Click here to view Connect in a web browser ![]() ![]() Dear Colleague,
Greetings from the diverse and sunny city of Dubai! It's my pleasure to be in the UAE this week to meet the Executive Director of the Dubai School Inspection Bureau (DSIB) and senior leaders from the KHDA. I've been invited here to share the latest updates on the COBIS Patron's Accreditation and Compliance scheme, of which there are nearly 30 COBIS school visits booked for the academic year ahead. The next 10 months will no doubt be a busy but exciting time for our experienced Lead Improvement Partners and Peer Accreditors as they look forward to accrediting international British schools overseas worldwide on behalf of COBIS. My schedule for this week also includes a number of media engagements with journalists in the Emirates who are keen to know more about our plans for supporting the improvement agenda of schools in the region and beyond via The Patron's Accreditation. On behalf of the organisation, I'd like to wish a special welcome this month to new Heads at COBIS schools, in particular colleagues leading a COBIS school for the first time. We hope that the first few weeks of the academic year have gone smoothly for you, your staff, students, and parents and that things are starting to calm down despite what is inevitably a busy time, especially if you have just moved to a new school, country or continent. As you will read in this month's Connect, COBIS can support your school in many ways and this year we have an extensive programme of training, events, competitions, online seminars and conferences for senior leaders, school staff and students. We're always looking to improve our offering to members and this month saw the launch of a new blog on our website which will showcase insightful articles on all aspects of the British international schools sector. Our first blog, written by Pat Moores of the UK Education Guide, is aimed at students and lists some great tips on what students in COBIS schools can expect if their ambition is to study in the UK. We plan to post new articles on a weekly basis and hope that the whole school workforce can benefit from our content. If you would like to write for our blog, contact COBIS Communications Officer, Jamie Ralph. Finally, a special mention must go out to our GCSE and A-level students who achieved such incredible results just a few weeks ago. Year on year, the results in COBIS schools show that British schools overseas are setting the highest example when it comes to academic success. We are so proud of your students and the hard work and time that you and your staff dedicate in order to prepare them for the future. COBIS will be collecting more detailed information from schools about examination results when the Annual Research Survey goes live next month. Kind regards, ![]() Colin Bell ![]() COBIS NEWS BRAND NEW COBIS BLOG LAUNCHED - A NEW ARTICLE EACH WEEK ![]() This month marks the launch of a brand new area on our website: The COBIS Blog! We aim to offer insightful short articles on the diverse world of British international schools. Our first article is a piece from Pat Moores on what COBIS students can expect from university life in the UK that you can read by visiting https://www.cobis.org.uk/blog. If you would like to write for the COBIS Blog, please contact Jamie Ralph, COBIS Communications Officer. WELCOME TO NEW HEADS IN COBIS SCHOOLS AROUND THE WORLD ![]() COBIS is pleased to welcome the following Principals and Headteachers to COBIS schools. We look forward to working with you!
If there are other new appointments in your school that do not appear on this list, please contact Natalie Williams, COBIS Membership Officer, at members@cobis.org.uk with the correct details. ONE WEEK TO GO FOR BRITISH INTERNATIONAL SCHOOLS TO ENTER THE 2018 BISAS As a British-oriented international school, you are eligible to participate in the 2018 British International School Awards.
The awards, hosted by BIS Magazine and supported by ISC Research, recognise excellence amongst the many exceptional British schools overseas.
This year's categories are:
The deadline for submitting up to three category applications is midnight on Wednesday 20th September 2017. The awards are free to enter.
An independent judging panel, chaired by Professor Jeff Thompson CBE of the University of Bath, will select all award winners. Each entry is judged within the context of the school which means that any school could win, regardless of its resources or size of project. Judges will reward excellence and innovation.
Schools that are shortlisted will be offered three complimentary tickets to attend a gala ceremony on 22nd January 2018 at the Grand Connaught Rooms in Covent Garden, London when the winners will be announced and presented with their trophies. Each shortlisted school will also receive a logo to publish on their website and stationery promoting their category award nomination.
More information about this year's awards and about last year's winners are available here
Get your nominations in now! COBIS PATRON'S ACCREDITATION AND COMPLIANCE SCHEME ![]() This academic year the COBIS Patron's Accreditation and Compliance scheme kicks off with a number of Accreditation and Compliance visits booked throughout the school year. COBIS is proud to have sourced a talented group of Peer Accreditors and Lead Improvement Partners from across our network and beyond, who will be working with and visiting schools across the globe on their school improvement journey. The latest group of Peer Accreditors are about to embark upon their training, but if you would like to become a COBIS Peer Accreditor or Lead Improvement Partner you can sign up to access our next round of training on our website. Lead Improvement Partners who have already completed the training are reminded to check the Digital Workbook for details of upcoming visits that they can apply for. Schools wishing to find out more about this new scheme focussing on school improvement and quality assurance should visit www.cobis.org.uk/accreditation or get in touch with Sharon Gallagher, COBIS Accreditation Officer with any queries. COBIS MEMBERSHIP HANDBOOKS ![]() COBIS Schools and Supporting Members will receive a copy of a new COBIS Member Handbook on receipt of their membership fees. Each Handbook contains information about all the benefits of COBIS membership and we encourage you to share the Handbook with your staff and colleagues.
All COBIS Supporting Members will also receive a copy of the new COBIS Supporting Member Code of Conduct to sign and return to us. The Code ensures that all Supporting Members work with our schools and colleagues in the open and trustworthy way which we welcome in our association. For any Membership queries please contact COBIS Membership Officer Natalie Williams. ![]() ![]() 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 Vanessa Whay, Headteacher of King's College, The British School of Panama. King's College Panama is part of King's Group and opened in 2012, catering this school year to students age 3-16. 1. Which living person do you most admire?
![]() 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 Eirik Talleraas who graduated from the International School of Stavanger in 1992 and now works as an international civil servant with the United Nations. Eirik's work focusses on the Sustainable Development Goals, a worthwhile cause that your students can also get involved in by joining our COBIS Global Social Leaders online student competition! Click below to read more about Eirik's journey from school to the UN as well as about his time at the International School of Stavanger, including his favourite memories of a unique and inspiring teacher. ![]() PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT and EVENTS NEWS POPULAR PROGRAMMES FOR MIDDLE LEADERS ![]() More than 100 Middle Leaders from around the world have already registered to make part in this year's COBIS Programme for Middle Leaders (CPML). In 2017/18, this ten-month course is running in Mexico, Spain, Oman, Malawi, Cayman Islands and Romania. A limited number of places are still available. Current and aspiring middle leaders can also register for the COBIS Four-Day Middle Leaders' Course – Leading Learning from the Middle – which is running this year in Malaysia and Kenya. ASSESSMENT LEAD PROGRAMME ![]() COBIS and Evidence Based Education are pleased to announce a new blended learning course for Assessment Leads which can be undertaken anywhere in the world (starting October 2017). The Assessment Lead Programme enables education professionals to make their assessment approach more efficient, allowing them to make more reliable judgements about what pupils know, what they can do, and what they need next. EAL TRAINING DAYS IN KENYA ![]() COBIS Member, Braeburn School, is hosting two COBIS Regional Training Days on English as an Additional Language on 26 October 2017 (KS 1-2) and 27 October 2017 (KS 3-5). Teachers, TAs and Leaders are invited to register for these workshops, delivered by Veema Education. ACCESS A COBIS DISCOUNT FOR IPSEF MIDDLE EAST COBIS are delighted to be supporting this year's IPSEF Middle East conference. By entering the code COBIS15, COBIS Members will get a 15% discount off the delegate fee. The timed conference programme is now available to download from the IPSEF website. With only three weeks to go, don't miss out, book your place today and remember to enter the code COBIS15 for the discount! ![]() STUDENT ENGAGEMENT NEWS HOW WILL YOUR STUDENTS BE INVOLVED IN 2017/18? ![]() With the new school year in full swing, there are plenty of activities for students to get involved with. There are two new competitions for this year, in addition to the many other activities, events and competitions scheduled for this year. This term, the Student Leadership Weekend will take place in Madrid and the Maths Challenge will take place from 20 November until 3 December, with schools able to sign up before then, should they wish to.
For more information, or to sign up for any of our student programmes, please do visit www.cobis.org.uk/students. WORK TOWARDS THE UNITED NATIONS SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT GOALS WITH COBIS AND FUTURE FOUNDATIONS ![]() We are delighted to be parterning with Future Foundations to run a new online student competition focussed on the United Nations' Sustainable Development Goals. The COBIS Global Social Leaders competition will encourage students aged 11-16 years to work in teams to develop their understanding of global citizenship and how to turn their ideas into reality. Each team will decide on a project, which addresses one of the 17 UN Sustainable Development Goals and then implement it in their community. Following their programme, students will reflect on it during the spring term and submit a report. All students will receive a named certificate and feedback on their project. Watch our launch video now and then check out www.cobis.org.uk/gslcomp for all the details on how you can take part! MATHS CHALLENGE The COBIS / Mangahigh Maths Challenge is a new competition for 5-16 year olds designed to engage students with maths through a games-based learning approach. Mangahigh is an online resource for primary and secondary students, which boosts results in maths through smart maths games and adaptive exercises. The competition will run from 20 November to 3 December 2017, with a two-week access period prior to this to familiarise students, and teachers, with the software and content. The 10 schools with the highest number of points will each receive an Amazon voucher. The top school will be sent an engraved trophy. ANNUAL STUDENT ACHIEVEMENT AWARDS ![]() Congratulations to the 121 students who were presented with a COBIS Student Achievement Award in 2017. Once again, we were overwhelmed by the calibre of entries; students who have had books published, set up and run charity initiatives, competed as athletes on the world stage, overcome exceptional medical and personal challenges and achieved world-class academic results.
You can nominate a student for an Award in 2018 from now until 18 April 2018. ![]() NEWS FROM COBIS SCHOOLS CALLING ALL UNIVERSITY/CAREERS COUNSELLORS - SHARE YOUR EXPERTISE! ![]() At COBIS we are proud to have a supportive international network stretching over 80 countries. One of the key benefits of this network is the ability to engage with those working in similar situations around the world and share best practice. The British School of Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia has recently appointed a University Counsellor to support students in matters relating to course and university selection, application processes, review of personal statements, application essays, and mock interviews for example. The school would like to establish a link with a similar professional in a fellow COBIS School to enable them to exchange best practice to mutual benefit. Please contact the Head of School if you would be interested in engaging with the British School of Ulaanbaatar in this way at headofschool@britishschool.edu.mn ![]() NEWS FROM COBIS SUPPORTING MEMBERS NEW CEO FOR ANTHONY MILLARD CONSULTING The Board of Anthony Millard Consulting have appointed Dr Fiona Hammans as the company's CEO, taking up her new post from 1 July. Building on the quality reputation that the company has for recruitment of top calibre heads and senior leaders to independent and international schools, she will extend the AMC brand offer into the maintained schools' sector in England. Anthony Millard, who has led the company since its foundation in 2004, will continue to chair the Board and will be active in search and consultancy leaving operational direction to Fiona. September 2017 ![]() COBIS CPD AND EVENTS 2017/18 Autumn Term ![]() ![]() COBIS Programme for Aspiring Heads Muscat and Madrid From September 2017 ![]() ![]() COBIS Programme for Middle Leaders ![]() ![]() Advanced Training for Designated Safeguarding Leads ![]() ![]() Regional EAL Training Days ![]() ![]() Advanced Training for Designated Safeguarding Leads ![]() ![]() Stepping Up to Middle Leadership ![]() ![]() COBIS Four-Day Middle Leaders' Course Spring Term ![]() ![]() COBIS Personalised Learning Conference ![]() ![]() COBIS Conference for Bursars, Business Managers and HR Staff ![]() ![]() COBIS Four-Day Middle Leaders' Course ![]() ![]() COBIS Conference for Marketing, Development and Admissions Staff Summer Term ![]() ![]() 37th COBIS Annual Conference ![]() ![]() Regional Training Days ![]() ![]() Advanced Training for Designated Safeguarding Leads 29 May 2018 ![]() STUDENT EVENTS CALENDAR 2017/18 Autumn Term ![]() ![]() COBIS Student Leadership Weekend ![]() ![]() COBIS/Mangahigh Maths Challenge Spring Term ![]() ![]() COBIS Student World Debate Competition ![]() ![]() COBIS Poetry Competition ![]() COBIS Primary Creative Challenge ![]() ![]() COBIS Model UN Conference ![]() ![]() COBIS/Future Foundations Global Social Leaders Competition ![]() ![]() COBIS Art Competition ![]() ![]() COBIS Young Scientist Film Awards Summer Term ![]() ![]() COBIS Student Achievement Awards ![]() COBIS Games ![]() ![]() COBIS Senior School Music Festival ![]() COBIS SERVICES FOR SCHOOLS ![]() COBIS Disclosure and Barring Service Contact dbs@cobis.org.uk for more information COBIS Consultancy Service COBIS Diplomas for International Teaching Assistants Online Safeguarding Training for International Schools ![]() NEW SUPPORTING MEMBERS ![]() Bloomsbury Curriculum Resources and Publishers ![]() Cambridge Immerse Student Development ![]() Empowering Education Ltd Recruitment ![]() University of Derby Online Learning Universities SUBMISSIONS We welcome submissions from both schools and supporting members for the COBIS newsletter, Connect. Please read our editorial guidelines before making your submission. All submissions for the October Connect should be sent to: events@cobis.org.uk CONTACT US If you have any comments or requests, please contact us. We'd love to hear from you. By Telephone: +44 20 3826 7190 COBIS Head Office, 55-56 Russell Square, Bloomsbury, London, WC1B 4HP, UK ![]() Compiled and produced by Hannah Porritt, Communications and Events Executive Edited by Jamie Ralph, Communications Officer ![]() ![]() |