CIS Perspectives Blog

Key insights from our team's recent programme of engagements in India, including student voice, stronger school–university pathways, practical learning, and how India is helping shape the future of international education.

Understand the real drivers of student anxiety during the secondary-to-higher education admissions experience—and what schools can do about it. This article explores common thinking patterns, practical strategies, and simple ways educators and parents can help students build confidence, maintain balance, and navigate uncertainty with greater perspective.

Our hearts are heavy as we learn how conflict around the world is impacting colleagues, students and their families in schools and universities. Here’s some guidance as we try to make sense of and navigate these distressing times.

Learn how to strengthen digital safety, communication, reporting pathways, AI use, and well‑being support to keep students safe in virtual learning environments.

AI presents opportunities and risks for young people. Dan Furness highlights the challenges, school pressures, benefits, and guidance for educators and families to foster safe, responsible, and supportive AI use.

This article reveals crucial insights from a review that are highly relevant for international schools aiming to enhance their safeguarding practices. Discover practical recommendations that require minimal funding but a significant shift in mindset. Learn how your school can create a safer environment and protect every child’s well-being.

As 2025 draws to a close, we recognize the CIS global community’s legacy of bold ambition, collaboration, and an unwavering commitment to guide and support the young people we educate. Read the highlights.

Discover why international schools are shifting from ‘low-level concerns’ to ‘adult conduct concerns’ in safeguarding. Learn how clear terminology, proactive monitoring, and a culture of trust help protect students and empower educators, and how to achieve safer school communities through practical steps.

Curious about how schools tackle identity-based harm? This blog walks you through the ways communities can support everyone involved—those who caused harm, the witnesses, and families—using restorative practices and cultural shifts. While international schools are making promising strides, the real change comes from keeping equity, inclusion, and well-being at the heart of everything we do.

When we picture students at risk for substance use, we may think of visible hardship: poverty, instability, or trauma. Still, risk doesn’t always look like struggle. What about the students who seem to have it all? Explore practical tips for schools and parents addressing the link between affluent neglect and adolescent substance abuse.

Eating disorders are among the most fatal mental health disorders, and their impact on students' physical and emotional health, as well as their academic and social development, can be profound. As international school staff, it is crucial to understand how to effectively support students who have been diagnosed with an eating disorder.

It’s been a remarkable year for the CIS community, filled with new initiatives and significant changes. Read our reflections as we celebrate the great strides we're taking forward together.

The prevalence of AI is accompanied by safeguarding concerns facing international schools around online harms. Online sexual extortion is one of these concerns. We’ve outlined seven key actions to prevent and respond to online sexual extortion yourself or when supporting those affected by it.

Jane Larsson reflects on three new realizations that emerged from our 2024 CIS Global Forum, including the digital transitions students experience when they head to higher education.

School safeguarding specialist, Leila Holmyard, explains how identity-based harm and the promotion of diversity, equity and inclusion intersect with child protection and safeguarding. She also shares student feedback and how schools can take action to support and protect them.

How do schools and universities support international students in their post-secondary pathways? What are the associated challenges? What does success look like? Read highlights from our research and common questions we receive.

Explore practical strategies to broaden definitions of success and support diverse post-secondary student pathways through innovative counselling programmes, alumni engagement and more.

'I often hear from those who wish to achieve a sense of belonging for every student but are worried that their initiatives will inadvertently stoke division or backlash within the community.' Learn more from Dr Emily Meadows and see how her framework can help you and your school.

The international education world was rocked by the revelation of child abuse by a trusted member of the community in 2014. Existing policies and practices within international education were insufficient to effectively protect young people in international schools from exploitation and abuse. A global collaboration took action to move from reactive to proactive safeguarding.  

This blog draws from the CIS Model: Whole-School Approach to Safeguarding and shares how schools can take a comprehensive approach to protecting children from risks related to the use of generative AI. It's packed with links to resources and guidance.