Over the past two years, COBIS has proudly participated in the OECD Schools+ initiative—an ambitious, research‑driven project designed to strengthen teaching practice and improve student outcomes worldwide. This collaborative effort has now culminated in the official release of the OECD Schools+ Teacher Toolkit, a comprehensive set of practical, evidence‑based resources available free of charge for schools. 

A number of COBIS schools played a central role in shaping this work through their participation in the Schools+ Learning Circle. These schools include: 

• St Christopher’s School, Bahrain 
• DSB International School, Mumbai, India 
• Avenor College, Romania 
• The British School in Tokyo, Japan 
• The British School of Tbilisi, Georgia 
• British International School Riyadh, Saudi Arabia 
• Jerudong International School, Brunei 
• Doha College, Qatar 
• The British School of Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia 

"Being involved in the Schools+ Learning Circle was hugely valuable as we connected with schools across the globe in a range of different contexts. Both seeing our challenges reflected in those schools, and being able to share and hear a range of innovations, was incredibly powerful; we have gone on to stay connected with these colleagues.

The toolkit itself points to the elements of classroom practice that really work with evidence to support it, and this has helped to shape our ongoing understanding of what makes great teaching. Our professional learning pathways have reflected some of these elements as colleagues explore ways to develop in these areas." - Lauren Binnington, Director of Learning at St Christopher’s School, Bahrain

Through the Learning Circle, these schools engaged in deep, ongoing dialogue with peers from different regions and educational contexts. Together, they explored how best to apply high‑quality research evidence within real classrooms to strengthen teaching and to nurture students’ holistic development. Their collaboration, insight, and practical experience have played an invaluable role in co‑developing the final set of resources now available to teachers worldwide. 

A Focus on Five Key Dimensions of High‑Quality Teaching 

At the heart of the project were five core dimensions shown through research to have a significant impact on student learning: 

1.     Classroom Interaction – cultivating a learning environment where communication, collaboration, and student voice can thrive. 

2.     Cognitive Engagement – promoting deep thinking, curiosity, and active participation in learning. 

3.     Formative Assessment and Feedback – using assessment not just to measure learning, but to guide and improve it. 

4.     Quality of Subject Matter – ensuring teachers have strong content knowledge and can make concepts accessible and meaningful. 

5.     Social‑Emotional Support – recognising the critical role of wellbeing, belonging, and relationships in enabling students to learn effectively. 

The resulting Teacher Toolkit brings these areas together in an accessible, practical format designed to support educators in any context. The guidance is grounded in robust research but shaped by real classroom experience—making it not only informative but immediately actionable. 

Schools and teachers can access the resource through the Unlocking High‑Quality Teaching report. A Spanish translation is also available, expanding accessibility for schools across different regions. 

Looking Ahead 

COBIS is extremely proud of the contribution made by participating schools, whose expertise, commitment, and openness to collaboration have enriched this global project. As the OECD continues to expand the Schools+ initiative, the COBIS community looks forward to supporting future projects and helping to advance research‑informed teaching practice across the international education landscape.