Become a British Council CIE attached centre

Step One

Write to the Ministry of Education. The Ministry will then recommend your school for inspection and inform the British Council and the appropriate exam board.

Contact the British Council to let us know you’re interested in becoming an attached centre.

Find out if your school meets the requirements for becoming an attached centre outlined under 'Fees and requirements' below.

Step Two

Complete and return the ‘centre approval form’ from the CIE attached-centre application documents provided by the British Council.

You may need to provide:

• a school prospectus or other promotional literature
• a list of all teaching staff, including names, qualifications, nationality, years at the school and subject expertise
• samples of both teachers’ preparation books and student papers
• a list of subjects and syllabuses offered at the school
• attendance records and lesson timetables.

Step Three

Allow a British Council representative to come to inspect your school and discuss your teaching approach.

The approved inspector will need to speak with the school principal and be allowed to ask questions of both teachers and students as needed.

Step Four

The inspector will submit a report to the British Council. We will communicate the details to the appropriate board. If all goes well your school will be approved to start offering IGCSEs, O Levels and A-levels.

Once approved, your school must agree to accept periodic and unannounced re-inspection from British Council representatives.

There is no fee to become a British Council-attached centre. However, new schools seeking CIE attachment have to pay a one off fee for the first inspection visit. Payment is made to British Council via bank draft (please contact us for details).

Once you are a CIE attached center and you wish to offer Cambridge Primary Checkpoint exams, there is a Cambridge Primary start-up and yearly renewal registration fee. The Primary start-up fee depends on when your school registers (fee structure available on request) and then an annual renewal fee is paid before the end of October each year.

All schools are expected to meet some basic requirements to become an attached centre. For example, your school must:

• be a bona fide teaching institution
• employ teachers with a first degree or equivalent and a minimum of three years’ teaching experience
• have senior academic staff with a master’s degree or equivalent and five years’ experience
• use a science laboratory with basic equipment if you wish to offer three science subjects
• have access to a library with relevant books and computer access
• contain spacious, light and well-ventilated classrooms
• use reliable furniture and equipment
• take health and safety seriously.