AoBSO welcomes membership from all schools that have undergone DfE BSO inspection and hold live accreditation with the UK's DfE as a result.

For 2025/26 AoBSO invites membership from schools who have completed BSO in the last 4 years or have a DfE BSO extension in place.

For 2025/26 the cost of AoBSO Membership is once again frozen at £1650 per school.

Join the UK‑Government Association for BSO Leaders

AoBSO is the sole membership association officially recognised by the UK Department for Education (DfE) exclusively for schools that hold British Schools Overseas (BSO) accreditation. Bringing together headteachers and senior leaders from DfE‑recognised BSO schools globally, AoBSO ensures your voice is heard at the heart of UK education policymaking.

Strategic Influence & Advocacy

As a member, your school is represented in regular dialogue with DfE, the Department for International Trade (DIT), the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO), the British Council, and other key partners.

These relationships are shaped through AoBSO’s headteacher‑led governance and ensure your challenges and achievements inform UK government policy on international education.

Leadership Collaboration & Regional Representation

Gain direct support from AoBSO Executive Members who represent your region and understand its unique challenges. Whether you're based in the Middle East, Africa, Asia, Europe, or the Americas AoBSO provides regionally tailored leadership insight, expert guidance, and access to best practice from across the global network of BSO-accredited schools.

Visibility, Credibility & Recognition

  • Use the exclusive AoBSO Member School logo in your marketing materials.

  • Feature in AoBSO’s global member school directory, raising awareness among parents, regulators, and international partners.

  • Strengthen your school’s reputation through association with the only exclusive network for BSO Headteachers and Principals.

    Professional Development & Network Building

  • Members receive one free of charge non‑residential place at the AoBSO Conference in London (3-5 December 2025), with discounted rates for additional attendees.

  • Engage in world-class networking with peers, gaining insight into leadership strategy, curriculum innovation, safeguarding, and adult learning.

  • Have your vote cast at the AoBSO AGM, and help shape the Association’s strategic direction.

    Operational & Regulatory Support

    AoBSO helps members with:

  • Scheduling BSO inspections, BSO extensions, and liaison with inspectorates.

  • Embedding UK regulation in everyday practice, such as the Initial Teacher Training and Early Career Framework (ITTECF), ECT induction, ITT/iQTS routes, and safeguarding compliance.

  • Free of charge access to DfE Prohibition Order Checks for British teachers.

    Access to Preferred Business Partner Services

    Leverage trusted support through AoBSO’s curated Business Partner packages, all vetted for excellence in serving the BSO sector, from Initial Teacher Training to recruitment and school improvement.

In Summary

Joining AoBSO offers far more than a badge of affiliation, it unlocks a powerful, practical, and strategic partnership designed exclusively for leaders of UK Government-accredited British Schools Overseas. At its core, AoBSO provides an unmatched combination of advocacy, professional credibility, peer collaboration, and tailored regulatory support, all aligned to the unique challenges and ambitions of BSO-accredited institutions operating across diverse global contexts.

As the only association recognised by the UK Department for Education (DfE) specifically for BSO school leaders, AoBSO ensures your school’s interests are represented at the highest levels. Members benefit from direct engagement with UK Government bodies, including the DfE, Ofsted, FCDO, and British Council, shaping policy decisions that affect the future of British international education.

Through access to an exclusive Annual Conference, regionally representative executive support, and a growing network of like-minded peers, AoBSO empowers its members with opportunities for shared learning, innovation, and sector-leading practice. Schools also receive essential guidance on the full regulatory framework that underpins BSO status, from inspection readiness and DfE-compliant ECT induction to safeguarding, compliance, and curriculum integrity.

For schools committed to delivering the highest standards of British education abroad, standards that are recognised, inspected, and validated by the UK Government, AoBSO is not just beneficial, it is essential. It’s where leadership meets accountability, collaboration meets credibility, and schools meet the full potential of what it means to be a British School Overseas.