The Association of British Schools Overseas (AoBSO) is a not-for-profit membership association recognised by the United Kingdom Department for Education (DfE).  This means that AoBSO has a voice that is listened to on BSO matters within the international education sector and the UK government.  AoBSO openly lobbies for the interests of its member schools and those aspiring to BSO accreditation.

Operating under a Headteacher-led Board, AoBSO strives to connect the best in educational thinking and practices in schools worldwide.  an association led by the leaders of some of the best British schools worldwide, AoBSO is unique in offering an environment in which best pedagogical and leadership practice is shared in order to achieve and maintain the highest educational outcomes for every pupil.

AoBSO was founded following the introduction of the BSO inspection scheme in 2010 by Ed Goodwin OBE. In addition to Chairing AoBSO and BSME, Ed was long-term Principal of St Christopher’s School, Bahrain leading it through a number of outstanding BSO inspections. Ed worked closely with the DfE on the development of BSO accreditation and continues to work with the AoBSO Board in the interests of all British international schools. Ed was awarded an OBE by Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II in December 2013 in recognition of his contribution to British international education.

Sir Roger Fry CBE succeeded Ed Goodwin as Chair in 2018 and formalised AoBSO as a UK entity, registering it as a company limited by guarantee at Companies House on 23rd April 2019. In 2021 Sir Roger became the Association’s first Honorary President having retired from the role as Association Chair. Sir Roger was succeeded as Chair of AoBSO in September 2023 by James McDonald, CEO and Principal of GEMS Wesgreen International School in Sharjah, UAE.

The development of AoBSO has been supported by a group of key business partners with proven track records in supporting BSO schools around the world, most notably Educational Success Partners Ltd who, under contract to the AoBSO Board, support all UK based activities of the association as well as operating as the DfE’s sole specialist Appropriate Body for ECT Induction in BSO accredited schools.

AoBSO does not intend to duplicate or replace the excellent work of the other DfE recognised overseas bodies (BSME, NABSS, COBIS, FOBISIA and LAHC) but aims to be complementary to these associations and encourages members of these associations to consider AoBSO membership alongside their regional association representation.