Bucharest's Cambridge School Takes the Lead in UK and Global Accreditation Certifications
In a historic milestone, the Cambridge School of Bucharest (CSB) has become the first school in Romania, and among the first internationally, to successfully pass the Independent Schools Inspectorate (ISI) inspection under the newly revised British Schools Overseas (BSO) framework. This framework, overseen by the UK Government’s Department for Education, aligns British Schools Overseas more closely with the UK’s independent-school sector standards.
The updated BSO framework moves away from traditional grading terms like “excellent” or “good” and instead assesses whether schools meet five clearly defined standards: Quality of education, Pupil wellbeing, School leadership, Students’ spiritual, moral, social and cultural development, and Child protection and safeguarding.
The comprehensive evaluation covered every aspect of school life in remarkable depth, representing a significant step up from previous inspection processes. According to Matthew Wemyss, Assistant School Director - Secondary, the school demonstrated its commitment to excellence across all areas under this new rigorous framework, which emphasizes substance, clarity, consistency, and accountability rather than qualifying labels.
Inspectors affirmed CSB's strengths across both academic provision and student wellbeing. The school was praised for its forward-thinking environment where students are not just prepared for university but also equipped for life in a rapidly evolving world.
The IB Diploma Programme (DP) is fostered at CSB, with values such as global-mindedness, student-led learning, and interdisciplinary thinking already embedded. The IB praised CSB's collaborative planning, internal assessment systems, and integration of core components like Theory of Knowledge (TOK), Creativity, Activity, Service (CAS), and the Extended Essay.
Pupils at CSB understand the importance of social responsibility and show empathy in their interactions. Volunteering and community service are integrated into the curriculum at CSB, with students participating in meaningful CAS projects and community partnerships.
All groups within the school community demonstrate a wide understanding of and commitment to the IB programme, as noted in the IB report. CSB's leadership in IB practice was shared publicly at the IB World Schools Romania Engagement Conference in February 2024, where the school outlined how its CAS projects and community partnerships are shaping a distinctive IB Diploma Programme.
Pupils at CSB work hard, show curiosity, and are not afraid to make mistakes. They behave well in lessons and around the school, and are respectful to their peers and others. The ISI commended CSB on seven commendations well above expectations.
The Cambridge School of Bucharest (CSB) passed its latest inspection by the Independent Schools Inspectorate (ISI), and was officially authorized as an IB World School in April 2024. The ISI inspection results and IB World School status offer clear assurance that CSB delivers internationally accredited, globally relevant, ethically grounded, and intellectually robust education.
Education-and-self-development at CSB extends beyond academic excellence, with a focus on online-education, learning, and lifelong-learning. The school's commitment to the International Baccalaureate (IB) Diploma Programme (DP) embeds values such as global-mindedness, student-led learning, and interdisciplinary thinking, offering students a holistic education for life in a rapidly evolving world.
