

Find out more