BISA Shines! CIS Praises Our School's Dedication to Growth

We've got some fantastic news to share! Mary Powell and Chris Durbin from the Council of International Schools (CIS) recently visited BISA as part of our re-accreditation, and their feedback highlights our incredible community and our commitment to excellence. Get ready to feel proud!

A Community-Wide Achievement

The CIS team was genuinely impressed by BISA's "long term commitment to effective school improvement." They saw firsthand the incredible transformations since our last accreditation, pointing out "evidence of changed facilities, improved health and safety, and improved learning and teaching practices." CIS enthusiastically congratulated "the whole of the BISA community" on these remarkable achievements.

They also celebrated how our school community has grown and diversified. Since 2021-2022, we've welcomed a richer tapestry of students, with more families from Tanzania and a growing number of boarders. CIS recognised that "the leadership of the school has long been committed to diversity and inclusivity and has recognised and identified learning diversity in its students and provided a range of curriculum pathways for its student body." They even noted our expanded practice of welcoming "more students being enrolled with complex learning challenges," showing our commitment to every learner.

Our leaders earned high praise for their forward-thinking approach. CIS observed that "Leaders have a firm grasp on what is needed to improve the school, as they routinely use data to establish priorities." This is a clear, data-driven path to making BISA even better.

What truly powers BISA's progress? CIS pointed to our incredible capacity to drive forward our development initiatives, recognising they "are a result of the significant changes to its community." For instance, the beautiful diversity of our families has inspired us to enhance language learning, adding another layer to our already strong curriculum. And as our boarding community flourishes, we're refining our systems to ensure every boarder thrives, with CIS emphasising that a clear "determination of the culture, philosophy of the boarding community, which involves the co-agency of staff and students will be as important as the enforcement of rules."

Our commitment to neurodiversity is also gaining momentum. This vital project is "well underway," and CIS highlighted the importance of "more community involvement and more embedded practices." They even suggested that "technology could and should be a bigger part of this and other projects," hinting at exciting new tools to support our teachers and students.

Perhaps the most glowing feedback centred on BISA's leadership. CIS applauded "the quality of leadership reflected in effective communication and the trust that has built up in the different stakeholder groups." Parents, for example, "have confidence in the leadership of the school with regard to school improvement because the communication is proactive and responsive." Our dedicated staff feel truly valued, recognising "the value they were given to contribute to school improvement and use their professional judgement." Even the relationship between our board and leadership was praised for its "trusting relationship," a credit to our Head of School's proven "track record."

In a powerful conclusion, CIS truly championed our school's approach: "where CIS found a few things that would support strengthening the Cornerstones of BISA, the school leadership reflected on these in an open and transparent way and was immediately reflecting on solutions. This is to be commended and illustrates the qualities of leadership at the school."

Finally, CIS extended a heartfelt thank you to Alison Rogers, Head of School, and Lynsey Logan, Head of Primary and Accreditation Coordinator, for their "commitment to the process and for being an early adopter of this new protocol of CIS International Accreditation." Their "open engagement in the professional dialogue" has truly fostered a thriving culture of continuous improvement here at BISA.

We're incredibly proud of this fantastic feedback from CIS, and it energises us to continue our journey of growth and innovation. We're excited to keep building on this success, together, for the benefit of every student and family in our wonderful community!