Choosing the right qualification

Behind every O Level, IGCSE and A Level is a system taught in more than 12,000 schools in over 160 countries. Here is what it means when a school is a British Council Partner School.

Every admission season, families across Bangladesh weigh the same question: which qualification will best prepare their child for the future? UK international school qualifications, International GCSEs, International O Levels, International AS Levels and International A Levels, remain the world’s most widely taught, recognised by more than 800 leading universities globally.

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From school to university

International GCSEs and O Levels, taken at 14–16, offer six or seven core subjects plus electives from a range of over 70. Students who continue study for International AS Levels, a focused, one-year stage accepted for university entry, then optionally for a full International A Level, a gold-standard entrance qualification recognised by top-ranked universities worldwide. The student-centred approach builds critical thinking, independent research and communication skills that prepare students for university and the global job market, whether they continue locally or abroad.

What is a British Council Partner School?

The British Council supports schools delivering these qualifications, more than 2,500 worldwide, including over 215 in Bangladesh. Partner Schools benefit from centrally managed, secure exam administration; teacher training through the Online Support for Schools platform; and safeguarding guidance covering both physical and digital wellbeing.

Celebrating schools, teachers and students

That support shows up locally through three major annual recognitions. The British Council Partner Schools Awards celebrate excellence across the network, drawing entries from more than 30 schools and over 70 applications. The Teacher Recognition Awards honour the educators behind these results: almost 1,400 teachers have been trained over the last two years, and the British Council marked that milestone with 142 awards, growing to 500 this year. And the British Council Scholars’ Award celebrates individual academic brilliance, honouring students who achieve the highest distinction grade in nine or more subjects in the May/June exam series: A* for Cambridge International O Level or IGCSE candidates, or grade 8 or 9 for Pearson Edexcel International GCSE candidates. Together, these awards place Bangladesh’s top schools, teachers and students among an elite national cohort.

What it means for parents

A Partner School is not a different curriculum, and it is not a guarantee of any individual child’s results. It is a sign that exam materials are centrally managed, staff are trained and monitored, and safeguarding support is in place through the British Council. The simplest step for a parent is to ask a school directly whether it is a current British Council Partner School.

Find a school near you

The schools featured in this supplement are British Council Partner Schools in Bangladesh. To learn more, visit www.britishcouncil.org.bd/en/exam/british-council-partner-schools.