Ridley Completes CAIS Peer Review Process

At Ridley College, the pursuit of excellence is more than a guiding principle — it’s a lived experience. That commitment was recently reaffirmed through the completion of the Canadian Accredited Independent Schools (CAIS) peer review process, a rigorous and collaborative evaluation that helps independent schools across Canada reflect, grow and improve.

The process began in June 2024 with a 14-month self-study involving faculty and staff from across the school. Working groups examined Ridley’s practices against 12 national standards, covering a range of areas including academic programming, student wellbeing, leadership, governance and community engagement. The effort was coordinated by Andrea Charlton, whose thoughtful leadership and attention to detail helped set the tone for the entire review.

The peer review team, made up of educators and leaders from other CAIS schools, visited campus for four days of meetings last week. They visited classrooms, had conversations with students, staff and leadership. Their role was to validate Ridley’s self-evaluation and offer professional insights. While the final report will be delivered in February, the visit itself marked a meaningful moment for the Ridley community on this journey.

Many parents, alumni and friends may not be aware that CAIS accreditation is a regular part of life for member schools. Every five years, schools must demonstrate that they are actively engaged in continuous improvement and assess themselves against a set of national standards. This process is a deep dive into the culture, values and practices that shape our School’s identity.

During the exit meeting, the peer review team shared reflections that spoke to Ridley’s character. Among the highlights:

“What is happening here at Ridley should be a role model for peer schools—both in Canada and around the world.”

“We were so impressed by Ridley’s authentic, open and vulnerable approach to this self-improvement process — this was very apparent.”

These comments reflect the spirit with which Ridley approaches growth. We look forward to receiving the final CAIS report and sharing the results in the new year.