COBIS Connect - August 2017

Dear Colleague,

August is traditionally somewhat of a 'calm before the storm' month – when school teaching staff take some well-deserved downtime to help prepare themselves for another exciting academic year. I sincerely hope that the summer break has been kind to you and that you managed to enjoy a relaxing and restful holiday.

The new year is indeed just around the corner, and as this edition of Connect shows, there's lots to consider for 2017-18 already. Will your talented student debaters be participating in the COBIS Model United Nations this year? Will 2017-18 be the year that you or your staff gain new skills and develop further as education professionals by enrolling in one our of our courses? Or perhaps the incoming academic year is the one in which your school becomes accredited by the COBIS Patron, HRH The Duke of York, KG confirming your school as one of immense global quality. Whatever you decide, I'm sure that your plans are well-placed to ensure another successful and rewarding school year for you, your students, your staff and parents.

Finally, best of luck to COBIS students receiving exam results this month – as usual, I'm sure they will make you (and us!) very proud!

Kind regards,

Colin Bell
CEO

Each month we will be showcasing one of our alumni from any of our 292 schools around the world. COBIS students are doing amazing things and we want to showcase the talent of past students from our schools, in order to celebrate what they have achieved and to inspire the next generation of students.

This month Hannah spoke to Duncan Rendall who graduated from the British School of Paris in 2013. Duncan now works as a Professional Storyteller with his own theatre company. He has already worked with many international schools and COBIS Members in The Netherlands, France, Oman and Qatar, and hopes to bring his storytelling and original theatre to many more COBIS Schools around the world

Click below to read more about Duncan's time at the British School of Paris, and find out more about his storytelling work by visiting his Facebook page here.

ALUMNI SPOTLIGHT: DUNCAN RENDALL

COBIS NEWS

COBIS INVITES EXPRESSIONS OF INTEREST FOR TEACHER SUPPLY RESEARCH

TWO WEEKS REMAINING TO SUBMIT PROPOSALS

One of the aims in the current COBIS Development Plan relates to Teacher Supply: To research, advocate, encourage and inform routes to meet the urgent need for teachers and leaders in British international schools in a fast growing educational economy.

As part of this commitment, COBIS is looking to commission qualitative and quantitative research into teacher supply in the British international schools sector, and is inviting expressions of interest.

FURTHER DETAILS

QUALITY AND STANDARDS ON THE AGENDA AT RECENT WESTMINSTER EDUCATION FORUM

Sakina Zafar, former Director of Academic Development at COBIS, delivered a speech at the Westminster Education Forum in July on the challenge of facilitating growth whilst maintaining quality and standards for British international schools overseas.

The transcript of the speech is now available to read in full below.

Sakina recently moved on to a new position as Director of Global Membership Services at the Royal Academy of Dance, London. We wish her all the best for the future!

READ MORE

COBIS BOARD MEMBER TO SPEAK AT DINE AND DISCUSS EVENT

COBIS Board Member Professor Deborah Eyre will share her expertise in the area of Leadership in World Class Schools at an upcoming Dine and Discuss event hosted by Anthony Millard Consulting in London in September.

Professor Eyre has devoted her career to researching, understanding, and advocating for high achievement among students. She has developed her own approach to achieve this objective, as well as having written numerous policy briefs, articles and books on the subject. All involved with COBIS are immensely privileged to have Professor Eyre on our Board of Directors, as her wisdom and knowledge is invaluable in shaping the COBIS network.

Attendance at the Dine and Discuss event is by invitation only. If you would like to attend or be added to the guest list for the future please email Natasha Watson at Anthony Millard Consulting.

MORE INFORMATION

10 Questions gives you the chance to get to know members of the COBIS network a little bit better by asking them ten questions about their achievements, wishes and hidden talents! This month, we talked to Alison Emmerson. Alison is Headteacher of Two Boats School on Ascension Island. Ascension Island is located in the Atlantic Ocean, 1,300km away from the nearest landmass and 1,600km away from the coast of Africa.

1. Which living person do you most admire?
My mum! She is the most amazing person ever.

2. Which talent would you most like to have?
I would love to be able to play the piano.

3. What do you consider your greatest achievement?
My two daughters, Amy and Megan. They are wonderful young people and I am very proud of them.

4. Where would you most like to live?
Right here on Ascension! I really feel like I am living the dream! It is a unique place.

5. What is your favourite book?
As a child my favourite book was Enid Blyton's The Magic Faraway Tree. Nowadays I love a good murder mystery - anything by Ian Rankin or Lee Child.

6. Which historical figure do you most identify with?
Nelson Mandela; though a controversial character, he fought for what is right.

7. When you were a child what did you want to be when you grew up?
A teacher! I never wanted to be anything else.

8. What do you like to do in your spare time?
I read books by the bucket load.

9. What is on your bucket list?
I would love to visit as many cities as possible.

10. What is one thing people would be surprised to know about you?
I was evacuated from Cyprus as a 9 year old during the conflict in 1974.

PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT and EVENTS NEWS

ASSESSMENT ACADEMY: ASSESSMENT LEAD TRAINING

During the first week of August, 18 teachers and senior leaders from eight countries came together in Durham, England, for the four-day Assessment Lead residential programme (and a boat trip down the river!)

The Assessment Lead Programme enables education professionals to make assessment more efficient and purposeful, allowing them to make more reliable judgements about what pupils understand, can do and need next.

Delegates on the course developed their knowledge and approach to:

Using assessment more effectively to support curriculum planning and pedagogy
Developing powerful formative 'hinge' questions and quizzes that can be used during teaching to identify pupil needs and common misconceptions
Designing formative and summative assessments that are demonstrably reliable in supporting curriculum planning and tracking progress
Providing support and advice to colleagues in the design and use of good assessment

The training was delivered by Evidence Based Education as part of the Assessment Academy initiative, with whom COBIS is partnering to offer to members a distance learning version of the programme for the 2017/2018 academic year.

This programme, starting in October, will provide a framework for improving a school's in-house assessment approach, both formative and summative. It includes an element of online learning. However, the real learning takes place in your school: applying the theory to your individual context, using the tools and resources provided, working with colleagues to design and refine your assessments and generally honing your skills to integrate effective assessment as part of curriculum and pedagogy.

Bookings will open in September, with places limited to 50 schools, and more information will follow in due course.

FURTHER DETAILS

COBIS TRAINING FOR DESIGNATED SAFEGUARDING LEADS

In 2017/18, COBIS is offering one-day, face-to-face advanced training for Designated Safeguarding Leads in Madrid, Abu Dhabi, London and Hong Kong. It is vital for the Safeguarding Lead and other senior staff in your school to access up-to-date, advanced training on a regular basis.

Madrid – 26 October 2017 (BOOKING FORM)
Abu Dhabi – 6 November 2017 (BOOKING FORM)
London – 15 May 2018
Hong Kong – 29 May 2018

FURTHER DETAILS

ONLINE TRAINING - CHILD PROTECTION IN INTERNATIONAL SCHOOLS AND SAFER RECRUITMENT IN INTERNATIONAL SCHOOLS

COBIS would like to thank colleagues from COBIS Schools who contributed to the revision and update of the EduCare Child Protection and Safer Recruitment courses.

These online courses have now been tailored specifically for an international market, and are available to COBIS Schools at a discounted rate. For more information, please visit the COBIS website or email Laura Brain at EduCare.

MORE INFORMATION

LEARN HOW TO FULLY UTILISE DATA FROM STANDARDISED ASSESSMENTS TO SUPPORT TEACHING AND LEARNING IN YOUR SCHOOL

The best schools offer a personalised learning approach which ensures that the entire learning experience is tailored to the strengths and needs of each individual student. They achieve this through the effective use of robust, standardised data on students' aptitude, attainment and attitudes.

This one day course will explore this data triangle, focusing on the stories it tells and how, through smart and strategic interventions, we, as teachers, can change the endings. The course is delivered by Matthew Savage, Acting Principal at COBIS Member School The International Community School in Amman, Jordan.

The course will take place on 30 September 2017 at The English College Dubai.

MORE INFORMATION

STUDENT ENGAGEMENT NEWS

OPPORTUNITIES TO SHINE IN 2017/18

Planning for the 2017/2018 COBIS Student Engagement programme is well underway with events confirmed in Spain, China, UK, UAE and Romania to date.

If you would like to be involved in these events, please do visit www.cobis.org.uk/students to get up-to-date information on all activities.

MORE INFORMATION

WORK TOWARDS THE UNITED NATIONS SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT GOALS WITH COBIS AND FUTURE FOUNDATIONS

COBIS and Future Foundations have partnered to create a competition for 11-15 year olds in COBIS schools.

Students will have the chance to work in groups to create a social action project, based on one of the 17 Sustainable Development Goals as outlined by the UN, to bring about change in their community. Students will carry out their projects from October 2017 - March 2018 before reflecting on their project and the impact it had.

Teachers can sign up now, with the brief and project template being sent out in early September 2017.

The winning team will be invited to attend the COBIS GSL Catalyst Programme in China, December 2018.

All participants will receive a named certificate at the end of the programme and all submissions received on time will receive feedback on their projects.

FIND OUT MORE

ADDRESS REAL WORLD ISSUES AT COBIS MODEL UNITED NATIONS CONFERENCE 2018

Current news stories often centre around terrorism, nuclear testing, global health, human rights, technology, climate change and refugees. How can we equip young people with the knowledge and skills to not only understand these issues but to form opinions about how best to resolve them?

At the COBIS Model United Nations Conference 2018, students will debate topics such as these as they work together to draft policies and come up with solutions to tackle real world problems.

The 2018 edition of the COBIS Model United Nations Conference will take place in Bucharest in March 2018. Once again the conference will be hosted by the International British School of Bucharest who hosted a spectacular inaugural event in 2016.

REGISTER NOW

NEWS FROM COBIS SUPPORTING MEMBERS

WIN A QUEEN'S AWARD FOR ENTERPRISE

Nominations are now open for the prestigious Queen's Awards which recognise and encourage the outstanding achievements of UK businesses. COBIS is proud to count a number of past Queen's Award winners among our Supporting Members.

Now in its 52nd year, the Queen's Awards are the most prestigious business awards in the country, recognising and celebrating outstanding achievements by UK businesses in the fields of lnnovation, lnternational Trade, Sustainable Development, and Promoting Opportunity. Past Queen's Awards winners have reported increased commercial value and greater press coverage, with research showing that nearly 75% of past winners saw an increase in international sales after winning a Queen's Award.

The awards are open to applications from almost all businesses of all sizes throughout the UK in every sector, and last year 86% of winners were SMEs. If you work closely with businesses, why not encourage an outstanding team to apply for a Queen's Award in International Trade. Applications close at midday on Friday 1 September. Visit GOV.UK for eligibility details and how to apply.

FIND OUT MORE AND APPLY NOW

NEW COBIS SUPPORTING MEMBERS

Harness Handitouch UK Cornerstones Education

Private Limited Curriculum Resources
ICT and Publishers

Profile  Profile

7billionideas Universal Services (Sports

Consultancy and Professional Equipment) Limited
Development School Facilities Management and School Furniture/Equipment

Profile Profile

August 2017

COBIS CPD AND EVENTS 2017/18

Autumn Term

COBIS Programme for Aspiring Heads

Muscat and Madrid

From September 2017