ICEQC-ORG-2210 — International School Quality Applicability Module cover

Official ICEQC controlled document

ICEQC-ORG-2210 — International School Quality Applicability Module

Additional ICEQC education quality requirements for whole-school international education organizations.

Issued byInternational Council for Education Quality Certification

Document
ICEQC-ORG-2210
Version
2026.2
Authoritative language
EN
Document text
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ICEQC-ORG-2210 — International School Quality Applicability Module
ICEQC-ORG-2210 — International School Quality Applicability Module cover

Controlled document record

Document
ICEQC-ORG-2210:2026.2
Edition
2026.2
Version
2026.2
Status
Published
Authoritative language
EN
1

Scope

1.1

This document specifies additional education-quality requirements for the complete K–12 international-school scope selected under Route IS-W of ICEQC-ORG-2200.

1.2

The certification object is the accountable education organization within its confirmed scope. This document does not authorize a curriculum or confer governmental permission, accreditation, qualification recognition or an examination result. It establishes no score, ranking, grade, star or award level.

2

Normative references

The following documents are normative references. Only the identified editions apply.

  • ICEQC-FOUNDATION-2026, Edition 2026 — applicable education-organization Foundation requirements.
  • ICEQC-QF-1000, Edition 2026 — Education Quality Core Requirements.
  • ICEQC-ORG-2000, Edition 2026 — Education Organization Quality Certification Scheme.
  • ICEQC-ORG-2010, Edition 2026 — Sector Applicability Module System Rules.
  • ICEQC-ORG-2110, Edition 2026 — K–12 Education Quality Applicability Module.
  • ICEQC-ORG-2200, Edition 2026.2 — International Schools and Programmes Education Quality Certification Standards.

Conditional overlays and ICEQC procedures apply as selected under ICEQC-ORG-2200, Annex G. A later edition requires a recorded incorporation or transition decision. The Edition 2026.2 documents apply together according to the selection conditions in ICEQC-ORG-2200.

3

Terms and definitions

3.1

For the purposes of this document, the terms and definitions in ICEQC-QF-1000, ICEQC-ORG-2200 and the following terms apply.

3.2

conformity (C): fulfilment of the complete applicable requirement, demonstrated by verified evidence.

3.3

nonconformity (NC): failure to fulfil an applicable requirement, established by a verified fact.

3.4

confirmed non-applicability (NA): verified absence of the expressly stated application condition, approved and recorded by ICEQC.

3.5

evidence limitation: a gap or contradiction that prevents a reliable conclusion about fulfilment or applicability. An evidence limitation is unresolved evidence, rather than a conformity conclusion.

4

Certification object

4.1

The certification object remains the education organization and the exact whole-school scope confirmed under ICEQC-ORG-2000 and Route IS-W of ICEQC-ORG-2200.

5

Selection rule

5.1

This Module is required for each K–12 scope component confirmed as a whole international school under Route IS-W.

5.2

It shall not be selected for a bounded international section or programme within a wider school.

6

Inherited requirements

6.1

The applicable education-organization Foundation requirements, ICEQC-ORG-2000, ICEQC-ORG-2010, ICEQC-ORG-2110, ICEQC-ORG-2200 and every applicable ICEQC-QF-1000 requirement continue to apply in the controlling editions identified in clause 2 and ICEQC-ORG-2200, Annex G.

6.2

This Module adds the international-school-specific requirements and does not replace or reduce inherited obligations.

6.3

Annex E identifies the principal source requirements specialized by this Module. A mapped clause shall be assessed as the international-school application of the cited source requirement. The source conclusion and the additional Module conclusion shall both be established, while evidence may be shared where it remains sufficient and traceable.

7

Education-content boundary

7.1

ICEQC does not prescribe, authorize, approve or rank a substantive curriculum, national education model, language, belief, doctrine, qualification or examination system.

7.2

Assessment addresses the organization's control and implementation of its declared whole-school international education provision.

8

External-status boundary

8.1

This Module does not grant or replace governmental permission, school accreditation, programme authorization, examination-centre status, qualification recognition, credit equivalence or authority to use a third-party name or mark.

9

No comparative status

9.1

This Module creates no score, rank, grade, star, tier, award or comparative position.

10

Scope profiles

10.1

Every applicable profile in Annex B shall be recorded.

10.2

A profile describes the operating model and is not a separate certification or quality level.

11

Evidence operation

11.1

A single controlled record may support more than one requirement where it is current, sufficient and traceable.

11.2

Duplicate documents are not required solely to mirror clause numbers.

12

Conformity form

12.1

Clauses 13 to 43 are additional assessment units. Their application and non-applicability conditions are specified in Annex A. A final conclusion shall address the complete applicable clause. An unresolved evidence limitation shall not be converted automatically into C, NC or NA.

12.2

A positive conclusion for a clause in this Module does not correct or override NC or an unresolved evidence limitation under a source requirement identified in Annex E.

13

Whole-school international education model

13.1

The organization shall define, approve and maintain an international education model that governs the complete school scope and connects educational purpose, curriculum, teaching, assessment, learner support, personnel and public information.

13.2

The approved model shall identify the learners, sites, grades, pathways and delivery arrangements to which it applies. The school shall assign responsibility for resolving differences between that model and local practice.

13.3

School leadership shall review implementation using curriculum, assessment, learner-support and resource records from every included stage. A change to the model shall include an assessment of its effect on learners already enrolled and the arrangements for their completion.

14

International educational purpose and learner outcomes

14.1

The organization shall define observable learner outcomes arising from its international education purpose and shall map them to planned learning, learner experience and school improvement.

14.2

For each declared outcome, the school shall identify the learning opportunities through which learners can develop it and the evidence used to evaluate progress. Outcomes shall be appropriate to the learners' ages and the school's educational purpose.

14.3

Evaluation shall distinguish provision of an activity from achievement of an outcome. The school shall retain the basis for its conclusions and use identified gaps to revise teaching, support or the declared outcome. Participation in an international event alone shall not establish learning achievement.

15

Governance and accountability across education systems

15.1

Governance, ownership and school leadership shall define accountability for each curriculum pathway, external-status dependency, jurisdictional interface, school site, financial dependency and material shared service affecting the international school scope. They shall identify and control conflicts between educational and safeguarding responsibilities and owner, investor, brand, growth, fee or other commercial interests.

15.2

The accountability record shall distinguish decisions reserved to the governing authority, decisions delegated to school leadership and decisions controlled by an external programme owner. Delegations shall state limits, reporting duties and the person authorized to require correction.

15.3

The governing authority shall review unresolved educational and safeguarding risks, material complaints and the resources needed to meet learner commitments. A person with a commercial or personal interest in a matter shall not control its investigation or final disposition. The record shall identify the alternative authority used.

15.4

The organization shall maintain a protected escalation route to the governing authority for leaders and personnel who reasonably report interference, unmanaged conflict, serious learner risk or inability to fulfil an applicable requirement. Retaliation for a good-faith report shall be prohibited and controlled.

16

Jurisdictional and regulatory interface

16.1

The organization shall maintain a current record of jurisdictional requirements and recognized external evidence relevant to lawful school operation, curriculum obligations, personnel, safeguarding, health, facilities, data, fees, advertising and learner records.

16.2

The register shall identify the competent authority, applicable activity and site, evidence source, validity and responsible reviewer. Where a permission or external report has conditions, the school shall record how each condition is met.

16.3

The school shall check the effect of new or changed requirements before changing a pathway, site, age group or delivery mode. An expired permission, restriction or unresolved adverse external finding shall be escalated to the governing authority and addressed in the affected provision. ICEQC certification shall not be used as substitute evidence of lawful operation.

17

Curriculum architecture and pathway transparency

17.1

The organization shall maintain a controlled whole-school map showing each curriculum pathway, grade span, required and optional component, learning time, progression point, completion condition and relationship with any other pathway in scope.

17.2

The curriculum map shall connect intended outcomes, subject or learning-area content, planned teaching time, assessment and progression across each included grade. It shall identify prerequisites, optional routes and the consequences of changing between routes.

17.3

The school shall reconcile the map with actual timetables, allocated educators and learning resources. Where planned learning time is lost or a required component cannot be delivered, the school shall determine the learning affected, approve recovery arrangements and communicate material effects to learners and families.

18

Host-jurisdiction curriculum integration

18.1

Where host-jurisdiction curriculum, language, civic, cultural, assessment or attendance requirements apply, the organization shall integrate and monitor them within the declared international pathway without concealed omission, unplanned duplication or unmanaged learner burden.

18.2

The school shall identify where host-jurisdiction requirements are delivered, who assesses them and how completion is recorded. Where two frameworks address the same content, the mapping shall demonstrate coverage without assuming that similarity of titles establishes equivalence.

18.3

Before approving the timetable, leadership shall resolve conflicting calendars, assessment dates and workload demands. Exemptions shall be supported by current evidence of authority and shall identify the learners and period covered. An informal assurance from a provider shall not establish an exemption.

19

Curriculum coherence and change

19.1

The organization shall control vertical and horizontal curriculum coherence, transitions between pathways and the educational impact of curriculum, syllabus, calendar, external-status, staffing, resource or completion-rule changes.

19.2

Curriculum review shall examine progression within subjects, coordination between subjects and transitions between school stages. It shall use assessed learner work, educator review and information about gaps identified at entry or transfer.

19.3

A proposed change shall identify its educational reason, affected cohorts, prerequisites, resource needs, assessment consequences and implementation date. The school shall approve bridging or completion arrangements before implementation and review whether they have protected the affected learners' progression.

19.4

A school shall not end a required pathway before affected learners can complete or transfer under an approved arrangement. The change record shall retain notice, affected learner decisions, revised resources and subsequent verification of delivery.

20

Teaching in an international and intercultural context

20.1

The organization shall define and monitor teaching practices that enable learners to engage accurately, respectfully and critically with relevant local, regional, international and intercultural contexts while meeting declared learning outcomes. Community or service activity used for learning shall have a defined educational purpose, ethical participation conditions, learner protection and reflection appropriate to the activity.

20.2

Educators shall select sources and examples that are accurate for the declared learning purpose and suitable for the learners. Teaching shall provide opportunities to examine different perspectives without assigning characteristics to a learner on the basis of nationality, ethnicity, language or belief.

20.3

Leadership shall evaluate implementation through planning, learner work and observation or other direct evidence of teaching. Where community or service learning involves an external community, the school shall agree participation, supervision and use of images and shall consider the effect of the activity on that community.

21

Language-of-instruction access

21.1

The organization shall identify each learner's material language-of-instruction needs and shall provide, monitor and review support sufficient for access to curriculum, assessment, safeguarding information and school participation.

21.2

Entry assessment shall distinguish knowledge of the language of instruction from subject knowledge. The school shall record the assessment method, learner needs and placement decision and shall provide support without waiting for failure in a subject.

21.3

An individual support record shall identify the objectives, responsible personnel, classroom adjustments, review date and evidence of progress. Entry to, continuation in and exit from additional support shall follow stated criteria. Subject educators shall receive the information needed to implement the adjustments. The English language of this standard does not prescribe the school's language of instruction.

22

Multilingual development and home-language respect

22.1

The organization shall define how its language model supports declared multilingual outcomes and respects learners' home languages and identities without reducing access, dignity or educational progression.

22.2

The school shall state the intended use and learning purpose of each instructional language, including the allocation of learning time and the arrangements for learners entering with different language experience. Staffing and resources shall support the declared model.

22.3

The school shall review progress in each language outcome it claims. It shall provide a means for families to explain home-language needs and shall resolve language-related barriers to participation. Home-language information shall not be used as a proxy for ability, nationality or eligibility.

23

Admission, placement and cross-system entry

23.1

The organization shall use transparent and age-appropriate controls for admission, grade placement, prior-learning interpretation, language information and entry from another national, international or school system.

23.2

Published entry criteria shall identify the evidence used, the person making the decision and the means of reviewing a disputed placement. Admission information shall state material support limits before a family commits to enrolment.

23.3

Where prior records are incomplete, unavailable or expressed in another system, the school shall document the uncertainty and use appropriate assessment and provisional support. A provisional placement shall have a review date. The school shall retain the reasons for an exception and check that it does not leave the learner without access to the declared pathway.

24

Transfer, mobility and educational continuity

24.1

The organization shall plan and support learner entry, internal pathway change, international mobility, withdrawal, transfer and exit so that records, safeguarding information, learning continuity and realistic next-step information are preserved. The arrangements shall address foreseeable disruption arising from border restrictions, civil or health emergency, sudden relocation, loss of site or external status and material interruption of travel or digital services.

24.2

For an entering or transferring learner, the school shall identify differences in completed content, language, credit, assessment and progression conditions. It shall agree any bridging work, responsible educator and review point with the learner and family as appropriate.

24.3

An exit record shall distinguish completed learning, work in progress and any unresolved assessment or credit issue. Records shall be transmitted securely to an authorized recipient. A change of destination shall not be described as assured recognition or equivalence unless the receiving authority has confirmed it for the particular learner or pathway.

25

Assessment comparability, moderation and academic integrity

25.1

The organization shall control how assessment purposes, criteria, grading scales, moderation, academic integrity and reporting operate within and between curriculum pathways, subjects, teachers, languages and sites. Controls shall address unauthorized assistance, translation or editing, impersonation, plagiarism, contract work, inappropriate use of generative or automated tools, conflicts of interest and the authenticity of internally generated marks and predictions.

25.2

The assessment framework shall state criteria, permitted assistance, access arrangements, moderation responsibilities and the treatment of late, missing or disputed work. Moderation shall compare judgments across educators, classes and sites where their results are represented as comparable.

25.3

A sampled result shall be traceable to the learner's work, applicable criteria, original judgment, moderation and authorized amendments. Grade or credit conversions shall retain the source scale, conversion method and limitations.

25.4

Rules for translation, generative tools and other automated assistance shall state permitted uses, acknowledgment and verification of authorship. An allegation of misconduct shall be investigated with an opportunity for the learner to respond. An automated detection result alone shall not establish misconduct.

25.5

Review of a disputed result or misconduct finding shall be assigned to a competent person without a material conflict. The learner shall receive the reasons and review route. A finding of compromised integrity shall trigger correction of affected results and consideration of other work exposed to the same failure.

26

Transcripts, predicted results and completion records

26.1

The organization shall ensure that transcripts, school reports, predicted results, credit records, completion records and supporting profiles identify the issuer, programme, grading or credit basis, status, dates, authorization and limitations accurately. Any conversion, equivalence or transfer statement made by the school shall state its basis and decision authority.

26.2

The school shall identify who may create, check, authorize, issue and correct reports, transcripts and predicted results. Predictions shall retain the evidence, method, date and limitations on which they were based.

26.3

Corrections shall preserve the prior entry, reason, authorizing person and date and shall be notified to recipients whose decisions could be affected. The school shall reconcile issued records with the current learner record and protect official templates, signatures and issue controls from unauthorized use.

26.4

The school shall retain access to essential learner records during a system outage, provider exit or closure. Access to records needed for safeguarding, transfer or an appeal shall not depend on an unresolved commercial dispute, subject to applicable law.

27

Progression and destination guidance

27.1

The organization shall provide current, impartial and appropriately individualized information about progression, applications, prerequisites, recognition dependencies, costs and material uncertainty for declared learner destinations.

27.2

Guidance shall distinguish verified entry conditions from estimates, past practice and personal opinion. The responsible adviser shall check material information against the receiving institution or other authoritative source and record when it was checked.

27.3

The school shall disclose commissions, referral benefits and other interests capable of influencing advice. Learners shall receive realistic information about prerequisites, costs, recognition limits and alternatives. An application, conditional offer, acceptance and actual enrolment shall be recorded as different outcomes.

28

External programme and examination relationships

28.1

The organization shall maintain an accurate register of every material external programme, awarding and examination relationship, including holder, site, programme, status, effective period, responsibilities and limitations.

28.2

For each material relationship, the school shall identify the contracting and authorized entities, programme, approved sites and age or grade range, permitted claims, conditions and validity. An entry in a public register shall be reconciled with the school scope to which it is attributed.

28.3

The school shall monitor conditions, renewal and restrictions. A lapse, suspension or termination shall trigger an assessment of learner effects, lawful continuation, required notifications and removal or correction of affected claims. Membership, candidate status and authorization shall not be used interchangeably.

29

Examination and high-consequence assessment interface

29.1

The organization shall control learner entry, eligibility information, identity, access arrangements, secure materials, conflicts, incident escalation and results communication for each high-consequence external assessment within its role.

29.2

The school shall allocate responsibility for candidate identity, entry accuracy, access arrangements, assessment security, invigilation, incident reporting, result receipt and appeals. Controls shall follow the relevant awarding or examination authority's current conditions.

29.3

Where another centre performs an examination function, the school shall verify the arrangement and explain its limits to families. It shall reconcile entries and results to learner records and investigate missing or inconsistent records. Examination-centre authority at one site shall not be assumed to cover another site.

30

Personnel competence and programme readiness

30.1

The organization shall verify and maintain personnel competence appropriate to assigned age, subject, curriculum pathway, language of instruction, assessment responsibility, safeguarding role and international learner context.

30.2

Before assigning an educator to a pathway, the school shall verify the qualifications, subject knowledge, language competence and programme-specific preparation needed for the role. Restrictions and gaps shall be recorded with supervision or development arrangements and a review date.

30.3

Induction shall cover curriculum, assessment, learner support, safeguarding and records relevant to the assignment. Leadership shall evaluate practice using observation, learner work and assessment evidence. Staffing changes shall include a documented handover and arrangements for uninterrupted teaching and assessment.

31

Ethical international recruitment and mobility of personnel

31.1

The organization shall control international personnel recruitment, identity and suitability verification, references, immigration or work-status dependencies, relocation information, contracts, induction and continuity risks within its responsibility.

31.2

Recruitment checks shall reconcile identity, qualifications, employment history, references and suitability evidence across relevant jurisdictions. A gap, inconsistency or unavailable external check shall be assessed and resolved or controlled before unsupervised access is permitted.

31.3

The school shall document supplementary checks and supervision where a jurisdiction cannot supply a relevant record; absence of that record shall not be represented as a satisfactory check. Contracts and induction shall state the role, lawful employment conditions, reporting duties and the route for reporting concerns without retaliation.

31.4

Recruitment terms shall identify any recruitment charge, repayment condition, accommodation dependency and limitation affecting the worker. The school shall check that recruitment intermediaries act within those terms and shall provide a route to report coercion or deceptive conditions.

32

Safeguarding across international contexts

32.1

The organization shall adapt safeguarding, safer recruitment, reporting, response, digital communication, imagery and external-referral controls to the languages, jurisdictions, mobility and cultural contexts present in the school community. A competent designated safeguarding lead, governing oversight, role-specific code of conduct, cross-jurisdiction background-check method and current local reporting or referral interface shall be established.

32.2

The safeguarding lead and a governing-authority oversight role shall be identified, with deputies and arrangements for absence. Learners and families shall have reporting routes accessible in the languages and communication forms they need.

32.3

Procedures shall distinguish immediate protection, referral to competent local authorities, investigation and employment action. Allegations involving a leader, owner or safeguarding lead shall be referred to an authority outside that person's control. Staff shall not promise secrecy that prevents necessary protection or referral.

32.4

Controls shall cover direct and digital contact, images, recruitment, visitors and external providers. Case records shall identify decisions, referrals, responsible persons and handover. Access shall be restricted to authorized persons. Where no case has occurred, current scenario testing shall demonstrate that the reporting and referral arrangements can operate.

32.5

An immediate threat shall trigger protective action and required external reporting without waiting for an employment or internal disciplinary process. Allegation handling shall protect the affected learner and reporting person from retaliation and preserve records needed by the competent authority.

33

Inclusion, identity and equitable participation

33.1

The organization shall identify and address barriers arising from language, nationality, race, culture, religion or belief, disability, mobility, economic condition or other relevant learner circumstances without unsupported diagnosis or discriminatory exclusion.

33.2

The school shall identify barriers to participation and record agreed adjustments, responsibility, review dates and evidence of effectiveness. Decisions shall consider the learner's views and family information where appropriate and shall distinguish educational support from matters requiring a qualified external professional.

33.3

A decision to limit admission, participation or continuation because support cannot be provided shall state the factual basis, alternatives considered and review route. Resource or staffing constraints shall not be concealed by attributing the difficulty solely to the learner's identity or conduct.

34

Family information across languages and systems

34.1

The organization shall provide families with understandable, accurate and timely information about the school model, curriculum pathways, teaching languages, support, assessment, completion, fees and refunds, external statuses, complaints, appeals, protected reporting and material limitations. Essential translations shall be controlled for accuracy, version and precedence, and no learner, family or person acting in good faith shall be disadvantaged for using a complaint or protected reporting route.

34.2

Before enrolment, families shall receive accurate information about the legal operator, pathway, teaching languages, support limits, external status, school tuition and other charges, refund terms and complaint routes. Material changes shall be communicated before families are required to act on them.

34.3

For a translated contract or material notice, the school shall identify the controlling text, check consistency and provide an explanation where needed for informed consent. A language barrier shall not prevent access to safeguarding information, emergency instructions or a complaint. School tuition and service charges are separate from ICEQC's no-fee certification policy.

35

International learner wellbeing and belonging

35.1

The organization shall identify and respond to wellbeing, belonging and continuity risks associated with transition, relocation, separation, language change, cultural adjustment, discrimination and repeated mobility. Learners shall have accessible, age-appropriate means to express experience and participate in decisions affecting school life, without this replacing accountable adult decisions.

35.2

The school shall identify responsibility for supporting learners affected by relocation, language transition, separation from family, discrimination or social isolation. Learners shall be able to obtain confidential support and report bullying through accessible routes.

35.3

Support shall include referral and escalation criteria where a concern exceeds school competence or indicates immediate risk. Reviews shall consider attendance, participation, learner feedback and the effect of interventions without requiring the collection of unnecessary sensitive information. Unresolved patterns shall be reported to leadership for action.

36

Boarding, homestay and guardianship interface

36.1

The organization shall define and control its responsibility for boarding, homestay, guardianship, holiday care, transport and emergency arrangements used by learners in scope. A guardianship arrangement shall identify legal or delegated authority, custody limitations, contact with parents, accommodation responsibility, emergency consent, complaints and the action required when the arrangement fails.

36.2

The school shall identify responsibility at every handover between school, residence, host family, guardian and transport provider. The record shall include authorized collection, expected arrival, missing-learner action, emergency contact and out-of-hours escalation.

36.3

Before using a provider, the school shall verify suitability, lawful operating status where required, safeguarding arrangements and access to complaint routes. Reviews shall include learner feedback and incidents. Delegation to a family-appointed guardian shall not remove the school's duty to control the interface within its educational responsibilities.

36.4

For accommodation or care within the school's responsibility, the school shall establish how learners can obtain help privately, report an unsafe placement and receive an alternative arrangement. Unresolved suitability or safety concerns shall trigger protective action before continued use.

37

International trips, exchanges and placements

37.1

The organization shall approve and control educational purpose, providers, consent, safeguarding, health, travel, supervision, communication, emergency and continuity arrangements for international trips, exchanges and placements.

37.2

Before approving an activity, the school shall assess the destination, provider, travel, accommodation, supervision, health needs and safeguarding risks. Approval shall identify the responsible leader, consent, emergency and communication arrangements and conditions requiring cancellation or alteration.

37.3

For a placement or exchange, the school shall agree responsibilities with the receiving provider and verify the arrangements before learner participation. It shall reconcile departure, arrival and return or handover records and review incidents and learner feedback after the activity.

38

Data, learner records and automated processing

38.1

The organization shall control the collection, use, storage, access, correction, disclosure and disposal of learner, family and personnel information. Cross-border access, hosting and transfer shall be identified where they occur.

38.2

The processing record shall identify the information held, purpose, responsible role, recipients, service providers and applicable safeguards. For a cross-border transfer it shall also identify the jurisdictions and transfer basis. Provider agreements shall address access, onward disclosure, retention, return or deletion and incident notification.

38.3

Access to sensitive records shall be limited by role and recorded where necessary to establish accountability. Retention periods shall have a documented educational, legal or protection basis. The school shall verify deletion or continued lawful retention when a provider relationship ends.

38.4

Before using an automated system for admission, assessment, support or progression, the school shall verify its suitability for the stated purpose and learner population. An accountable person shall review consequential outputs, correct errors and retain the reasons for the resulting decision. Confidential information shall be used only in a service approved for that purpose and information.

38.5

The school shall provide a route for access and correction requests within applicable conditions. A suspected loss, unauthorized disclosure or alteration shall trigger containment, assessment of learner effects, required notification and verification of recovery. Where an automated decision affects a learner, the school shall provide a review route and retain the responsible person's reasons.

39

Multi-campus and network consistency

39.1

The organization shall define central and local authority and shall monitor consistent implementation of the international education model, curriculum pathways, safeguarding, assessment, public claims and corrective action across every included school and campus.

39.2

The school system shall distinguish centrally controlled requirements from site responsibilities and shall maintain a current matrix of decision rights, reporting and escalation. Shared policies shall be checked against site permissions, resources, languages and learner needs.

39.3

Internal review shall cover each included site and pathway. A serious weakness at one site shall prompt review of common causes and other sites using the same control. A network agreement or common brand shall not establish conformity of a site for which operational evidence has not been verified.

40

External educational and service partners

40.1

The organization shall retain accountable control where another entity supplies or controls curriculum, teaching, assessment, technology, recruitment, counselling, boarding, travel or learner support material to the international school scope.

40.2

Provider selection and monitoring shall address the educational function, competence, learner protection, records, data and continuity risks of the outsourced service. The agreement shall state performance expectations, access to evidence, reporting, correction and exit arrangements.

40.3

The school shall retain authority to act when a provider fails to meet an obligation. It shall verify implementation rather than rely solely on a contract or provider declaration. A provider shall not make a certification claim beyond the school's confirmed scope or imply that its own unrelated activities are certified.

41

Public identity and international-school claims

41.1

The organization shall ensure that every public statement concerning international-school identity, curriculum, authorization, accreditation, examination status, progression, recognition, outcomes and ICEQC certification is accurate, supportable and limited to the authority and scope actually held.

41.2

Public descriptions shall identify the legal operator, school or site, included grades and pathways and material exclusions. The school shall reconcile websites, admissions communications, contracts and third-party listings with that description.

41.3

A claim about authorization, recognition, outcomes or certification shall retain its supporting source and date of review. A claim that has become false or materially incomplete shall be corrected through the channels where it was made. The school shall not use ICEQC certification to imply curriculum approval, accreditation or guaranteed learner results.

42

Learner results and school improvement

42.1

The organization shall evaluate learner progress, attainment, experience, wellbeing, participation, mobility, continuation, completion and destination information across relevant groups and pathways and shall implement controlled improvement action. Analysis shall include material differences associated with language profile, entry route, curriculum pathway, disability or support, nationality or mobility where lawful and reasonably possible, and shall use learner and family voice without presenting testimonials as representative outcome evidence.

42.2

The school shall define each reported cohort, period, denominator, exclusion and outcome category. Withdrawals, transfers, incomplete records and missing results shall be accounted for when they affect interpretation.

42.3

Review shall examine material differences between pathways, sites and learner groups where the available data support a reliable conclusion and privacy can be protected. Improvement actions shall identify responsibility, resources, intended effect and review date. The school shall evaluate effectiveness against subsequent evidence rather than close an action solely because an activity was completed.

43

Financial sustainability and continuity of learner commitments

43.1

The organization shall maintain a current budget and resource plan sufficient to deliver the complete certified scope and protect commitments to current learners. It shall identify and control material dependence on enrolment, tuition collection, currency, owner funding, external programme or examination fees, a single provider and planned expansion.

43.2

The governing authority shall review the resources required to fulfil current teaching, staffing, support, safeguarding and completion commitments. The review shall identify material funding or provider dependencies and the consequences of a reasonably foreseeable loss of those resources.

43.3

Continuity arrangements shall assign authority for early action, family communication, teach-out or transfer, record custody and applicable refunds. Where continuation is no longer supportable, the school shall implement those arrangements before avoidable learner harm occurs. This requirement establishes no universal financial ratio and does not make ICEQC a financial auditor.

43.4

The review shall compare budget assumptions with current enrolment, actual expenditure, committed liabilities and funds available for use. Material enrolment loss, currency movement, owner-funding withdrawal and provider failure shall be considered where relevant. The record shall identify the action threshold, responsible decision-maker and resources for the selected response.

44

Evidence planning

44.1

The assessment plan shall apply Annex C and shall include independently selected samples across pathways, grades, learners, personnel, assessments, transitions, sites, public claims and material external relationships.

44.2

Live remote verification shall be used where static evidence does not establish current operation, access, interaction, identity or implementation.

45

Assessment conclusions

45.1

A final conclusion of C, NC or confirmed NA shall be recorded only after the necessary facts are established. An unresolved evidence limitation shall remain open and shall prevent a positive decision for the affected scope.

45.2

A positive decision is prohibited while any applicable requirement is NC, any nonconformity remains open or the evidence limitation prevents a reliable whole-school conclusion.

46

Certificate scope

46.1

The certificate and public register may identify this Module only for the exact complete school, grade spans, learner groups, sites and delivery modes assessed under its effective version.

46.2

The scope shall use the Route IS-W descriptor controlled by ICEQC-ORG-2200 and shall not imply curriculum authorization, institutional accreditation or qualification recognition.

47

Surveillance

47.1

Surveillance shall address clauses 13, 15, 17, 21, 24, 28, 30, 32, 36, 39, 41, 42 and 43 where applicable, earlier findings, material incidents and representative rotating coverage of the remaining requirements.

48

Change control

48.1

A material change in identity, operator, ownership, financial viability, international education model, curriculum pathway, external status, grade span, learner group, site, delivery mode, boarding or guardianship, external provider or public claim shall trigger module-applicability and scope review.

Annex A

Applicability and conformity criteria (normative)

Each conformity conclusion shall address every applicable provision of the cited clause. The criteria in this annex summarize the required result; they do not replace or narrow the technical requirement. Where only one activity is absent, the remaining provisions continue to apply. Absence of a reported incident does not remove a prevention or readiness requirement.

UnitClauseApplicationNon-applicabilityConformity criterion
IS-W-00113Applies to every scope component using this Module.NA is not available.Conformity exists only where verified evidence demonstrates that the model operates throughout the complete school scope and is not limited to a name, isolated activity, selected cohort or marketing statement.
IS-W-00214Applies to every scope component using this Module.NA is not available.Conformity exists only where declared international outcomes are understandable, implemented and supported by representative learner evidence rather than aspirational language alone.
IS-W-00315Applies to every scope component using this Module.NA is not available.Conformity exists only where beneficial ownership and controlling relationships are transparent; decision rights, escalation, oversight and corrective authority operate across every material relationship; and no owner, investor, brand or commercial party can improperly suppress an educational, safeguarding, records, complaint or public-claim action.
IS-W-00416Applies to every scope component using this Module.NA is not available.Conformity exists only where responsibilities, evidence status, limitations, changes and resulting action are controlled without presenting ICEQC as the competent regulator.
IS-W-00517Applies to every scope component using this Module.NA is not available.Conformity exists only where learners, families, educators and reviewers can trace the actual pathway from entry to completion and where implementation matches the approved map.
IS-W-00618Applies where a host-jurisdiction educational requirement affects the school scope.NA may be confirmed only where verified evidence establishes that no such educational requirement applies.Conformity exists only where the applicable interface, timetable, responsibility, learner effect and communication are current and controlled.
IS-W-00719Applies to every scope component using this Module.NA is not available.Conformity exists only where representative curriculum and implementation evidence shows planned sequence, alignment, approved change and protected learner continuity.
IS-W-00820Applies to every scope component using this Module.NA is not available.Conformity exists only where the declared approach is evident in planning, classroom implementation, learning resources and representative learner work without stereotyping or unsupported claims.
IS-W-00921Applies to every scope component using this Module.NA is not available.Conformity exists only where placement and support decisions are evidence-based, subject teachers share responsibility and language need is not misrepresented as lack of ability or misconduct.
IS-W-01022Applies to every scope component using this Module. Activity-specific provisions apply where the corresponding activity occurs.NA is not available for the complete unit. An absent activity does not remove the remaining provisions or the required readiness arrangements.Conformity requires respect for home languages and identity, accessible participation and implementation of every language outcome the school claims.
IS-W-01123Applies to every scope component using this Module.NA is not available.Conformity exists only where decisions are traceable, consistently applied, reviewable and supported by sufficient learner information.
IS-W-01224Applies to every scope component using this Module.NA is not available.Conformity exists only where representative transition records show timely coordination, appropriate consent, secure information transfer and response to disrupted learning or wellbeing.
IS-W-01325Applies to every scope component using this Module.NA is not available.Conformity exists only where assessment decisions are valid for their stated purpose, sufficiently consistent, supported by authentic learner evidence, corrected where integrity is compromised and not presented as externally recognized beyond the authority held.
IS-W-01426Applies where any record or prediction in clause 26.1 is issued.NA may be confirmed only where none is issued.Conformity exists only where sampled records are accurate, authorized, reproducible, protected against improper alteration and not confused with an externally awarded qualification.
IS-W-01527Applies where the school provides or represents progression, careers or destination guidance.NA may be confirmed only where no such service or claim exists.Conformity exists only where sources, responsibility, updates, learner records and conflicts of interest are controlled and no destination or recognition result is guaranteed.
IS-W-01628Applies where any external relationship is used, relied upon or publicly claimed.NA may be confirmed only where no such relationship or claim exists.Conformity exists only where evidence is authentic and current, school practice matches the status held and the external relationship is not represented as ICEQC approval.
IS-W-01729Applies where the organization prepares, enters, hosts, administers or communicates results for an external high-consequence assessment.NA may be confirmed only where none of these functions exists.Conformity exists only where school controls and recognized external evidence together support secure, fair and accurate operation without ICEQC re-performing the awarding body's decision.
IS-W-01830Applies to every scope component using this Module.NA is not available.Conformity exists only where qualification or experience verification, induction, professional learning, observation, support and role assignment are current and effective.
IS-W-01931Applies where personnel are recruited across jurisdictions or materially relocated for the school.NA may be confirmed only where neither condition exists.Conformity exists only where recruitment and deployment records are lawful, accurate, safeguarding-sensitive, non-deceptive and sufficient to protect learners and personnel continuity.
IS-W-02032Applies to every scope component using this Module.NA is not available.Conformity exists only where learners, personnel and families can understand and use protected routes, responsible persons act consistently and local authority interfaces are current.
IS-W-02133Applies to every scope component using this Module.NA is not available.Conformity exists only where access decisions, accommodations, support, participation, complaints and material group differences are monitored and acted upon.
IS-W-02234Applies to every scope component using this Module.NA is not available.Conformity exists only where representative communications and family evidence show meaningful access, consistent translations and no misleading omission.
IS-W-02335Applies to every scope component using this Module. Activity-specific provisions apply where the corresponding activity occurs.NA is not available for the complete unit. An absent activity does not remove the remaining provisions or the required readiness arrangements.Conformity requires accessible prevention, identification, support, referral and review arrangements. Particular mobility, language or separation needs shall receive the corresponding response without removing the general wellbeing controls.
IS-W-02436Applies where the organization provides, arranges, requires, recommends or materially relies upon any arrangement in clause 36.1.NA may be confirmed only where none exists.Conformity exists only where responsibilities, suitability, supervision, handover, communication, complaints, incident response and recognized external evidence are sufficient and current. Where suitable evidence of a material regulated or safety matter is unavailable, the affected conclusion shall be withheld or the scope and public wording shall be limited under ICEQC-ORG-2200 clause 24; this Module does not certify the legal or technical conformity of accommodation, guardianship, fire, building, transport or health controls.
IS-W-02537Applies where the organization provides, arranges, requires or represents such an activity.NA may be confirmed only where no such activity exists.Conformity exists only where activity-specific planning, participant information, provider controls, incident records and review are verified.
IS-W-02638Applies to every scope component using this Module. Cross-border transfer and automated-processing controls apply where the corresponding activity occurs.NA is not available for the complete information-governance unit. Absence of a particular transfer or automated activity does not remove the remaining controls.Conformity exists only where information purposes, access, retention, disclosure and any applicable transfer or automated-processing controls are current, traceable and implemented, with accountable human review of material decisions.
IS-W-02739Applies where more than one school, campus, franchise or learning centre is included.NA may be confirmed only for a single-site and single-control scope.Conformity exists only where central and local evidence, independently selected site samples and exception records support a reliable conclusion for the complete scope.
IS-W-02840Applies where any material external provider or partner exists.NA may be confirmed only where no material external provider or partner exists.Conformity exists only where selection, agreement, responsibility, monitoring, incident handling, change and exit controls are verified.
IS-W-02941Applies to every scope component using this Module.NA is not available.Conformity exists only where websites, prospectuses, contracts, social media, signs, certificates and third-party listings are materially consistent with verified records and the ICEQC public register.
IS-W-03042Applies to every scope component using this Module.NA is not available.Conformity exists only where data definitions, limitations, material differences, learner voice, actions, responsibility and follow-up are traceable and no unsupported causal claim is made.
IS-W-03143Applies to every scope component using this Module.NA is not available.Conformity exists only where the governing authority regularly reviews realistic assumptions, actual performance, restricted or committed funds and contingency resources, and can demonstrate that financial or commercial decisions do not create an unmanaged risk to learning, staffing, safeguarding, records, refunds, transfer or completion. This determination is not a solvency rating or financial-statement audit.
Annex B

Scope profiles (normative)

The composition record shall identify every applicable profile:

1. international education model: overseas national, international framework, dual pathway, multiple programme or internationalized host-national; 2. school stage: primary, lower secondary, upper secondary or through-school; 3. delivery: campus-based, blended or online; 4. organization: single-site, multi-campus or school system; 5. language: single principal language, bilingual, multilingual or transitional language model; 6. external status: no material external authorization claimed, one relationship or multiple relationships; 7. services: boarding, homestay, guardianship, transport, extended care, international travel or placement; and 8. assessment: internal only, external assessment participation or examination-centre function.

Annex C

Minimum evidence framework (normative)

Requirement areaMinimum evidence categoriesMinimum verification
Whole-school model and purposeapproved model, strategy, learner outcomes, implementation mapleadership and governing-authority interview; sample across grades
Governance and jurisdictionaccountability map, legal-dependency register, decisions, change recordsverify responsible entities and current external evidence
Curriculum, resources and pathwayscurriculum maps, timetables, progression and completion rules, change records, budgets, staffing and contingency resourcessample subjects, grades and pathways; compare plan with delivery and test ability to complete current learner commitments
International and intercultural learningplans, resources, learner work, review recordsindependent sample of learning evidence and learner/educator interviews
Language accesslearner-language data, placement, support plans, progress and staffingtrace selected learners from entry through review
Admission, transfer and mobilitycriteria, prior records, placement decisions, transition and exit filessample ordinary and exceptional decisions
Assessment, integrity and recordsassessment framework, moderation, integrity cases, rules for translation and automated tools, grade scales, credit rules, reports, transcripts and predictionsreproduce sampled results; authenticate learner evidence; verify conversion, authorization and alteration controls
Progression guidancecurrent source register, guidance records, conflicts and family informationsample advice against destination requirements and limitations
External relationshipsagreements, status evidence, public-register checks, responsibility mapindependently verify holder, scope, site, programme and effective period
Personnelqualification and experience checks, suitability, induction, development, assignmentsample employees and contractors across pathways and sites
Safeguarding and inclusiondesignated-lead and governing-oversight records, codes of conduct, checks, policies, routes, training, cases, referrals, accommodations and complaintsinterviews; protected sampling; verify cross-jurisdiction checks and current local external interfaces
Family information and protected reportingprospectus, contracts, fees, refunds, translations, communications, complaints, appeals, reports and retaliation controlscompare language versions and precedence; trace complaint and protected-report cases; family sampling where proportionate
Wellbeing and belongingrisk identification, support, referral and review recordslearner and support-personnel evidence with privacy protection
Boarding, travel and guardianshipagreements, suitability evidence, rosters, handovers, risk and incident recordsverify provider and school responsibility; recognized evidence where needed
Data and recordsprocessing map, providers, cross-border transfers, access and incidentslive system demonstration and independent record sample
Multi-campuscomplete population, central controls, local records, exception and correction datacentral function plus risk-based independent site samples
Public claimswebsites, social media, listings, signs, templates and certificate wordingcompare each material claim with source authority and certified scope
Results and improvementdefined datasets, group analysis, learner voice, action plans and follow-uprecalculate selected measures and trace actions to later review
Annex D

Conformity and nonconformity interpretation (normative)

1. C requires current, attributable and verified evidence of implementation throughout the complete applicable scope. 2. NC exists where an obligation is absent, incomplete, contradicted, materially ineffective or not implemented across an applicable component. 3. A document without evidence of operation does not by itself establish C. 4. One curriculum authorization, examination result, high-performing campus or selected learner outcome does not compensate for another NC. 5. NA is available only under the express condition stated in the affected clause. 6. False whole-school identity, concealed scope, fabricated external status, material safeguarding failure or systematic unreliable records shall be classified under ICEQC-CER-003 according to consequence and certification risk. 7. Insufficient evidence requires withholding or limiting the conclusion and shall not be converted automatically into C, NC or NA.

Annex E

Normative cross-reference and non-duplication map (normative)

Module clause(s)Principal source requirement(s)Additional international-school application assessed here
13QF-1000 clauses 12–13 and 21–23; ORG-2110 clauses 13–14; ORG-2200 clause 12The declared international model must govern the complete Route IS-W scope.
14QF-1000 clauses 21, 46 and 65–69International-purpose outcomes must be observable, implemented and used in improvement; ICEQC does not prescribe the outcomes.
15QF-1000 clauses 9–13; ORG-2000 clauses 14, 17, 88–92Ownership, external systems and commercial interests must not displace educational accountability or protected escalation.
16QF-1000 clause 10; ORG-2000 clauses 14 and 45; ORG-2010 clause 14Host and other jurisdictional dependencies must be mapped and verified without ICEQC acting as regulator.
17–19QF-1000 clauses 22–27 and 34; ORG-2110 clauses 13–15, 25 and 37Multiple pathways, host requirements, change and resources must form one feasible school experience and protect existing learner commitments.
20QF-1000 clauses 24, 28–29 and 47–50; ORG-2110 clauses 17 and 23Teaching and community activity must implement the declared international and intercultural model without stereotyping or learner harm.
21–22QF-1000 clauses 20, 30 and 50–51; ORG-2110 clause 24; ORG-2160 where selectedLanguage-of-instruction access, multilingual development and home-language respect are assessed across the whole school. ORG-2160 is additionally selected only under ORG-2200 clause 22.
23QF-1000 clauses 15–16 and 53; ORG-2110 clause 16Grade and pathway placement must interpret prior learning and language evidence across education systems.
24QF-1000 clauses 18, 27, 44 and 59; ORG-2110 clause 25International mobility and cross-border disruption require controlled transition, records and continuity.
25QF-1000 clauses 40–45; ORG-2110 clause 19Comparability, multilingual or multi-pathway moderation and integrity risks require school-level controls.
26QF-1000 clauses 43–46 and 71–73; ORG-2110 clauses 20 and 31Transcripts, predictions, credits, conversions and school-issued completion records must disclose authority and limitations.
27QF-1000 clauses 15, 46 and 52–53; ORG-2110 clauses 25 and 31; GOV-009 clause 57International progression and destination guidance must be current, impartial and non-guaranteeing.
28–29QF-1000 clauses 38–45; ORG-2000 clause 45; ORG-2110 clause 30Programme-owner, awarding and examination relationships are verified at the school interface; ICEQC does not make their authorization or award decision.
30–31QF-1000 clauses 34–37 and 47–49; ORG-2110 clause 26Competence, cross-jurisdiction recruitment, relocation and staffing continuity must support every pathway and safeguarding role.
32QF-1000 clauses 36 and 47–49; ORG-2110 clause 22Whole-school safeguarding must remain effective across languages, jurisdictions, mobility and local referral systems.
33QF-1000 clauses 20 and 47–53; ORG-2110 clauses 23–24International-school identity and language must not produce unsupported diagnosis, exclusion or unequal participation.
34QF-1000 clauses 10.6, 14–17 and 60–62; ORG-2110 clauses 20 and 27; GOV-009 clause 63Essential information, complaints, appeals and protected reports must remain usable and consistent across material languages.
35QF-1000 clauses 19, 30, 47 and 49–50; ORG-2110 clauses 18 and 23–25The school must respond to relocation, cultural adjustment, language transition, separation and repeated-mobility risks and include learner voice.
36QF-1000 clauses 38–39 and 47–49; ORG-2110 clause 28Boarding, homestay and guardianship dependencies must have explicit school responsibility, legal authority and failure arrangements.
37QF-1000 clauses 38–39 and 47–49; ORG-2110 clause 28International trips, exchanges and placements require destination- and activity-specific controls.
38QF-1000 clauses 54–56 and 71–73; ORG-2150 clauses 27–33 where selectedCross-border processing, providers, rights, retention and incident response must be controlled.
39ORG-2000 clauses 88–92; ORG-2110 clause 29; GOV-009 clauses 65–66A whole-school conclusion requires reliable central and local implementation across every included campus.
40QF-1000 clauses 38–39 and 59; ORG-2000 clause 17; ORG-2110 clause 30Curriculum, recruitment, counselling, residential, travel and technology partners remain under school accountability.
41QF-1000 clauses 14, 46 and 74; ORG-2000 clauses 73–80; ORG-2010 clauses 40–45; GOV-009 clauses 28–32, 46–66 and 79International-school, external-status and ICEQC claims must preserve issuer, object, scope and authority boundaries.
42QF-1000 clauses 46 and 65–69; ORG-2110 clause 32Results, perceptions and improvement must address international-school pathways and material group differences without unsupported causation.
43QF-1000 clauses 17, 27, 34 and 59; ORG-2000 clauses 29, 40 and 84Budget, dependency and contingency evidence must support current learner commitments; ICEQC does not issue a solvency rating.