AQS Tiers

The Quality Standard is tiered according to whether the school is seeking an International, National or State award (see below). All schools are evaluated against international best practice, with each tier differentiated by the expectations of the school’s performance against the 6 Key Performance Areas (KPAs).

1. International: This assessment is for schools and school networks against International Board standards such as the IGCSE and the IB. Typically its audience includes Premier International and National Indian schools.

2. National: This assessment is for schools and school networks against Nation-wide Board standards such as the CBSE and the ICSE. Typically its audience includes high-end traditional, aided, alternative and government schools and donor endowed NGOs.

3. State: This assessment is for schools and school networks against State-wide Board standards such as the SSC. Typically its audience includes low-end traditional, aided, alternative and government schools and donor endowed NGOs. We also include NGO & Trust run non-government schools, which serve children with multiple disadvantages and have teachers with very basic teaching qualifications.

* The examination board to which a school is affiliated does not limit a school’s performance nor its aspiration be reviewed against a high tier. The tier reflects the expectation level of school performance as researched internationally.  However, the examination board affiliation of your school serves as the minimum benchmark for the AQS programme.

A school could be awarded a Bronze, Silver, Gold or Platinum Standard. ‘Gold’ requires the school to consistently perform well in both, Leadership and Management & Teaching and Learning.