Today marks a significant milestone in our story – Cognita’s 20th anniversary. On this day in 2004, our journey began with the acquisition of Quinton House School in the UK. What started as a single school has since grown into a global community of 108 schools, spanning 17 countries, with our latest addition, Doukas School in Greece.

From the beginning, our vision has been clear: to provide more students with access to quality teaching and exceptional education. While much has evolved over the years, that founding purpose remains at the heart of everything we do.

A Global Community Dedicated to Excellence

Our growth over the past two decades has been extraordinary, but we know this journey wouldn’t have been possible without our people. Today, over 21,000 colleagues work together to educate and care for more than 95,000 children and young people around the world. Our teachers, support staff, operational teams, parents, and students have all played a vital role in shaping Cognita’s success. Thank you for your dedication, passion, and commitment to our shared mission.

We deliver world-class education through continuous investment in our colleagues, communities, and infrastructure. From leadership development programmes with UCL’s IOE, Faculty of Education and Society, and our internal platform dedicated to sharing best practices (CogX), to centralised and regional support: we empower schools to focus on what matters most – their students! Additionally, we invest in state-of-the-art facilities and sophisticated curricula to ensure that our schools support our students to thrive.

What Makes Cognita Unique?

As we reflect on the past 20 years, it’s clear that our uniqueness lies in the combination of local individuality and global connection.

Dr Simon Camby, our Group Chief Education Officer, shares:

“We empower every student, ensure every school retains its special character, and champion a holistic approach to education. Education at Cognita goes beyond academics. Our focus includes wellbeing, global citizenship, digital innovation, and enrichment opportunities that prepare students for the future.”

As we grow, so does our ability to make a positive impact. Cognita schools contribute to social and global development through meaningful community engagement and sustainable practices. In September for our sixth annual Global Be Well Day, over 100,000 Cognita colleagues and students gave 500,000 hours to connect with local communities and drive positive change worldwide. Together, we foster individual and collective growth; we are creating opportunities that lead to transformational outcomes.

Looking Ahead

We invite you to celebrate this milestone with us by watching and sharing our anniversary video. Over the coming year, we’ll continue to highlight the incredible moments that have defined Cognita’s journey.

Frank Maassen, our Group Chief Executive Officer, proudly comments:

“As we look ahead to the next 20 years, our commitment to excellence in Holistic Education remains steadfast: this proven strategy supports every single one of our outstanding students to develop their full potential and to thrive in a rapidly evolving world. As a global team, we create inspiring learning environments, we deliver market-leading outcomes, and live a culture of care, respect, empowerment, and ambition.”

Here’s to the next chapter of Cognita’s story!