ISJ April 2016: What is an International School? Part two considers: ‘a way forward?’

Ian Hill

Abstract:

Part one (ISJ November 2015) discussed some of the problems in defining what is an international school. Part two considers: ‘a way forward?’

Part two of this paper is based on two prescriptions: accepting that not all international schools offer an international education (that is, an education for international mindedness) but many do; and both state and private (independent) national schools can offer an international education, and they are doing so in increasing numbers.

Hayden & Thompson (1996 pp50-51) conceded that not all international schools necessarily provide an international education. I also raised this same point a few years later (Hill 2000 pp30-31). This means that there is a difference between international education and an international school – they are not necessarily one and the same.