Annual Conference - Council of British International Schools

The COBIS Annual Conference is for Heads, Governors, Proprietors and Senior and Middle Leaders from schools around the world, including COBIS member and non-member schools.

Each year, the popular COBIS Annual Conference is attended by senior leaders from international schools worldwide, education businesses and suppliers, as well as regulators, investors, and representatives of global ministries of education.

The 42nd COBIS Annual Conference will be held in London, 11-13 May 2024. This year, we are excited to be moving to a new, central London venue: etc. venues 155 Bishopsgate, near Liverpool Street Station.

Speaker/Session Proposals

See below for more information about submitting session proposals to contribute to the conference programme.

Delegate Booking - Now Open!

Delegate booking forms and details about delegate fees can be found here.

Book your place now

Exhibitor Booking - Now Open!

Exhibitor booking is now open for Supporting Associates. See below for further details and booking forms.

42nd COBIS Annual Conference
Louder Than Words
11-13 May 2024
etc.venues 155 Bishopsgate
London, UK

The theme of last year's conference - Leading Learning for a New Paradigm - invited participants to think about how we evolve our pedagogy, curriculum, assessment, pastoral care, and educational structures to prepare young people to thrive in a rapidly changing world. Building on last year's theme, the 2024 COBIS Annual Conference - Louder Than Words - will challenge participants to explore and commit to meaningful action and practical steps to move the sector forward on education redesign, wellbeing, sustainability, and more.

Exhibitor and Sponsor Information
Session/Speaker Proposals - DEADLINE 8 December

Exhibitor and Sponsor Information

Exhibitor booking for the 42nd COBIS Annual Conference is now open for Supporting Associates. Non-Supporting Associates will be able to book exhibition stands (subject to availability) from 4 January 2024. Please ensure you have read the Exhibitor Information before booking a stand.

Exhibitor Booking Form (Supporting Associates only)

Download Exhibitor Information

View Floorplan

Download SPONSORSHIP DETAILS

Session/Speaker Proposals - DEADLINE 8 December

Session/Speaker Proposals

We are now accepting proposals for sessions at the COBIS Annual Conference. Please read the guidelines below before submitting a proposal.

Deadline for proposals: 8 December 2023

SUBMIT A proposal

Guidelines:

In addition to high-profile, engaging and inspiring keynote speakers, we are keen to give COBIS schools, Supporting Associates, and other delegates as many opportunities as possible to share with, and learn from, one another.

Please feel free to be creative in terms of format and structure. Presentations, panels, interactive discussion sessions, short case studies, and practical workshop sessions will all be considered. We will be looking for a balance of formats throughout the programme; interactive sessions are encouraged for breakout sessions.

In keeping with the conference theme, all sessions should allow delegates to come away with at least one idea for a practical step or meaningful action that can be implemented in schools to move the sector forward on key topics such as education redesign, sustainability, wellbeing, etc.

We expect conference participants to include school leaders (Heads, Governors, Senior and Middle Leaders) from schools in more than 60 countries worldwide. Colleagues from Early Years, Primary and Secondary phases will be joining us, therefore the conference programme will need to include sessions that cater for a diverse range of delegates.

Sessions are expected to run for a maximum of one hour. To accommodate as many different voices and ideas as possible, some proposals will be combined into a single split session. We are also accepting proposals for shorter case studies.

Sessions should provide excellent, relevant professional development. Sessions designed as a sales pitch for a single product or service will not be considered. have any questions about the COBIS Annual Conference, please contact cpd@cobis.org.uk.

SUBMIT A proposal

Annual Conference Sponsors

We are grateful to Cambridge - Headline Sponsors of the 2024 COBIS Annual Conference.

Cambridge works with schools worldwide to build an education that shapes knowledge, understanding and skills. Together, we give learners the confidence they need to thrive and make a positive impact in a changing world.

Previous COBIS Annual Conference

More than 500 in-person and virtual delegates, speakers and exhibitors took part in the 41st COBIS Annual Conference, 6-8 May 2023, in London, UK. Conference delegates included representatives from schools in 60 countries worldwide. To view photos and programmes from past Annual Conferences, please visit the Previous Conferences section of our website.

previous conferences

If you have any questions about the COBIS Annual Conference, please contact cpd@cobis.org.uk.

Ahead of the 40th Annual Conference, we asked our schools to comment on what the conference theme meant to them. Watch the video on the right.