Overview of the Maple Bear Global Excellence Program

The Maple Bear Global Excellence (GLEX) program was established by Maple Bear Global Schools to ensure consistent excellence in school operations and administration across the Maple Bear network. Conducted by the Regional Operations Team, GLEX evaluates school operations against a comprehensive set of standards. The review covers areas critical to effective school functioning, including legal compliance, facilities management, health and safety, academic administration, personnel management, branding, commercial activities, and general school administration.

Purpose of the Global Excellence Program

GLEX serves as MBGS’s quality control program to maintain operational consistency across its network. The purpose of GLEX includes:

Consistency: Ensuring all Maple Bear schools adhere to standardized procedures, creating a uniform experience for students and parents worldwide.
Efficiency: Standardized practices improve school operations, leading to better service quality.
Parent and Student Satisfaction: By delivering high-quality and reliable services, schools foster trust and satisfaction among parents and students.
Brand Integrity: High operational standards protect the Maple Bear brand image, minimizing reputational risks across regions.
Compliance: Ensuring that schools meet legal, regulatory, and ethical standards.
Recognition of Excellence: GLEX is also designed to celebrate best practices and operational excellence within the network.

Through these objectives, the GLEX program enhances school success, contributing to Maple Bear’s reputation for quality education and operational reliability.

Frequency of Operational Reviews

Each Maple Bear school undergoes at least one GLEX review annually. The types of operational visits include:

Annual GLEX Assessment: A yearly, comprehensive evaluation of each school.
Follow-up: Targeted follow-up visits as needed based on the previous GLEX assessment findings.
Training Visits: As new Maple Bear programs or operational updates are introduced, schools may receive additional training visits to implement these changes effectively.

New Maple Bear schools must complete their first GLEX assessment within their initial semester, ensuring they align with Maple Bear’s standards early on.

Global Excellence Program Assessment Instrument

The GLEX Assessment Instrument examines seven Domains with total of 50 standards, which are scored according to the following rubric – As Standard, Minor Infraction, Major Infraction, Critical Infraction.

Domain 1: Legal & Regulatory

Legal & Regulatory

The 3 standards under this domain confirm that school has the appropriate legal infrastructure, including licenses, documents, and standing with local regulatory bodies, in place to ensure the business can operate within the defined regulatory environment.

Domain 2: Facilities

Facilities

The 21 standards under this domain confirm that the school facilities, including all external and internal infrastructure which comprise the school site, are up to Maple Bear standard. This means that they are clean, organized, in good repair, safe, and consistent with Maple Bear brand standards.

Domain 3: Health & Safety

Health & Safety

The 8 standards under this domain confirm that the school has the necessary processes and procedures in place to ensure the safety of the school community and visitors while on school premises.

Domain 4: Academic

Academic

The 4 standards under this domain confirm that school is engaging in academic activities (training and quality assurance) in alignment with Maple Bear standard and that the classrooms are appropriately resourced to execute the Maple Bear program.

Domain 5: People

People

The 5 standards under this domain confirm that the school is fully staffed with qualified professionals who have the expertise required to successfully operate in their function, and that they are equipped with and demonstrate compliance with staff policies and procedures.

Domain 6: Commercial

Commercial

The 4 standards in this domain confirm that the school has marketing practices in place to ensure the long-term success of the school by successfully managing the student enrolment cycle and student drop-off rate.

Domain 7: School Administration

School Administration

The 5 standards in this domain confirm that the school has the appropriate administrative policies, processes, and procedures in place to ensure an effective school operation. This includes IT systems, finance, front desk administration, and engagement with the school community.

The Importance of being part of a Global Network

Maple Bear Glpbal Schools oversees the development and upkeep of Operational standards and resources. Responsibilities include:

Regional Operations Teams lead the annual GLEX cycle, visiting each school to assess performance across all domains. Key responsibilities include:

Pre-visit virtual planning with School Leadership to coordinate the assessment.
Conducting school visits to gather evidence and insights for the GLEX assessment.
Collaborating with school leaders to establish actionable School Improvement Plans (SIP) based on the assessment findings.
Regularly following up with school leaders to track SIP progress and provide training as needed.

The School Visit Process

The GLEX school visit allows Regional Operations Teams and School Leadership to collaboratively develop a clear picture of school operations. The process includes:

1

Initial Meeting

Establishing rapport with school leaders and reviewing the visit’s objectives.

2

Domain-Specific Walk-Throughs

Conducting observations in all seven domains to collect evidence.

3

Staff Interviews

Gaining insights from staff members regarding operational practices.

4

Drafting the School Improvement Plan

At the end of the visit, drafting SMART goals and actionable steps.

5

Review Meeting

Reviewing findings with school leadership, who may offer input before the final report is submitted.

Post-Visit Follow-Up

Within one week of the visit, the Regional Operations Team meets with school leaders to review the finalized School Improvement Plan, created through the GLEX platform. Monthly meetings between the Regional Operations Team and the school leadership ensure progress on action items and help address any new needs identified during the GLEX assessment.

Why Maple Bear Global Excellence Matters

The GLEX program’s impact extends beyond individual schools; by upholding standards across the entire network, Maple Bear ensures that all schools meet the same high-quality benchmarks. Schools within this global network can thus benefit from best practices, shared resources, and continuous support from Maple Bear’s regional and global teams, ensuring each school provides a top-tier educational experience.

MAPLE BEAR CENTRAL AND EASTERN EUROPE | The best of Canadian education for a global future.