Standard
The Standard behind the Global Schools Trustmark
A whole-school standard for global citizenship education. Certification is awarded when a school shows evidence that practice is in place across school life.
This page shares the structure and expectations. The full criteria and guidance are provided through the official document pack, so the Standard stays protected and fair.
What you can see here
A clear overview to support a decision, without publishing the full criteria.
- How the Standard is structured and what it covers
- How expectations grow over certification cycles
- How the Standard builds on the Whole-School Approach Framework
Low paperwork by design
Evidence is organised through our certification platform. Schools can link or upload existing documents and match them to requirements in a guided way.
What this avoids
Duplicate reporting, long templates, and evidence “for the sake of it”. The aim is clarity and continuity.
Structure
Structure at a glance
The Standard is built for predictable review. It focuses on stable practice across school life, not one-off activity.
Six whole-school areas
Titles only (public overview).
Leadership and school culture
Direction, routines, and expectations that hold over time.
Staff capability
Staff learning that strengthens everyday practice.
Teaching and learning
Learning design connected to learner outcomes.
Student voice and action
Participation and action connected to learning and reflection.
Partnerships
Families and partners that strengthen learning and responsibility.
Review and improvement
Review routines that support better decisions and improvement.
Criteria types
The Standard uses two types of criteria so schools can build depth over time.
Required criteria
BaselineThe minimum needed to protect the meaning of certification.
Continuity criteria
MaturitySignals of deeper practice. Encouraged early, then maintained in later cycles.
Evidence in plain terms
Policies, learning plans, staff learning records, examples of student learning, partnership records, and review notes. The platform guides how each item is matched to the right requirement.
Document preview
Headings only (public).
Scope and definitions
Requirements by whole-school area
Evidence guidance
Assessment and decision rules
Renewal and maintaining certification
Mark use and verification
Full criteria and interpretation guidance are shared through the official document pack.
Certification cycles
Expectations grow in stages
The goal is depth and continuity. Schools start with foundations, establish a baseline, then sustain maturity over time.
Foundation year
Start smallSchools begin with a small set of foundational required criteria. This sets direction, roles, routines, and review.
- Clear leadership ownership and responsibilities
- Core routines for planning, evidence, and review
- Platform setup so evidence is organised from day one
First certification cycle
Establish the baselineBy the end of the first cycle, schools meet all required criteria. Additional criteria are encouraged. The emphasis is stable practice that can withstand staff and leadership change.
How this feels in practice
The platform shows what is expected next and helps schools use existing documents as evidence.
Second cycle onward
Sustain and matureSchools maintain both required and additional criteria. Renewal protects credibility by focusing on continuity, evidence, and improvement rather than one-off activity.
- Keep practice consistent across years
- Use review to strengthen what is already working
- Protect trust through clear evidence
Why this cycle design exists
It makes the Standard part of how a school runs: leadership decisions, learning design, staff learning, and review. The aim is embedded quality, not an extra programme.
Whole-School Approach
Built on the Global Citizenship Foundation’s Whole-School Approach Framework
The Framework provides the model. The Standard turns it into clear requirements that can be reviewed through evidence, so progress is consistent and sustainable.
How the pieces fit
Whole-School Approach Framework
The organising model for whole-school global citizenship education.
The Standard
Clear criteria across school life, with evidence guidance.
Certification platform
Guided evidence mapping, review, and renewal—without paperwork bloat.
Connected frameworks
These support learner outcomes and staff development within the whole-school approach.
Global Learner Profile
Learner outcomes and attributes.
Teacher Development Goals
Staff capability and development.
What this is for
To strengthen how learners build the knowledge, skills, and habits needed for thoughtful global citizenship.
Document access
Transparent access, protected Standard
We publish enough for schools to judge fit. The full criteria and guidance are shared through the official document pack.
Public on this site
- Structure and whole-school areas
- Cycle expectations and how they grow over time
- Recognition rules and verification routes
Provided in the official pack
- Full criteria set and interpretation guidance
- Evidence guidance and examples
- Platform onboarding and how to organise evidence
Request access
If your school is exploring certification, request access to the document pack and onboarding guidance.
Need to check a school’s status? Verify status.
Why the full criteria are not published
Publishing the full criteria and interpretation rules would reduce fairness and consistency over time. This public summary supports informed decisions while protecting the integrity of certification.
Ready to explore certification fit?
Start with a short application. If accepted, your school receives the document pack and access to the platform to organise evidence without paperwork bloat.
Global Schools TrustMark
Supporting and Celebrating Schools Preparing Global Citizens of Today and Tomorrow.
Evidence-led recognition awarded through structured evidence against auditable requirements. Developed and stewarded by the Global Citizenship Foundation.
Need a quick orientation?
Start with the Standard to see requirements, then How it works to understand the staged process and certification cycle.
Global Schools TrustMark
Credibility and stewardship
© Global Citizenship Foundation. All rights reserved. Global Schools TrustMark is a trademark or service mark of the Global Citizenship Foundation. Use of the mark is limited to schools with valid recognition.