19-20 March 2016
St Paul's School, São Paulo, Brazil
Following the tremendous success of the last two conferences, St Paul's, the British School, is proud to announce its Third Education Conference: Nurturing Every Child. Taking place on Saturday 19th and Sunday 20th March 2016, with pre-conference workshops on Friday 18th March, this promises to be a stimulating, thought-provoking and exciting conference for those involved in education.
For more information about the speakers and a message from the Head, please click here.(Full details and booking forms will be available shortly)
COBIS Student Competitions and Events
For an overview of the COBIS Student Competitions and Events that have taken place during the spring and summer term and to see what competitions and events will be taking place next year, click here.
Student Competition and Events Dates For Your Diary 2015/2016
Below are the proposed dates and deadlines for all COBIS Competitions and Events for the next academic year:
Autumn Term 
Spring Term
Summer Term
COBIS Senior School Music Festival - June 2015
The first ever COBIS Senior School Music Festival took place on 6 and 7 June 2015 in Prague. Prague British School hosted students from The British School in The Netherlands, the International School of Moscow and The English International School Prague for a weekend of workshops, competition and culture. More than 100 students took part in the Festival over the two days, culminating in a collaborative workshop and performance at the Gala Concert in the magnificent Czech Museum of Music.
Congratulations to the team from Prague British School as they were the overall winners of the competition and are pictured right with their trophy. Well done to all who took part and to the staff who made this weekend possible.
For a full list of the winners please click here. Elements of the weekend were streamed live on YouTube and can be watched here. For more photos from the event, please click here.
Dubai College to Host COBIS Secondary Games 2016
We are delighted to announce that Dubai College, winners of the COBIS Secondary Games 2015, will host the COBIS Secondary Games 2016 which will take place 10-12 March 2016. We would like to thank Dubai College for hosting our 5th COBIS Games and look forward to next year's event which promises an exciting 3 days of sporting excellence and achievement.
Securing the host of the COBIS Primary Games 2016 is currently in progress and full details of how schools can register their interest as well as the selection process will be announced in September 2015.
The Edron Academy to host COBIS Student World Debate Competition 2016
We are also very excited to announce that The Edron Academy, Mexico, who were the 2015 winners, will be hosting the COBIS Student World Debate Competition, taking place 5-7 February 2016. In light of the high demand from schools who want to participate, we have increased the number of team places available from 16 to 24. We would like to thank The Edron Academy for hosting the 4th Debate Competition and for working with COBIS to support our growing network of schools. We look forward to 2 days of team work, respect, good humour and intellectual agility showcased across our talented students.
Full details of how schools can register their interest as well as the selection process will be announced in September 2015.
School Member News
COBIS Teachers and Leaders Study Exchange Programme
COBIS is pleased to have successfully facilitated the association’s first International teachers’ study exchange programme. The project was in partnership with COBIS Accredited Member School, the International School Olomouc (ISO) and other schools around the Czech Republic and five Infant and Primary Schools based in the London Borough of Richmond upon Thames.
The focus of this study exchange programme was on the Early Years/Foundation stage. Aims of the project included providing the opportunity to team teach, share theory, practice and experience and to develop sustainable international links between 5 schools in the UK and the Czech Republic.
Petr Pospisil, Head of International School Olomouc who organised the funding and approached COBIS to help deliver the project said, ‘The project has provided excellent opportunity for all participating teachers to reflect and develop their own practice.' Petr commented that since the participating teachers have returned to the Czech Republic ‘Some have tried to implement the use of online apps to monitor children’s progress. Others reported that they will be definitely improving social and emotional development programmes thorough the implementation of particular practices observed in the UK. This is all evidence that the project is already having a positive impact on practice in Czech preschool.’
To read a full report of the study exchange programme, please click here. If you would like to find out more about your school working with COBIS on projects similar please do get in touch with our consultancy team consultancy@cobis.cobis.org.uk
COBIS Say Farewell to Sarah Wooldridge
We say farewell to Finance Officer Sarah Wooldridge this month after 4 years with COBIS Head Office. Sarah has been an exemplary colleague to work with over the last 4 years. As I am sure you 
will all agree, Sarah has been an absolute pleasure to work with, truly dedicated, an expert in her field and she will be missed by all at HQ and throughout the global COBIS family. So, on behalf of the Board, the team at HQ and all our members, we wish Sarah continued health and happiness and an enormous thank you for all her hard work, good humour and first rate professionalism. Sarah - you will be greatly missed by all.
Recruitment for her replacement is in progress and a new Finance Officer will be joining us from August. For assistance with DBS applications, please contact Amy Carter: intern@cobis.org.uk.
COBIS Representative Attends Briefing on Ukraine at the House of Lords
COBIS Communications and Membership Officer, Natalie Friend, recently visited the House of Lords for an All Party Parliamentary Briefing on UK and the Ukraine. The event was held to mark the launch of a new report about the attitudes of young Ukrainian people towards the future economic, social, cultural and political development of their country.
The event was attended by prominent members of the UK and Ukraine parliaments and included speeches by Mr Simon Williams, Country Director in the Ukraine for the British Council, and Mr Danylo Lubkivsky, Former First Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine. COBIS would like to thank the British Council for inviting COBIS to attend and participate in this compelling discussion.
For more information and to read the report, please click here.
Announcement of the death of Sybil Melchers MBE, COBIS Honorary Member
It is with great sadness that we have to inform you of the passing of one of COBISEC’s (COBIS) founders. Sybil Melchers MBE was a resident in Brussels in 1981 when COBISEC was founded by Sir Dick Pantlin, its first Chairman, together with a small group of Heads and Governors of British schools in Europe. Sybil gave the association twenty two years of first class voluntary service and an office for fifteen years. During that time she managed the annual London Conference, the paperwork for committee meetings, information for prospective members and the application process, and for several years the publication of an annual directory.
It is difficult to imagine now, how all this was possible with only the selfless voluntary contribution of one dedicated person, who also supported the Chairman and the Committee enthusiastically. COBIS would not have been able to exist and develop without her. It is fitting that HM The Queen honoured her with the Membership of The Order of the British Empire for her services to British International Schools.
We extend our sympathy and condolences to her bereaved husband, Chris, and their family. To read the full news post, please click here. To read COBIS Honarary President Sir Roger Fry CBE's tribute, please click here.
St Andrew's International High School Send Good Wishes to Colin
Colin Bell was disappointed not to be able to visit to St Andrew's International School, Malawi in June due to an injury. He sent his sincerest apologies to Head Gordon Benbow and the school community but looks forward to rearranging his visit for the next academic year. The Senior Leadership Team at St Andrew's (pictured below right, from left to right: Wendy Suter, Sarah Samanyika, Dave Thompson, Kieron Smith, Gordon Benbow) went out for a meal and toasted to Colin's health and wrote him an inspired poem:
To Colin Bell
St. Andrew’s were excited
To receive Colin Bell
Shame his ligament
Gave him pain from hell
Our Senior Leaders
Were not deterred
So out to a meal
And to Colin they cheered.
COBIS CEO Colin Bell visits King's College School, La Moraleja
Colin visited COBIS school King's College School, La Moraleja in June for their Annual prize giving ceremony. Colin enjoyed being part of the events and visiting the school, seeing the fantastic work that takes place on a daily basis there. Colin would like to thank all the staff and students, who were a pleasure to talk to, and would like to congratulate them on their prizes as well as all other COBIS schools who are partaking in end of year prize-giving ceremonies. Pictured right: student winners with June Donnan, Dawn Akyurek and Elena Benito.
Changes to School Senior Leadership Team for September
Calling all COBIS Schools: Please let us know of any changes to your School's Senior Leadership Team for the next Academic Year 2015/16. This will enable us to update our records and welcome new Senior Leaders and Heads to their new schools in September. Please email intern@cobis.org.uk or members@cobis.org.uk.
Doha College Principal Awarded British MBE
Mark Leppard, Principal at COBIS Accredited Member School Doha College, has been included on the annual Queens British Honours list for services to British education in Qatar. Mr Leppard was notified that he had received the Member of the Order of the British Empire (MBE) in a communication from Buckingham Palace on Saturday.
Mr Leppard, who has been with Doha College for 19 years, said it was a privilege to receive the prestigious award, "The MBE came as a complete surprise, but one I am extremely proud to receive. I feel extremely honoured and very humbled."
"It was awarded for 'Services to Education in Qatar' and with Qatar's 2030 National Vision, I am delighted that as Principal of Doha College, both I and the school can support Qatar's ambitious drive towards a knowledge based economy. The College is driven forward by a very strong team and this award also recognises the work of every member of that team."
On behalf of COBIS, congratulations to Mark on this fantastic achievement. To read the full news report, please click here.
Changes to DBS Applicants' Approved ID Documents
The DBS would like to make schools, organisations and applicants aware of changes regarding the DVLA Paper counterpart (UK only) to the driving licence. From the 8th June 2015 the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency (DVLA) will not issue the paper counterpart to the photo-card driving licence. The DBS will be updating the identity checking guidelines to include this change and our system will be updated to reflect this as and when that happens.
A photo-card driving licence issued by the DVLA without the paper counterpart will be classed as a group 1 primary identity document. There will be no need to view the paper counterpart for driving licences issued before the date of the change. The requirement for a paper counterpart for Group 2a photo-card licenses will also be removed from this date.
COBIS Approved as a UKTI Trade Challenge Partner
COBIS is delighted to have been recently approved as a UKTI Trade Challenge Partner. UKTI (UK Trade and Investment) works with UK based businesses to help them increase their sales in international markets through exports. COBIS is delighted to receive formal recognition of the work we do with UKTI and we look forward to working with UKTI as a Trade Challenge Partner to help our members grow their presence overseas.
Dear Colleague,
