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Council of British International Schools (COBIS): COBIS newsletter


January 2016 | COBIS Connect

COBIS
 

COBIS Connect - January 2016

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In This Issue:

1.     Welcome
2.     Dates For Your Diaries
3.     COBIS Lobbying
4.     New COBIS Initiatives

5.     Professional Development
         • Forthcoming Conferences
6.     COBIS Student Competititons and Events
7.     COBIS Webinars
8.     COBIS Services
9.     School Member News
10.   Recent Visitors to COBIS Head Office
11.   New From COBIS Schools Around the World
12.   Supporting Member News
13.   Contact Us


Welcome from Colin Bell, COBIS CEO

Dear Colleague,

Happy New Year to all!

Myself and the team at COBIS Head Office, are busy preparing for the 35th COBIS Annual Conference, 7-9 May in London. This year’s theme is Authentic Leadership: Inspirational Stories for Learning in British Schools Overseas. Online booking for the conference will open on our website next week.

This year, the COBIS Annual Conference moves to a brand new hotel venue – the InterContinental London - The O2. We look forward to welcoming excellent speakers including Joe Simpson, author of Touching the Void, world-renowned educator Professor Deborah Eyre and Curtis Jobling, production designer of children’s TV hit Bob The Builder plus many more.

As we finalise the 2016 Annual Conference programme, we would like to thank our school and supporting member colleagues for the significant number of seminar proposals which have been submitted. The standard of submissions has been excellent, which guarantees another high quality COBIS professional development and networking event.

Regarding the DfE consultation on BSO standards and the inspection process, a reminder please to members to submit responses to me by Wednesday 27 January 2016. Many thanks to colleagues who have already submitted responses. It is important that any revised standards are fit for purpose, that they remain relevant, that they represent the best interests of our sector and that the standards reflect and encompass the real world in which British overseas schools operate. Your comments will help COBIS to ensure the voice of our members is heard.

2016 brings new opportunities for members to participate in more new COBIS initiatives. The first COBIS International Summer School for students aged 15-17 will take place this August. Please encourage your students to enrol. The COBIS Diploma for International Teaching Assistants (DITA) and the Diploma for Early Years are both excellent opportunities for your Teaching Assistants to receive COBIS accreditation for their valuable work. Also, COBIS has partnered with The Day to offer a student centred international news service for COBIS member schools. Further details below.

On behalf of the Board and the COBIS team, we look forward to sharing your company at a COBIS conference, competition or networking event in the near future.

Finally, wishing all members of the growing global COBIS family, a happy, healthy, safe and successful 2016!

Kind regards,

Colin Bell
CEO


Dates for Your Diaries

COBIS Seminar - Leading British Schools Overseas
29-30 January 2016
The Amba Hotel Marble Arch, London, UK

COBIS Conference for PAs and Secretaries
25-26 February 2016
The British School of Bucharest, Romania 

COBIS/Youth Sport Trust PE and School Sport Conference
2-3 March 2016
Ricoh Arena, Coventry, UK

St Paul's Education Conference, in association with COBIS
19-20 March 2016
St Paul's School, São Paulo, Brazil

COBIS Conference for Marketing, Development and Admissions Staff
21-22 March 2016
The Prague British School, Czech Republic

COBIS 35th Annual Conference
7-9 May 2016
InterContinental London - The O2, Greenwich, London 


    COBIS Lobbying

    UK DfE Announces Launch of its First Revision of Standards and Arrangements for BSOs

    Deadline: Wednesday 27 January 2016

    The Department for Education (DfE) has announced the launch of its first revision of the standards and inspection arrangements for British Schools Overseas(BSOs), a process that will be significantly influenced by COBIS consultation.

    As we want to reflect our members’ voices, we are keen to ensure that these revised standards are fit for purpose, that they remain relevant and that they represent the best interests of our growing educational sector. It is therefore important for us to hear your views on if the revised standards reflect and encompass the real world in which British overseas schools operate.

    Please click here to read Colin Bell's letter which provides further details of the DfE consultation, revised standards and the mechanism by which COBIS proposes to channel your response and as well as the responses of others in our wider community. 

    As you know, COBIS maintains close personal contact with leading officials at the DfE and we are confident that our responses will be highly respected and valued.

    We therefore hope that you will set aside some time to participate in this important consultative process. All responses are welcomed. 

    How to Access the 2016 National Curriculum Assessment Materials

    Please find information related to the Phonics Screening Check and the Key Stage 1 and 2 SATs tests below. COBIS continues to lobby on behalf of members regarding the secure publication of these tests. 

    International schools will be able to download 2016 SATs test materials from the GOV.UK website.

    Phonics Screening Check
    The scoring guidance, pupils' materials, practice sheet and answer sheet will be available on GOV.UK from Monday 27 June 2016, once the check administration window has closed.

    Key Stage 1 Tests
    Key stage 1 test materials will be made available on GOV.UK once the key stage 1 test administration window has closed in June 2016.

    Key Stage 2 Tests
    Test papers will be available from Monday 23 May 2016 , on GOV.UK after the national curriculum tests have been administered in England. Mark schemes and raw score to scaled score conversion tables will be made available on GOV.UK from Tuesday 5 July 2016.

    Please visit: National curriculum assessments: 2016 sample materials for more information and sample materials. 


    New COBIS Initatives 

    COBIS Launches International Summer School

    COBIS is excited to announce that the first COBIS Summer School programme will take place next year. The summer school, which will be based at Cambridge University’s Clare College and run for two weeks from 8-22 August 2016, is in association with Dukes Education and Summer Boarding Courses.

    The summer school will include courses which provide students with expert advice in how best to tackle the admissions process for the UK’s top universities, including Oxbridge and the Russell Group. It will also equip them with the practical skills in independent learning, analytical thinking and debate that are so essential not only in ensuring success in higher education, but also in their future career. Guest lectures, a personalised tutorial and lecture schedule, and trips to some of the country’s leading cultural attractions are just a few ways it will do this.

    We strongly advise reserving a place as soon as possible, as only a limited number of spaces are available. This promises to be an excellent opportunity to experience university life in one of the UK’s most beautiful cities. 

    Schools are Using The Day COBIS to Support Learning in the Classroom

    COBIS is pleased to report the growing popularity of The Day COBIS, our recently launched online resource for students and teachers.

    The publication provides students of all school year groups with clear and in-depth articles analysing current affairs, and acts as an excellent teaching resource for lessons, assemblies and form time. The resource equips young people with the crucial ability to think for themselves and engage with the wider world around them.

    We’ve had some great feedback from COBIS member schools who have started using The Day COBIS

    “Year 7 have loved going to the section to grab a scientific article as a challenge. They are then able to do the activities at the back and tell the whole class all about it. It is really good to get them reading scientific news as the articles are really recent and worded easy for them!”

    - Aida Nausía Bonet, Science Teacher at The British International School Yangon

    For more information about The Day COBIS and for more information about how to subscribe, click here

    COBIS Launches new Diploma for International Teaching Assistants (DITA) and DITA for Early Years

    In an exciting partnership with COBIS supporting member, The TA College, we are delighted to announce that enrolment is now open for the two new COBIS accredited courses for Teaching Assistants working in international schools around the world.

    Both the COBIS Diploma for International Teaching Assistants (DITA) and the Diploma for Early Years have been created to provide international Teaching Assistants with the knowledge, skills and understanding to work effectively alongside teachers whilst maximising learning opportunities for children.

    Course Content:

    Both programmes are 6 months long and combine e-learning, reading, collecting evidence and writing assignments. Each contains 6 units, comprised of 5 mandatory units and 1 optional unit.

    Please click on images below for further information:

    Entry Requirements:

    No formal qualifications are required.  Teaching Assistants wishing to complete the course must be working in an international setting with opportunities to support teaching and learning on a regular basis.

    Fees:

    The course fee is £650 per person. Group discounts are available for schools.

    Course Start Date:

    The course is due to start in January 2016 (however enrolment will function on an ongoing basis).

    Further Information:

    To find out more or to enrol on the course please email enquiries@tacollege.com or contact Sakina at COBIS Head Office.


    Professional Development

    CPD Needs Analysis

    Deadline: Monday 29 February 2016

    If you have not already completed the online CPD questionnaire and would like to do so, we are still accepting CPD feedback and suggestions for future events - please click here to complete this. Please feel free to forward this link to anyone within your school who has responsibility for Professional Development; we are happy to receive multiple submissions from schools.

    We know how busy you all are, but we hope that you will take the time to help us ensure that the COBIS Professional Development programme meets the needs of you and your school. Thank you for your continued support and co-operation.

    2015/16 COBIS CPD Calendar 

    The 2015/16 COBIS CPD Calendar includes a range of courses and conferences for:

    • Teachers
    • TAs and Support Staff
    • Middle and Aspiring Leaders
    • Senior Leaders
    • PAs and Secretaries
    • Marketing, Development and Admissions Staff
    • Bursars and Business Managers
    • HR Staff
    • Students

    Please click here for a list of the high-quality professional development opportunities that COBIS will be running for the next Academic Year 2015/16. Booking is open for the conferences below:

    January 2016

    February 2016

    March 2016

    Forthcoming CPD Events

    35th COBIS Annual Conference – London, UK – 7-9 May 2016
    Authentic Leadership: Inspirational Stories for Learning in British Schools Overseas

    **Delegate Booking Opening Shortly** 
    **Exhibitor Information Here**

    InterContinental London - The O2, Greenwich, London, UK - 7-9 May 2016

    The COBIS Annual Conference 2016, sponsored by BridgeU, attracts Principals, Heads, Governors and Senior Managers from British International Schools worldwide plus colleagues who are interested in learning more about the diverse and growing International Schools sector. In addition, the Conference experience is enhanced by the participation of exhibitors, inspectorates and representatives from UK and overseas Ministries of Education. The theme of this year's conference is Authentic Leadership: Inspirational Stories for Learning in British Schools Overseas.


    This year, in light of our growing network and conference, we are delighted to welcome delegates to our new conference venue; InterContinental London - The O2. This newly built, luxury hotel is situated in the buzzing Greenwich Peninsula next to the O2 with stunning views across the River Thames to Canary Wharf and East India Docks. We look forward to welcoming attendees to our new venue.

    The Keynote Speakers will include:
    • Joe Simpson World renowned mountaineer, author, speaker and the subject of the BAFTA Award winning film Touching the Void
    • Professor Deborah Eyre International education leader, academic and author. Her recent work has sought to help good schools become truly world class
    • Curtis Jobling British illustrator, animator and author, he is best known for his roles as production designer of children’s TV hit, Bob The Builder and author/illustrator of children’s books, most notably Frankenstein’s Cat
    The Conference will also include:
    • Large exhibition with over 100 COBIS Supporting Member stands. The list of exhibitors will be released shortly
    • Networking and social opportunities
    • A range of optional shoulder courses alongside the Conference including Advanced Safeguarding Courses

    Delegate booking will be open shortly. For more information, please visit our Annual Conference page where booking forms will be available soon.

    Exhibitor booking is already open, please click here for more information about exhibiting and sponsorship opportunities.

    COBIS Seminar - Leading British Overseas Schools 

    **Booking Open** 

    The Amba Hotel Marble Arch, London, UK
    30 January 2016, 14:00 - 17:00 

    This one day seminar, hosted at the Amba Hotel Marble Arch in Central London, offers a helpful, independent introduction to those considering working in leadership positions in this fast-expanding market. There will also be the opportunity to network with Heads from a dozen British International Schools. 

    Attendance and bookings are welcome from school leaders from across all age settings (Principals, Heads, Deputies and Senior Leadership Team staff) at UK maintained and independent schools. 

    Click here for more information and to book your place.

    4 Day Middle Leaders Courses – Belgium, Qatar, Brazil

    **Booking Open**

    Spring 2016

    COBIS, working in partnership with Karen Ardley Associates, will be providing accredited professional development for Primary and Secondary Middle Leaders. The four-day Middle Leaders' Course - Leading Learning from the Middle - will run in Brussels, Doha and São Paulo in 2016. Please click on the links below for more information and booking forms for the course in your region.

    Cost: £600 for COBIS Members / £695 for non-COBIS Members

                                     

    The delegates are aspiring/middle managers and the programme will focus on the following key areas; the role of the middle leader/manager, our current educational agenda, an emotionally intelligent leader, effective professional development, working with teams, giving feedback, coaching for improvement, improving teaching and learning in your area and presentation skills.

    In 2014/15 this course ran at St Catherine's British School and The British School of Beijing. The feedback was very positive:

    "Words aren't enough to describe how empowered and inspired I feel! This programme gets you back to the heart of why I am a teacher."
    "I would absolutely recommend this course, it is both inspirational and practical. I got so much out of it."
    "The best course I have attended since I started teaching."
    "An inspirational course that has changed my outlook on education."

    For more information please click here and to download a flyer for the Middle Leaders' Course, please click here.

    COBIS Conference for PAs and Secretaries – Bucharest, Romania

    **BOOKING DEADLINE APPROACHING**

    British School of Bucharest, Romania
    25-26 February 2016

    Delegates are invited to book their place for the first COBIS Conference for PAs and Secretaries which will be hosted by British School of Bucharest 25-26 February 2016. Staff from COBIS member and non-member schools are invited to attend this two-day event.

    This two-day training and networking event will be of interest to PAs, Secretaries, Executive Assistants and other Admin Staff. The programme will include a mixture of plenary sessions, workshops and practical training sessions from leading PA Trainers Angela Garry and Karen Knowles.  These sessions will include Time Management, Teamwork and Personality Profiles and Project Management. There will also be opportunities for discussion and networking including a Conference Dinner on the Thursday evening.

    The cost is €325 for COBIS members and €425 for non-COBIS members. The Delegate fee includes both days of the conference, Conference Dinner on Thursday evening, lunch and refreshments on both days, transport between the hotel and school on both days and all conference materials.

    For more information about the conference, please click here.

    To book your place before Monday 25 January 2016, please click here.

    COBIS/Youth Sport Trust PE and School Sport Conference – Coventry, UK 

    **BOOKING DEADLINE APPROACHING**

    Ricoh Arena, Coventry, UK
    2-3 March 2016

    We are delighted to announce that COBIS have partnered with Youth Sport Trust to deliver the first COBIS/YST PE and School Sport Conference which is now open for booking. Delegates from COBIS member and non-member schools are invited to register for this two-day event which will be held at the Ricoh Arena in Coventry, UK, 2-3 March 2016. 

    The conference will be of interest to Heads of Sport, Directors of Sport, Headteachers, PE Teachers as well as other staff with responsibility for PE/Sport/Games. The programme will include a mixture of plenary sessions, seminars, practical workshops, training sessions and a COBIS Spark Session for delegates to share experiences.

    There will also be a YST National Conference Gala Dinner on Wednesday 2 March held at the same venue as the conference. The dinner, which will be attended by around 500 people, is an opportunity to spend an evening listening to the inspirational stories of international medal winning sports men and women. The dinner will honour the achievements of those from the world of PE and school sport and is a further opportunity for delegates to network. 

    For more information about the conference, the programme and costs, please click here.

    To book your place through the online booking form, please click herePlease note that the deadline for booking is Thursday 14 January 2016.







    Remember to Book your Place for the St. Paul’s School 3rd Education Conference

    **Booking Open**

    It is still not too late to sign up for the St. Paul's School 3rd Education Conference, organised in association with COBIS. The Conference will take place in São Paulo on Saturday 19 and Sunday 20 March 2016, with pre-Conference workshops also being held on the afternoon of Friday 18 March. Some sessions are already fully booked, with others filling up fast, so it is important to sign up early to avoid disappointment.

    With keynote sessions by Sir John Jones and Sir Anthony Seldon, as well as an array of practical workshops on themes such as single-sex education, bilingualism and pupil driven education, the conference promises to be a valuable and thought-provoking event for all involved in education – so don’t miss out!

    For more information, including a link to the full programme of information, click here.

    Click here to book your place.

    If you would like to receive a sponsorship pack, please write to conference@stpauls.br.

    To register as an exhibitor, please complete our online form

     COBIS Conference for Marketing, Development and Admissions Staff - The Prague British School

    **Booking Open**

    The Prague British School, Czech Republic
    21-22 March 2016

    Don’t forget to book your place for the 3rd COBIS Conference for Marketing, Development and Admissions Staff, which will be hosted by The Prague British School 21-22 March 2016. This two-day training and networking event is open to delegates from COBIS member and non-member schools as well as COBIS Supporting Members worldwide. 

    The programme will include a mixture of plenary sessions and break-out sessions as well as opportunities for networking and sharing experience. The sessions will cover a range of topics including, Marketing and Admissions for British International Schools, Sales for non sales people, Crisis Communications, Managing the admissions process, Event Planning – theory and practice, Alumni relations from beginners to advanced, Fundraising from beginners to advanced, School Websites and Social Media and The Marketing and Admissions office as part of the school.

    In light of the feedback from previous delegates, there will also be a COBIS Spark Session and a Pre-conference cultural day tour on Sunday 20 March.  

    The Delegate Fee is €390 for COBIS Members / €490 for non-COBIS Members.

    To book your place, please click here. Forms should be submitted no later than 26 February 2016. For more information about the conference including travel and accommodation details, please click here

    More information about exhibition will be available on the conference webpage shortly. To register interest in exhibiting or sponsorship, please email Amy Carter.






     

     


    COBIS Student Competitions and Events

    To read the October 2015 COBIS Competition and Events Newsletter, please click here.

    Student Competition and Events Dates For Your Diary 2015/2016

    Below are the dates and deadlines for all COBIS Competitions and Events for this academic year: 

    Spring Term

    Summer Term

    COBIS Primary Creative Challenge – **Deadline Approaching** 

    This year’s Primary Creative Challenge “Let’s Celebrate”, in partnership with Oddizzi, is all about sharing a celebration or festival that is unique to your country!

    Re-create the experience of a national holiday, festival, celebration, or significant date in your country and produce a short film with your class (or small group) that documents the experience. To help get you thinking outside the box, here are some festivals and celebrations you could use as inspiration: 

    • Christmas
    • La Tomatina (Spain)
    • Festival on the Nile (Uganda)
    • Chinese New Year (China)
    • Ramadan (Dubai)
    • Maslenitsa (Russia)
    • All Saints’ Day (Mexico).

    Categories

    • Most authentic experience - KS1 and KS2
    • Most creative way to share information - KS1 and KS2 

    Click here for the full competition brief and entry form.

    The closing date is Friday 15 January 2016. Good luck! 

    COBIS Poetry Competition

    This year, COBIS students are challenged to write, in 40 lines or less, a poem on "Journeys".

    The closing date for this competition is Friday 11 March 2016. Students can start writing now and poems can be submitted on the Student Poetry Competition page of the COBIS website. 

    The winning students will have their poems published in COBIS World Student Magazine and will receive a prize, kindly provided by John Catt Educational

    COBIS Young Scientist Film Awards 

    COBIS has partnered with the National Physical Laboratory (NPL) in London to create a competitive film challenge to celebrate the diversity and excitement of science. NPL is the UK’s National Measurement Institute with a 114 year history in world class science. 

    What are the COBIS Young Scientist Film Awards?

    Students at COBIS schools can submit up to 3 short films which describe or demonstrate science correctly in an engaging way.

    • With school’s permission, films will be posted on a dedicated COBIS YouTube website.
    • The first 20 seconds must introduce and describe the participating school.
    • A submission fee of £150.00 (inc. VAT) will apply to participating schools – this covers all 3 films.

    Next Steps:

    The closing date is Friday 15 April 2016.


    COBIS Webinars

    The COBIS webinar schedule for Spring 2016 is available on the COBIS website here. COBIS has now delivered over 30 webinars on a range of topics relevant to all members of the school workforce. 

    Past webinar recordings are available in the COBIS Member Area. Should you require your login details for the Member Area, please contact intern@cobis.org.uk.



    COBIS Services

    COBIS Governors

    COBIS can support member schools to attract credible school governors to strengthen their Boards. For more information, the COBIS Code of Good Governance can be found here. If you are interested in becoming a potential school governor please complete the online registration form here.

    COBIS offers governance training and support to member schools and individuals through the COBIS Consultancy Service. Training is delivered by approved COBIS Consultants who are all quality assured. Please see below for more information.

    COBIS Consultancy Service

    If your school has specific CPD needs that would be best addressed by having training delivered by an external trainer or consultant in your school, then the COBIS Consultancy Service can help. COBIS Schools can submit a request for consultancy or training via the COBIS website. The consultancy request will be shared with some of the quality-assured consultants and training providers in the COBIS database and the school will then receive proposals from individuals or companies who would be able to deliver the training within the school’s proposed budget and timeline. There is no cost for COBIS Schools wishing to use this service. 

    COBIS Consultancy can also offer schools support with BSO inspections. This can include a mock run through BSO inspection in preparation for the real event.

    For more information visit the COBIS website or email consultancy@cobis.org.uk.

    COBIS Leadership Mentoring and Support Service

    For Senior Leaders looking for more tailored, personalised CPD, the Leadership Mentoring and Support Service offers the opportunity to work with a trained mentor with successful experience of the professional challenges in the international school environment. For more information visit the COBIS website or email mentoring@cobis.org.uk 

    COBIS Set to Introduce Credit Card Payment Facilities

    COBIS Head Office is pleased to confirm that credit card payment facilities will be introduced as a method of payment for COBIS membership fees and services from early 2016. Any updates regarding when this will take place will be posted on the website and in COBIS Connect. 


    School Member News

    COBIS School Members - Staff Changes

    Additionally to the Welcome List sent out in previous Connect newsletters, COBIS is pleased to also welcome the following Principals and Headteachers to COBIS schools. We look forward to working with you:

    • Mr Barry Mansfield, new Director at Halycon London International School. 
    • Miss Jane Kuok, new Principal at Tenby International School in Malaysia. 

    COBIS reminds all member schools to notify us of changes to their administrative and senior leadership staff. This will help us to keep key staff up to date with the latest COBIS developments and make it easier to facilitate dialogue with the appropriate person in each school. To inform us of any changes, please email updates@cobis.org.uk.

    Congratulations to New COBIS Accredited Member School

    COBIS would like to congratulate staff and pupils at the following schools which have been approved for COBIS Accredited Membership following successful BSO inspections:

    COBIS Seeks Data and Information Officer

    COBIS is looking to appoint a full time Data and Information Officer to join the COBIS Head Office team. The Data and Information Officer will support the work of the Board and members within our growing global educational association.

    COBIS would value your support with advertising this vacancy as widely as possible through your channels, so as we can ensure we find the right candidate for the post. Therefore we should be grateful if you are able to circulate these details via your social media channels, on your website and in your communications. Equally, if you know a suitable candidate, please can you forward this email to them and encourage them to email Catriona Lawless with any questions.

    Full details are available on our website and in pdf format below:

    COBIS Annual Research Survey - Thank You to Schools

    The COBIS Annual Research Survey is now closed. Thank you to all of the schools that contributed to the 2015 Survey, which was delivered in partnership with GL Education. The COBIS Annual Research Survey was undertaken to help develop a better understanding of the growing global COBIS family of schools, as well as the British International Education sector as a whole.

    The results will support lobbying activities, inform planning for future CPD events, and help facilitate increased school-to-school networking, communication and support.

    Responding schools will be notified by email shortly when their personalised reports are available to be downloaded. A more general report on the findings of this research will be shared with all COBIS Schools. COBIS would like to thank GL Education for supporting this research project, facilitating data collection, and preparing reports. 

    Did you know?... (some of the statistics from responding schools)

    • The oldest COBIS school was founded in 1896
    • 67% of responding COBIS schools teach cross-phase (both primary and secondary)
    • COBIS schools have as many as 99 pupil nationalities
    • 95% of leavers from responding COBIS Schools went on to HE/University in 2015
    • Many more to follow...

    We look forward to sharing the personalised reports with all responding schools and the full report with all COBIS members soon.

    News Alert: The Prague British School Receives Second Excellent BSO Inspection Report

    COBIS is delighted to share news of the Prague British School's recent British Schools Overseas (BSO) inspection report where the school was rated Excellent in every category. This outstanding achievement is a credit to the staff, the pupils, the parents and the whole school community.

    COBIS would like to congratulate the school on being only the second school ever to receive two straight excellent reports – the only other school being COBIS Accredited Member The British School in Tokyo. The school's commitment to high quality teaching, leadership and management, academic standards, pastoral care, the provision of a positive ethos and a true sense of pride for all is an inspiration to COBIS members and others in the International School sector worldwide.

    The full report is published here: http://www.pbschool.cz/isi-inspection-report.aspx

    Grange School Has Been Made an Associate Member of AGBIS

    COBIS is delighted to announce that an Accredited Member, Grange School, was accepted as an Associate Member of the Association of Bodies of Independent Schools (AGBIS) in September 2015. The school, located in Lagos, is the first ever school in Africa to be admitted to this prestigious association, which supports and advises school governing bodies on governance.

    COBIS Head Office would like to take this opportunity to congratulate Grange School on behalf of the wider COBIS family of schools and organisations for this outstanding achievement. 

    Congratulations to the Winners of Our School Photo Competition

    COBIS would like to congratulate the following schools which have been selected to have their photos hung in the COBIS Head Office in Russell Square, London. We received an excellent response to our competition with over 30 schools submitting photos. Thank you to all participating schools and to our worthy winners:

    British School of Nanjing, China
    English International College Marbella, Spain
    The British School in Tokyo, Japan
    The Regent School Abuja, Nigeria

                    


    Recent Visitors to COBIS Head Office

    The new COBIS Head Office in Russell Square, London, has received lots of visitors this month with many taking advantage of the excellent meeting room facilities available. The bright and airy space, which can hold up to eight people, is located in Central London's Russell Square, and is just a short walk from Russell Square and Holborn Stations. We'd be delighted to welcome you! Click here for more information. 

    • Brian Christian - The British School in Tokyo
    • Deborah Eyre - COBIS Consultant and Board Member
    • Will Roberts - Youth Sport Trust


    News From COBIS Schools Around the World

    British International School, Kuala Lumpar Announces Expansion to Include Sixth Form

    From the British School, Kuala Lumpar (BSKL):

    2015 was a great year for the British International School, Kuala Lumpar. We had amazing IGCSE results, with over 90% of our students securing A* grades, our sports teams made us proud bringing home trophies, our musical and theatrical performances have shone, we’ve hosted some fabulous guest speakers and our pupils have shown commendable spirit in their efforts in raising money for their chosen charities. We couldn’t be happier, but now it’s time to look to 2016 for bigger and better results.

    2016 will see us expanding our secondary campus with new facilities to match the demand of our students, such as five new laboratories. It is also the year that we open our Sixth Form, where we will offer current, and students new to BSKL, an outstanding pre-university education.  The brand new Sixth Form will teach a wide range of subjects in a student-centred environment.

    From the oldest members of our school to the youngest, our preschool will also be accepting new students in 2016. We will be hosting a series of open days so parents new to BSKL can come and see for themselves why we are a community that they want to be part of.

    COBIS Head Office would like to congratulate BSKL on this exciting news, and on behalf of the wider COBIS community wish them every success in the future. 

    Aloha College Inter-School Creative Writing Event

    Last Friday, Aloha College's computer rooms were filled with the sounds of whirring brains and clicking keyboards of the 36 participants in the Inter-School Creative Writing Competition. The brightest writers from Aloha, Swans and Sotogrande were challenged to create a short story in just 90 minutes on a given title. It was "a great experience to be surrounded by others who enjoy the same thing" commented Yasmine from Year 12.

    The stories, written under pseudonyms, will be scrutinized by teachers from the competing schools, with results set to be announced in early 2016. COBIS would like to congratulate all of those involved on their efforts, and wish them the very best of luck!

    The Alice Smith School Award Full Scholarships

    For the sixth year running, the Alice Smith School awarded four full scholarships to bright and deserving post SPM Malaysian students, enabling them to pursue their A Level studies. The scholarships commenced in January 2016 and cover tuition fees, building levy and enrolment fee including all textbooks and materials, external examination fees and curriculum- based trips. The scholarships were presented by Chair and Vice Chair of the Council of Governors, Charles Lim and Marama Schnitker, witnessed by families of the scholars and the senior school staff. Scholarship recipients were identified through a stringent selection process.

    Apart from academic merit, Alice Smith also takes into account the candidates’ extra-curricular excellence and interpersonal qualities from interview assessments.To date through its scholarship programme, the Alice Smith School has helped to support twenty young Malaysians to pursue their ambitions for higher education and future careers.

    COBIS School Teacher's Paper Published by the Royal Society of Chemistry

    COBIS is delighted to announce that Dr Victor Martinez, science teacher at King’s College, Alicante, has had a paper he co-authored by the Royal Society of Chemistry. COBIS Head Office would like to take this opportunity to congratulate both Dr Martinez and King’s College on this outstanding achievement. 

                     


    Supporting Member News

    New Supporting Members

    Cosy - Curriculum Resources and Publishers
    Findel - Curriculum Resources and Publishers
    itslearning - ICT
    Manchester Metropolitan University – Universities
    Oxford Summer Courses - Universities
    UKUni Edtech - Consultancy and Professional Development
    Winter's International School Finder - Consultancy and Professional Development
    Woodbury Simmons - Management Information Systems
    Outset Teacher Education - Consultancy and Professional Development 

    Updated Contact Details

    Members are reminded to update COBIS with any changes in staff personnel so we can ensure information about your membership reaches the right person in your organisation. Any staff changes should be emailed to updates@cobis.org.uk Please remember that more than one person can be listed as the contact at your company.

    COBIS Supporting Members Receive BETT Award Nominations

    COBIS is delighted that several COBIS supporting members have received nominations for the 2016 BETT Awards. This once again underlines the expertise and knowledge that our valued supporting members bring to our association and we are delighted to work with such innovative, forward thinking colleagues. 

    To view the full list of finalists and categories please click here. For details of the COBIS supporting members nominated for BETT awards, please click here to read the full COBIS news post. 

    COBIS Supporting Member Reception

    COBIS supporting members are reminded to book your free place at our Supporting Member Reception which will be held at the Institute of Directors, London on Friday 29 January 2016 at 17.30 to 19.15.

    The Reception is an opportunity to meet with the COBIS Board, COBIS Head Office team and other COBIS Supporting Members.
    This networking event is free of charge and places are limited to one representative per organisation. We look forward to welcoming you.

    To book your place, please contact Natalie Friend or use our online booking form

    Exhibition is now open for the COBIS Annual Conference 2016

    **Booking Open**

    InterContinental London - The O2, Greenwich, London, UK

    7-9 May 2016

    We are now accepting exhibitor bookings for the COBIS Annual Conference 2016, sponsored by COBIS Supporting Member BridgeU. The COBIS Annual Conference is attended by Principals, Headteachers, Governors and Senior Managers from British International Schools worldwide as well as representatives from high quality educational companies and suppliers. The 2016 Annual Conference will include a full programme of high profile speakers and seminar sessions including exclusive professional development sessions for exhibitors. There are also a number of social events, and exhibitors are encouraged to attend.

    Exhibition Charges

    • 3 metre stands - COBIS Supporting Members - £1195.00 + VAT
    • 2 metre stands - COBIS Supporting Members - £1095.00 + VAT
    • 3 metre stands – Non-COBIS Supporting Members - £1750.00 + VAT
    • 2 metre stands – Non-COBIS Supporting Members - £1650.00 + VAT

    Exhibition charges cover lunch/tea/coffee/water/refreshments on Sunday and Monday for two representatives for each individual stand.

    • Please click here for more information about exhibiting at the conference, including a link to the online booking form. To go directly to the online booking form, please click here

    Please note that bookings are being taken on a first come, first served basis and that exhibition stand bookings will only be accepted if the 2015/16 COBIS Supporting Membership fee has been paid. In recent years there has been a waiting list for the exhibition and we would encourage our valued Supporting Members to book early to avoid disappointment. If you have any questions about the Annual Conference, please feel free to contact Amy Carter on cpd@cobis.org.uk or +44 (0)203 826 7193.

    We look forward to welcoming many of you to the COBIS Annual Conference 2016.

    MA International Education and Globalisation Webinar

    If you are considering studying MA International Education and Globalisation at the University of Bath's Department of Education then you are invited to attend our webinar on Wednesday 10 February at 12:00 (GMT). 

    This one-year, full-time masters course provides an exciting opportunity to develop your understanding of international education and globalisation and debate the latest thinking about international education in practice. 

    During the webinar you’ll be able to find out more about course structure and content and studying at the University of Bath. There will also be an opportunity to ask questions to academic and admissions staff in a live question and answer session.

    Sign up for the webinar here

    For more details about the MA International Education and Globalisation visit: www.bath.ac.uk/study/pg/programmes/ma-inter-edu-global

    Teaching Open Events at St. Mary’s University

    COBIS is pleased to announce that one of our Supporting Members, St. Mary’s University, Twickenham, will host several Teaching Open Events for Primary PGCE Programmes in 2016. These events will be useful to all those interested in pursuing a career in Primary Education, and particularly relevant to Graduate Teacher Assistants in COBIS Schools.

    For information of events, dates and times, and locations please click here.

    College Board’s Summer Institute for International Counselors at NYU

    With British schools sending a growing number of students to US Universities, it is more important than ever to ensure that guidance staff are fully equipped to provide the best advice on US higher education admissions. COBIS is pleased to announce that one of our Supporting Members, College Board, continues to run their Summer Institute - the leading professional learning event for counselors in international secondary schools. 

    This year begins an exciting new partnership with New York University to offer the Summer Institute at their three global campuses:

    Central learning experience:

    Condensed two-and-a-half day versions:

    Resident faculty includes chief enrollment officers from US universities as well as leaders in K–12 international college counseling. 

    Click here for more information on what promises to be an excellent event.

    New Study Shows Promising Results for Children on the Autism Spectrum

    A new study released by the University of Alabama at Birmingham, in which a group of children with autism spectrum disorder received 10 weeks of intensive instruction utilising the Visualizing and Verbalizing for Language Comprehension and Thinking® programme, found that the instruction “was enough to strengthen the activity of loosely connected areas of their brains that work together to comprehend reading.” The children’s reading comprehension also improved. More information on the study can be found here.

    Please contact COBIS Supporting Member, the Lindamood-Bell Learning Centre in London, for more information and to schedule a learning ability evaluation. 

    Learn About How UK Trade and Investment (UKTI) Can Help You to Grow Your Business

    COBIS has recently been approved as a UKTI Trade Challenge Partner, working closely with UKTI to provide our supporting members with expert international trade advice and practical support. In order to provide our members with more information about the support available to them through UKTI, we have updated the COBIS website with full details here. Support available includes:

    A useful guide to the basics of exporting can be found on the UKTI website here.

    COBIS encourages our supporting members to look at the services available to them through UKTI. If you have any questions, please contact Natalie Friend – members@cobis.org.uk


    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
    Natalie Friend, Communications and Membership Officer - members@cobis.org.uk
    Stefan Constantine, International Marketing Intern - intern@cobis.org.uk
    Catriona Lawless, PA to Colin Bell and Student Engagement Officer - pa@cobis.org.uk
    Amy Carter, CPD and Events Officer - cpd@cobis.org.uk
    Padma Sivapunniyam, Finance Officer -
    admin@cobis.org.uk

    Sakina Zafar, Academic Officer - academic@cobis.org.uk

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    Telephone: +44 20 3826 7190
    Address: COBIS, 55-56 Russell Square, Bloomsbury, London, WC1B 4HP, UK

     
     

     


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