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Important Logistical Information for All Attendees - 34th COBIS Annual Conference
- Conference Location
- Conference Programme
- Registration Desk
- Annual General Meeting – Saturday 9 May 2015
- COBIS Welcome Reception and Dinner – ZSL London Zoo: Saturday 9 May 2015
- Sunday Wine Reception with Exhibitors
- COBIS Young Scientist Film Awards – Screening and Presentation – Sunday 10 May 2015
- COBIS Development Forum – Monday 11 May 2015, 13:20 - 14:00
- COBIS Annual Reception and Dinner – Monday 11 May 2015
- Seminars and Workshops
- Conference Theme
- Optional Sessions Focussed on Wellbeing
- Exhibitor and Supporting Member Workshops
- Pre- and Post-Conference Seminars and Courses
- COBIS on Camera – Watch out for the COBIS Student Filmmakers
- Conference Sponsors
- Conference Exhibitors
- Keynote Speaker Preview
- COBIS Spark
- Conference Delegates - Schools and Organisations
- Contact Us
34th COBIS Annual Conference Sponsored by TES Global Measuring Success: Wellbeing, Resilience, Education and Leadership in British Schools Overseas
9-11 May 2015
Park Plaza Victoria, London We look forward to welcoming you to the 34th COBIS Annual Conference, sponsored by TES Global, in London next week. This year’s conference will be the largest ever, with more than 500 delegates, exhibitors, speakers, and guests joining us over the course of three days. This includes representatives from more than 120 schools in more than 55 countries (read on for a list of attending schools). The conference programme includes high-profile keynote speakers as well as a range of seminars and workshops for you to choose from. And of course there are a number of social events and networking opportunities built into the programme, along with opportunities for all participants to focus on their own wellbeing with optional mindfulness and yoga sessions, and massage therapists on hand. On behalf of the COBIS Board and the COBIS Head Office team, I look forward to welcoming you and spending time with you at the COBIS Annual Conference.
Conference Location The conference will take place at the Park Plaza Hotel, Victoria, London. Park Plaza Hotel
239 Vauxhall Bridge Rd
London
SW1V 1EQ
View Map
Conference Programme
Please click here to view a copy of the conference programme. The main conference sessions will start from 9am on Sunday 10 May. The exhibition will be open from 8:15 on Sunday 10 May. The conference programme includes a wide range of seminars, discussions, and workshops for delegates to choose from. If you haven’t already submitted your seminar choices, please do so using this online form. Full seminar descriptions can be found here.
Registration Desk The COBIS registration desk, located in the Victoria Lobby at the Park Plaza Hotel (one floor down from the main hotel reception), will be open from 11am to 5pm on Saturday 9 May. Delegates are invited to come collect name badges and delegate packs. The COBIS registration desk will also be open from 8am on Sunday 10 May.
Annual General Meeting – Saturday 9 May 2015 The AGM for COBIS Ltd will be held from 16.15 - 17.15 on Saturday 9 May 2015. All COBIS schools are invited to attend. Voting is restricted to COBIS Accredited Members. Please find links to the COBIS AGM agendas below. These details can also be found in the ‘Member Area’ of the COBIS website. • COBIS UK Ltd AGM Agenda - 9 May 2015
• COBIS Board Nominations 2015
• Report of the COBIS Board to the AGM – May 2015
COBIS Welcome Reception and Dinner at ZSL London Zoo – Saturday 9 May – Sponsored by Clements Worldwide
The Welcome Reception and Dinner at ZSL London Zoo, generously sponsored by Clements Worldwide, will take place on Saturday 9 May. The reception will start at 18:30 and will be held in Tiger Territory (weather permitting) followed by dinner in the Prince Albert Suite. Attendees should access the Zoo via the Main Entrance on Outer Circle. Parking is available free of charge in the Zoo car park from 18:00. Bus transportation between the Conference hotel and the Zoo has been kindly sponsored by iSAMS Independent Ltd. The red routemaster buses will collect delegates from Park Plaza Victoria at 17:45 on Saturday 9 May and return delegates to the hotel at the end of the evening. Please note, due to space restrictions, exhibitors and participants who are not staying at the Conference hotel are advised to make their own way to the Zoo. There is no dress code for this event. Please note, the reception venue is only partially covered, and may be cool.
Sunday Wine Reception with Exhibitors – Sponsored by SIMS International Following a full day of sessions on Sunday 10 May, all delegates and exhibitors are invited to attend a drinks reception in the exhibition area, generously sponsored by SIMS International. The reception will take place from 16:40.
COBIS Young Scientist Film Awards – Screening and Presentation – Sunday 10 May – 17:30 Immediately following the drinks reception, there will be a screening of the shortlisted films for the 2015 COBIS Young Scientist Film Awards. The winners will be announced at this time. All delegates and exhibitors are invited to join us at this event in the main plenary room (Edward Room) from 17:30 to 18:15 before heading off for a free evening. Drinks will continue to be served.
COBIS Development Forum – Monday 11 May – 13:20 - 14:00 This Forum is open to all School Members and Supporting Members of COBIS. While your views are welcomed by Colin Bell, the Board and the COBIS team at any time, this is a valuable opportunity to share current ideas for the development of the organisation, and to hear your advice and views on issues of current importance. The forum will also include short updates from each of the COBIS sub-committee chairs on the wide-ranging work that they are undertaking. Please join us!
COBIS Annual Reception and Dinner – Monday 11 May The COBIS Annual Reception and Dinner, sponsored by Cambridge International Examinations, will take place at the Park Plaza, Victoria on Monday 11 May (reception from 18:30; dinner at 19:30). The dress code is formal – black tie and national dress optional. We are grateful to Cambridge International Examinations for sponsoring the Annual Dinner, and to Rising Stars and WCBS International for sponsoring the wine.
Seminars and Workshops The conference programme includes a wide range of seminars and workshops for delegates to choose from. If you have not yet done so, please take a moment to submit your seminar choices using this form. Seminar descriptions can be found here.
Conference Theme
Message from COBIS Board Member and Annual Conference Co-ordinator, Dawn Akyurek 
Our theme this year is Measuring Success: Wellbeing, Resilience, Education and Leadership in British Schools Overseas. I believe the very best approach to pupil wellbeing rests on the firm belief that we all achieve our best when we are happy. I am committed to a belief that we need to look after the holistic development of staff and pupils ensuring they stay healthy in body, mind and spirit. This means as school leaders we must ensure that we celebrate success in all its forms and encourage our pupils and staff to strive to be better, but also support them through life's inevitable setbacks or failures. This caring approach helps school communities to develop a strong sense of self-esteem and responsibility towards themselves and others and the wider world around them. It is part of the moral compass that exists in the best COBIS Schools. This conference is designed to be interactive, thought provoking and enjoyable as well as providing practical, workable strategies and ideas to take back to your school. With increasing pressure to produce academic results, the emotional welfare of your colleagues, your pupils and yourself can be overlooked yet it must be of prime importance. This conference will help you to get the balance right. It aims to improve our understanding of the causes of the increase in emotional and mental health related issues in schools, to share a range of strategies to improve wellbeing across the school and to ensure each delegate feels more positive about their potential in making a difference in their schools. COBIS Webinar: Why Mindful Listening is Key to Leading a Successful British International School Pre Conference Webinar hosted by Kai Vacher from British School Muscat As a prelude to the COBIS Annual Conference, Kai Vacher, Principal at British School Muscat, Sultanate of Oman, delivered an excellent webinar on Mindful Listening earlier this week. To watch a recording of this webinar, please click here. Kai will host a seminar on this topic at 11am on Sunday 10 May 2015. COBIS would like to thank Kai for sharing his experience with the COBIS community during this insightful webinar. Optional Sessions Focussed on Wellbeing In keeping with our conference theme, we we invite all attendees to take part in some of the optional sessions and opportunities designed to give you the chance to focus on your own wellbeing. Mindfulness / Meditation – Sunday 10 May – 7:30-8:15 (all welcome; no experience necessary; Beatrice Room 1) Kate Fitzroy, accredited Mindfulness Instructor, will run this optional early morning session which is open to all conference participants. Everyone is welcome, whether you are new to the practice or experienced. No special skills or knowledge is needed, just an open attitude. Yoga – Monday 11 May – 7:30-8:15 (all welcome; no experience necessary; Beatrice Room 1) Yoga instructor Kelly Brooks (www.kellybrooksyoga.com) will run this optional session which is open to all conference participants. Please wear comfortable clothing and bring a towel. Massage Therapists – Sunday and Monday – 10:00-13:30 Massage therapists from The Massage Training Institute will be on hand in the exhibition area on Sunday and Monday. Do stop by for a few minutes of pampering!
Exhibitor and Supporting Member Workshops COBIS Exhibitors and Supporting Members are invited to attend 4 workshops during the Annual Conference. Sunday 10 May
•09:20 – 10:10: Wellbeing and Work-Life Balance, Karen Ardley, Karen Ardley Associates
•13:10 – 13:50: Supporting Member Development Forum, Hosted by Natalie Friend, Communications and Membership Officer, COBIS •15:45 – 16:30: Marketing to International Schools, Natalie Friend, Communications and Membership Officer, COBIS and Diane Glass, Business Development Manager, ISC Research Ltd Monday 11 May
•09:15 – 10:00: Business Opportunities in the Gulf Region, Derrick Betts, UKTI Education
Pre- and Post-Conference Seminars and Courses Pre-Conference Seminar and Afternoon Tea - provided by GL Eduction
Saturday 9 May 2015 - Park Plaza Victoria - 2:45-3:45 Levels...Baseline...National Tests... What's Happening With Assessment Policy Back in the UK? COBIS Annual Conference delegates are invited to register for a free seminar, followed by afternoon tea courtesy of GL Education. The session will take place at the Conference Hotel, 2:45-3:45, on Saturday 9 May 2015. For more information and a booking form, please click here. Safer Recruitment for International Schools, 9 May 2015, London There are a limited number of places left on the Safer Recruitment Course for International Schools course on Saturday 9 May, delivered by Barabarani Education Services. For more information and to book your place, please click here. Advanced Child Protection Course, 12 May 2015, London There are also a limited number of places left on the Advanced Child Protection Course, delivered by Kidscape, in London on the Tuesday following the Annual Conference. For more information and a booking form, please click here.
COBIS on Camera – Watch out for the COBIS Student Filmmakers
Watch out for the COBIS Student Filmmakers at the 2015 COBIS Annual Conference. COBIS is pleased to be working with Eye for Business to prepare two exciting new films that will be showcased at the COBIS Annual Conference. The first film will open the Conference on Sunday morning. The second film will be filmed and edited over the course of the conference by students from COBIS Schools in Romania and the UK – Transylvania College and Halcyon London International School – working with professionals from Eye for Business. Thank you to Transylvania College, Halcyon London International School, and Eye for Business for supporting this project. Watch out for our Student Filmmakers – they may want to hear your thoughts on the 34th COBIS Annual Conference! 
Conference Sponsors COBIS is very grateful to the companies who have generously sponsored elements of the 2015 Annual Conference:
Conference Exhibitors The 2015 Annual Conference includes the largest COBIS exhibition to date. We look forward to welcoming more than 80 exhibitors. Delegates are encouraged to use breaks in the programme to visit the exhibition rooms and meet the exhibitors. There will be a number of special offers and competitions available for delegates. The exhibition will be open from 8:15 on Sunday 10 May. Exhibitors at the 34th Annual Conference
Keynote Speaker Preview Here is a preview of some of the keynote speakers who will be presenting at the COBIS Annual Conference.
Dominic Peckham
Conductor, Presenter and Choral Ambassador
Session Title: An Inner Pulse 
Dominic Peckham is regarded as one of the UK's finest young, dynamic orchestral and choral conductors. Hailed as ‘one of the most exciting conductors of his generation’, Peckham has been commended at home and abroad for his ‘freshness and vitality’ directing both orchestras and choirs whilst delivering ‘gutsy, raw and exciting performances’. A conductor of immense energy and focus, Peckham is renowned for his dedication to the Renaissance and Baroque era, whilst also passionate about the delivery of new works and inspirational collaborations. An ambassador for choral music of international renown through both performance and his extensive pioneering educational work, Peckham has served as Vocal Director for the BBC Choir of the Year, as a consultant of Trinity Guildhall’s teaching programme and as a guest speaker for ‘Sing Up’. Baroness Sue Campbell CBE
Chair of Youth Sport Trust
Session Title: Developing Wellbeing, Leadership and Achievement for All 
Sue Campbell trained as a physical education teacher, taught in Manchester and lectured at Leicester and Loughborough Universities. During this time, Sue represented her country as a player, a coach and a team manager. She then went on to spend four years as a regional officer with the Sports Council (now Sport England) before moving to the National Coaching Foundation (NCF). Following 11 years as the Chief Executive of the NCF, she became Chief Executive of the Youth Sport Trust. In February 2005, Sue became Chair of that organisation. Among many honours, Sue has received 10 honorary doctorates and in June 2003, Sue was awarded a Commander of the British Empire for her services to sport. In April 2005 she was appointed as Chair for UK Sport, following 18 months as the Reform Chair. Sue held this position for two terms, and following a very successful Olympics/Paralympics in 2012, she stood down as Chair in April 2013. In December 2008 Sue was appointed to the House of Lords as an independent Crossbench Peer. Ben Walden
Founder and Artistic Director of Contender Charlie
Session Title: Inspirational Leadership – Lessons from Shakespeare’s Henry V Ben is an actor and presenter who has played a number of leading roles on television and for the Donmar and Almeida theatre companies as well as at Shakespeare’s Globe. He has run many masterclasses for the Shakespeare’s Globe Education Centre and has worked in close collaboration with Mark Rylance and Richard Olivier in the development of an experiential theatre learning technique called Mythodrama. As a Senior Associate Director at Olivier Mythodrama, Ben is now running sessions bringing this work into a broad range of organisations across the world. He has also run projects at a number of leading business schools including Columbia, OSBS, the London Business School and INSEAD. “Contender Charlie” is the group he has formed to take this, and other theatre techniques, into education. Its courses are now being run at Headteacher conferences and staff and student events all over Britain and internationally. Professor Guy Claxton
World Renowned Authority on the Development of Intellectual Character, Author and Academic
Session Title: Character for the Learning Age: Developing Brilliant Learners  Guy Claxton is a world renowned authority on the development of intellectual character. He is the author of many books including Hare Brain, Tortoise Mind: Why Intelligence Increases When You Think Less and Wise Up: The Challenge of Lifelong Learning. John Cleese said of Hare Brain, “Just occasionally I get the feeling that someone has said something important”. With Bill Lucas he is author of The Creative Thinking Plan, New Kinds of Smart, and Expansive Education: Teaching Learners for the Real World. Guy’s bestseller What’s the Point of School? was highly praised by Professor Howard Gardner, Sir Ken Robinson and Baroness Susan Greenfield. Stanford Professor Carol Dweck called his jointly-authored 2012 book, The Learning Powered School: Pioneering 21st Century Education, “superb, innovative and important”. His practical Building Learning Power approach to creating learning cultures in schools has influenced youngsters’ lives throughout the UK as well as in, for example, Ireland, Poland, Switzerland, Dubai, Thailand, Argentina, Brazil, Australia and New Zealand.
COBIS Spark
Monday 11 May - 10:50-12:20
COBIS Spark is a new addition at the Annual Conference. Leaders from COBIS Schools will give short presentations to delegates about an area of innovation or best practice within their school. A wide range of topics will be covered including school development plans, assessment, opening a new campus, charity initiatives, and more.
Conference Delegates - Schools and Organisations We are pleased that the 34th COBIS Annual Conference will be attended by more than 220 delegates from more than 120 schools in more than 55 countries. Delegates have already registered from the following schools and organisations: (this list does not include exhibitors - please see above for a list of exhibiting companies): | Abercorn International School, USA | English International School,
Moscow West, Russia | Sherborne Qatar Preparatory School, Qatar | | Acorns and Oaks Academy, Nigeria | Eric Parry Architects, UK | Simply Learning Tuition International, UK | | Aduvie International School, Abuja, Nigeria | Erskine Stewart's Melville Schools,
Scotland | St Andrew's International Primary School, Malawi | | Alexandra House School, Mauritius | First Aid for Schools, UK | St Christopher's School, Bahrain | | Alexandria Trust / Macat, UK | Geneva English School, Switzerland | St George's British International School, Italy | | Aloha College, Spain | Grange School, Nigeria | St George's British-Georgian School, Georgia | | Andersen International School, Italy | Haileybury Almaty, Kazakhstan | St George's International School Luxembourg | | Atlantic Hall, Nigeria | Haileybury Astana, Kazakhstan | St Julian's School, Portugal | | Bridge House College, Ikoyi, Lagos, Nigeria | Halcyon London International School, UK | St Lawrence College, Greece | | Bright Horizons - International British
School of Zagreb, Croatia | Hays Education, UK | St Michael's College, UK | | British Council, UK | HC International, UK | St Paul's British Primary School, Belgium | | British Embassy School Ankara, Turkey | HFH Leadership Academy,
The Netherlands | St Paul's School, Brazil | | British International School, Nigeria | Hillcrest International Schools, Kenya | St Saviours School Ikoyi, Nigeria | | British International School Cairo, Egypt | International Centre for Missing & Exploited Children, USA | Tenby Schools Setia Eco Park (Kuala Lumpur), Malaysia | | British International School Istanbul, Turkey | International Community School, Amman, Jordan | The ABC International School, Vietnam | | British International School, Kiev, Ukraine | International Preparatory School, Portugal | The British College of Brazil | | British International School of Brussels, Belgium | International School of Bucharest, Romania | The British International School Bratislava, Slovakia | | British International School of New York, USA | International School of Morocco | The British International School Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia | | British International School of
Stavanger, Norway | International School of Samui, Thailand | The British School Al Rehab, Egypt | | British International School of theUniversity of Łódź, Poland | International School of Stavanger, Norway | The British School in The Netherlands | | British International School of Tunis, Tunisia | International School of Texas, USA | The British School in Tokyo, Japan | | British International School Riyadh, Saudi Arabia | International School Olomouc, Czech Republic | The British School Kathmandu, Nepal | | British International School Stockholm, Sweden | ISC Research, UK | The British School of Amsterdam, The Netherlands | British School in Baku,
Azerbaijan | ITEPS, The Netherlands | The British School of Brussels, Belgium | | British School Muscat, Oman | Itslearning, Norway | The British School of Gran Canaria, Spain | | British School of Bucharest, Romania | Kabitaka School, Zambia | The British School, Alexandria, Egypt | | British School of Geneva, Switzerland | Kids' Academy Primary and Preschool School, Poland | The British School, Warsaw, Poland | | British School of Paris, France | King's College, The British School of Alicante, Spain | The College Board, USA | | British School of Sofia, Bulgaria | King's College, The British School of Madrid, Spain | The Edron Academy, Mexico | | British School of Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia | King's College, The British School of Murcia, Spain | The Independent Schools Council, UK | | British School Yangon, Myanmar | King's College School, La Moraleja, Spain | The International British School of Bucharest, Romania | | Bromsgrove International School,
Thailand | King's College, The British School of Panama | The International School of Moscow, Russia | | Busy Minds Center Limited, Nigeria | King's Infant School, Spain | The New School, Rome, Italy | | Byron College, Greece | Maadi British International School, Egypt | The Regent School Abuja, Nigeria | | Campion School, Greece | Meadow Hall, Nigeria | The Spencer Group, UK | | CEDEC International Schools, Nigeria | Mougins School, France | the-learning-crowd, UK | | Centre for Professional Education, University of Warwick, UK | New Cairo British International School, Egypt | Thomas Education, UK | | Clements Worldwide, UK | Noble Hall Leadership Academy for Girls, Nigeria | Transylvania College the Cambridge International School in Cluj, Romania | | Department for Education, UK | Nord Anglia International School, Hong Kong | University of Lagos Women Society Nursery and Primary School, Nigeria | | Divine Royal International College, Nkpor, Nigeria | Oporto British School, Portugal | Uppingham School, UK | | Doha College, Qatar | Park Lane International School, Czech Republic | Wellington College International Tianjin, China | | Doha English Speaking School, Qatar | Prague British School, Czech Republic | | | DSB International School, India | Prince of Wales Island International School, Malaysia | | | Dubai College, UAE | Rainbow International School, Uganda | | | Eaton Square School, UK | Redeemer's International Secondary School, Maryland, Nigeria | | | ECIS, UK | Repton Dubai, UAE | | | Ecole Mosaic, Switzerland | Rygaards International School, Denmark | | | Educore Services, Zambia | Seven Hills International School, Romania | | | Egypt British International School (EBIS), Egypt | Sherborne International, UK | | | ELA Primary School, Switzerland | Sherborne Qatar | |
Contact Us If you have any comments or requests, please contact us. We'd love to hear from you.
Colin Bell, CEO - ceo@cobis.org.uk
Catriona Lawless, PA to Colin Bell - pa@cobis.org.uk
Sarah Wooldridge, Finance Officer - admin@cobis.org.uk
Natalie Friend, Communications and Membership Officer - members@cobis.org.uk
Fiona Rogers, Senior Professional Development Officer - cpd@cobis.org.uk
Amy Carter, COBIS Marketing Intern - intern@cobis.org.uk Follow us on Twitter @CobisDirector
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Telephone: +44 208 240 4142
Address: COBIS, St Mary's University, Waldegrave Road, Strawberry Hill, Twickenham, TW1 4SX, UK
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