This is the story of two initiatives in international education, one originating in Switzerland, the other in Britain, but both now established in most countries of the world, including especially the United States and U.S. schools overseas. The International baccalaureate (IB) is a college entrance examination which can be taken in any country and is recognized by universities in any country. Adoption of the IB curriculum in a school ensures tht the school is brought up to international standards. Currently, for example, nearly 400 U.S. schools offer the IB, and the number is rapidly growing.

The United World Colleges (UWC) are a chain of schools in many countires, where young people of all nations and backgrounds can live and learn together. There are now ten United World Colleges, each drawing students from all over the world. Schools Across Frontiers is an inspiring, sometimes amusing, highly personal and anecdotal history of the IB and the UWC by the late Alec Peterson, who played a pioneering role in forming them. This second edition has additional chapters by Ian Hill and David Sutcliffe, bringing the story of the IB and the UWC up to date.