This month saw the gathering of international educators from across the globe in London, as COBIS (the Council of British International Schools) members met at their annual conference to discuss excellence in the teaching of a British curriculum to a global community of students and COBIS’s key role in child protection.CEO of COBIS, Colin Bell announced there are now 236 member and accredited member schools in 68 countries teaching 118,000 students. 65 new schools have joined the association since last year and many more schools are applying.For families making a school selection, COBIS membership - particularly its accredited membership - is a kitemark not only of schools offering British education, but also delivering quality teaching, learning and child welfare.“We continue to demand high standards of quality assurance for both new and existing member schools,” Mr Bell told delegates. “And COBIS is playing a key role in the new International Schools Task Force on Child Protection. We have also introduced mandatory Child Protection and Safer Recruitment training for all member and applicant schools.”   Mr Bell also reminded conference delegates of the shared learning experiences that students can gain from being a part of the COBIS community. “We must never forget that COBIS is all about the students,” he said, highlighting the fact that over 2,000 students will have participated in nine inter-school COBIS events and competitions this academic year including the COBIS Student World Debate Competition, the COBIS Art Competition for 4-14 year olds with its inspiring theme ‘I live in this beautiful place’; the COBIS Young Scientist Film Awards, and the forthcoming COBIS Primary and Secondary Games. The Games will bring students from 31 different COBIS schools together for an exciting weekend of athletics, swimming and football at the Olympic Stadium; venue of the 2004 Olympic Games in Athens, Greece.Based on the significant success of current COBIS student events, two new additions were launched to member schools at the conference. In March 2016, COBIS students will be able to participate in the COBIS Model United Nations, and the first COBIS Performing Arts Festival will take place in London during the 2016-2017 school year.Also announced at the conference were the results of the first COBIS Annual Research Survey in partnership with GL Education and supported by data from ISC (International Schools Consultancy) Research.Based on feedback from 98 COBIS member schools that participated in the survey, the research suggests that 19 per cent of COBIS schools offer boarding facilities for students, 104 different subjects are taught in COBIS schools, 140 different extra –curricular activities and sports are offered, and 50 per cent of schools extend some form of financial support to student families. 92 per cent of the 2014 graduates from the COBIS member schools that took part in the research progressed to University and of those school leavers, 61 per cent went on to Higher Education in the UK.  More details from the COBIS Research are available at www.cobis.org.uk/research

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