History and aims

History AND AIMS

The National Association of British Schools in Spain (NABSS) is a membership association that represents more than 80 schools acrosss Spain. With the aim of upholding the prestige of British education and of representing and defending the interests of member schools, the assocation includes schools which educate over 49,000 students and employ over 5,000 teachers.

History

NABSS was founded in 1978 by a group of leading British schools in Spain.
Membership has grown steadily since then, corresponding to the sustained growth of British education within Spain. The association now comprises over 80 schools who, collectively, are educating more than 49,000 children.

History

All NABSS member schools are fully authorised and recognised by the corresponding education authorities in Spain, as foreign schools teaching the British education system. In order to obtain this authorisation they have to be certified by the British Council in Spain after having successfully passed inspections meeting British education standards. In order to be eligible for NABSS membership, schools must also be well established and with a proven track record. New schools that are still developing are not immediately admitted as members.

History

The main purpose of NABSS is to represent the common interests of these British schools in Spain and to encourage collaboration between them. This extends to providing opportunities for professional development and to keeping schools fully up to date with developments in education in the UK.

History

Central to this is the NABSS annual conference, an event which brings together representatives of the schools, expertise from the UK, providers of the latest educational resources and guest speakers who are “key players” in education or in UK-Spain relations.

History

Year by year the NABSS conference is becoming a larger event. Recent conferences have been attended by up to 500 delegates and, apart from the schools, over 50 education-linked companies have participated.

Represent and defend the interests of member schools

To uphold the prestige of British education

Develop the spirit of collaboration among member schools

To promote, maintain and defend British education and co-operate with the British Council, Spanish Ministry and other authorities regarding legalisation relating to foreign schools in Spain.

Provide a legal, administrative and accounting service for the Association

Promote educational and cultural events as well as publishing educational materials related to British education

To support the professional development of staff in NABSS schools.

To provide an effective inspection service.

Quality Assurance

In 2001, NABSS inaugurated its schools’ inspection service (NIS) in collaboration with the British Council in Spain. This allows British schools in Spain to use an inspection service which follows BSO (British Schools Overseas) accreditation criteria, but with a greater awareness of their particular local context. NABSS inspectors are trained by UK approved organisations and the inspection service is quality assured by a member of HMI and by the British Council. In more recent years NIS has also organised collaboration agreements for joint inspections with Penta, a recognised BSO inspectorate.

History and aims​

History AND AIMS

History

History

History

History

History

Quality Assurance

History and aims