The inaugural COBIS MUN took place in Bucharest, 3-6 March 2016, hosted by the International British School of Bucharest.
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COBIS MUN 2016 Takes Place at International British School of Bucharest, Romania
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COBIS Student World Debate Competition featured in The Telegraph
The COBIS Student World Debate Competition was the subject of an article by Anne Keeling that appeared in The Telegraph on Friday 18th of March. The piece described how 62 students of 18 different nationalities debated issues like feminism and the Middle East at last month's competition hosted by Edron Academy in Mexico City.
COBIS would like to thank Anne Keeling for writing the article and also the students and teachers who provided quotes about how the competition had helped facilitate a love for debating amongst all participants.
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British School Al Khubairat win the COBIS Secondary Games 2016
After three days of intense competition in swimming, football and athletics, hosted by Dubai College, the British School Al Khubairat, was announced as the winning team.
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COBIS Poetry Competition - Winners Announced
The 2016 winners of the COBIS Poetry Competition have been announced.
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The British International School Awards
The British International School Awards have been launched to recognise excellence in British schools overseas, celebrate the success of the sector and help set benchmarks in best practice.
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COBIS Primary and Secondary Games to be Hosted in the UK
The COBIS Games are due to be hosted in the UK in April 2017 (COBIS Primary Games) and in May 2017 (COBIS Secondary Games).
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COBIS International Summer School - Now 20% Off
The last few places remaining at the COBIS International Summer School are now 20% off. The Summer School is for 15-17 year olds and takes place at Clare College, The University of Cambridge.
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Primary Creative Challenged Launched - "Life Lessons"
Life Lessons
The COBIS Primary Creative Challenge, in partnership with Supporting Member Oddizzi, is now open for all COBIS schools with KS1 and KS2.
This year's competition theme is "Life Lessons" and we want to hear from your students and wider school community on what they think children need to know in a short film.
You are encouraged to think outside the box, or in this case, outside the classroom! Think about academic learning but also happiness, global citizenship, family values, dreams, friendships and more. We want to hear it all, even if it is advice on siblings, sandwich fillings and spelling!
The full brief can be read here; it has lots more information on the competition, top tips on how to edit movies and the entry form.
For inspiration, why not watch some films from last year here and don't forget to update us on your progress, by using #COBISPCC on Twitter and Facebook.
The closing date is 3 March 2017.
For more information or to take part, please click here.
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Book Now for COBIS Spring CPD Events for Teachers, TAs and Leaders
A wide range of COBIS Conferences and CPD events will be taking place during the spring term including:
- COBIS Conference for Senior Managers, Middle Managers and CPD Leaders – Reaching Excellence: It's all about the teacher (Cairo, February 2017)
- COBIS EAL Conference – Supporting EAL Students in International Schools (Bucharest, February 2017)
- COBIS Conference for Trips and Fieldwork Leadership (The Hague, March 2017)
- COBIS Wellbeing Conference – Nurturing Every Child (Dubai, April 2017)
- Four-Day Middle Leaders' Course – Leading Learning from the Middle (various locations and dates)
Full details of these and other courses, including booking forms, can be found here: www.cobis.org.uk/cpd
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Register Now for the COBIS Games 2017
The COBIS Games is an exciting and unique sporting event which draws together young people from around the world to take part in three days of competitive sport (swimming, athletics and football). The event is not only a celebration of sport for young people, but also a celebration of a shared global community with a common link to the UK.
Registration for the COBIS Games 2017 is now open.
Dates and Locations
- The 2017 COBIS Primary Games will take place at Stowe School, Buckinghamshire, UK from 11-13 April 2017.
- The 2017 COBIS Secondary Games will take place in Sheffield, UK from 19-21 May 2017.
Student Eligibility
- The 2017 Primary Games are open to students in Years 5 and 6 who were born between 1 September 2005 and 31 August 2007.
- The 2017 Secondary Games are open to students in Years 7 and 8 who were born between 1 September 2003 and 31 August 2005.
Lottery Draw - Only Applicable to the Primary Games
A maximum of 24 schools can take part in the COBIS Primary Games 2017. Schools that hosted in 2015 (St Catherine's British School in Athens, Greece) and 2016 (Haileybury Astana, Kazakhstan) are automatically allocated a place, as is the winning school from the 2016 Primary Games (St. Saviour's School, Ikoyi, Nigeria). The other 21 places will be allocated using a lottery draw, which will take place on Wednesday 26 October 2016, with all registered schools entered.
For more information on the Games or to register, please click on the below links:
- To register for the Primary Games, please go to cobis.org.uk/prigames
- To register for the Secondary Games, please go to cobis.org.uk/secgames
The closing date for registration is 24 October 2017 at 09:00 BST.
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Student Leaders Take Part in Inspirational Leadership Weekend in Madrid
The students, most of whom hold leadership positions in their schools such as Head Boy or Girl, travelled from COBIS schools in Egypt, Qatar, Portugal, Romania, France, Slovakia and Spain. The student leaders had an unrivalled opportunity to participate in interactive sessions with trainers and motivational speakers. The sessions focussed on personal branding, public speaking skills, creative problem solving and more. Students investigated their digital footprint, explored leadership in social media, discussed how to change their mind-sets, and wrote letters to their future selves. They also enjoyed a sightseeing tour of Madrid, a delicious tapas lunch, and a murder mystery evening!
COBIS would like to thank colleagues at King's Group for making this event such a success.
More photos and updates can be seen on the King's Group twitter page and videos on the COBIS YouTube channel.
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COBIS Annual Research Survey Now Live
The COBIS Annual Research Survey 2016 is now live!
The survey is an ongoing project that helps COBIS develop a better understanding of our growing global family of schools, as well as the British International Education sector as a whole. The results of this survey support lobbying activities, inform planning for future CPD events, and help facilitate increased school-to-school networking, communication and support.
To view the results of last year's survey, click here.
If you have not received your login details to access the survey, please email Fiona Rogers on cpd@cobis.org.uk.
The deadline for the survey is 4 November 2016 and all COBIS Schools are encouraged to submit responses.
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Two successful COBIS Conferences hosted by Byron College and King's Group
Two successful COBIS Conferences took place 28-29 October 2016. Byron College, Athens hosted the second COBIS Early Years Conference, which was attended by participants from schools in 14 different countries. King's College Madrid hosted the COBIS/King's Group Professional Development Weekend, attended by more than 400 delegates, speakers, and exhibitors. COBIS would like to thank everyone who participated in these events, with particular thanks to colleagues from Byron College and King's Group who did a tremendous job organising and hosting these conferences.
For more information about these two events, visit the Previous COBIS Conferences section of the website.
For information about forthcoming COBIS Conferences and CPD opportunities, please click here.
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COBIS Young Scientist Film Awards Now Open!
Take part in the 2017 COBIS Young Scientist Film Awards!
This year's Young Scientist Film Awards Competition has a much broader brief than in previous years, letting you submit as many scientific experiments as you want on whatever inspires you!
Awards will be given for the "Best Film of an Experiment" in:
- KS1 and KS2
- KS3
- KS4 and KS5
How to Take Part:
- Register at www.cobis.org.uk/scientist
- Make a film (less than 150 seconds) aimed at students the same age as those you are making the film with
- Get feedback from scientists (if you want!)
- Upload your film to your school's YouTube page and share the link with us
- Check back on 7 May to see if you have won!
The first review submission deadline is 3 March 2017 and the closing date is 31 March 2017.
For more information on the competition, or to register, please go to www.cobis.org.uk/science.
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Booking Deadline Approaching for COBIS Conference in Cairo - Reaching Excellence: It's all about the teacher
Booking is now open for the COBIS Conference for Senior Managers, Middle Leaders and CPD Leaders taking place at The British International School, Cairo, 3-4 February 2017.
Reaching Excellence: It's all about the teacher
The conference will focus on the importance of contextualised teacher learning and development, effective models of CPD, and how these can secure school improvement and raise attainment of our pupils.
- How do we improve teacher performance?
- What is the impact of CPD on pupil outcomes?
- What are the most effective models of teacher learning and development?
- How do we measure this impact?
For more information and conference booking forms, please click here. The booking deadline is 31 December 2016.
COBIS Webinar - Reaching Excellence: It's all about the teacher - Effective Models of Teacher Learning
On 6 December 2016 at 1pm there will be a free COBIS webinar, related to the conference theme, hosted by The British International School, Cairo. All colleagues are invited to tune into this free webinar to consider some of these important questions:
- What is the impact and limitations of current CPD models?
- Is it teacher learning or teacher development?
- Are we reluctant to talk about teacher learning? If yes, why? If not, then what are the best models and climates for effective teacher learning?
For more information about the webinar, and to register for a free place, please click here.
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COBIS Peer Accreditors' Training – Up and Running!
Following on from the training of the first cohort of COBIS Lead Improvement Partners, this week has seen the start of the COBIS Peer Accreditors' training. More than 50 expressions of interest were registered and 30 educational professionals have been selected to participate in the first round of in-depth, blended training, which harnesses innovative digital technology and is delivered over a period of four weeks.
Trainee COBIS Peer Accreditors have been selected against a strict criteria and all have expertise in internationally British education. All are from a mixture of high quality non-COBIS member schools and COBIS member schools which are based in Asia, Africa, Middle East, Europe and the Americas. Having a diverse mix of approved and qualified COBIS Peer Accreditors, including Senior Leaders, Heads of Department, Directors of Business Operations and Directors of Marketing, is an important and key component of the new rigorous COBIS Patron's Accreditation and external validation process.
As we look ahead to the 2017 spring term, this is when the COBIS Patron's Accreditation will be piloted in selected schools in Asia, Middle East and Europe. Feedback from pilot schools is positive as they are busy completing their unique school profiles and uploading self-evaluative evidence via the innovative and secure COBIS digital workbook. In addition, the COBIS team have been delighted to support and register a significant number of member and non-member COBIS schools which have selected to undertake the COBIS Patron's Accreditation in the 2017 summer term.
As you will have seen, via various media channels, the profile of the new COBIS Patron's Accreditation system is high. In addition, COBIS is delighted to be participating in the forthcoming Department for International Trade, Ministerial trade mission to the Republic of China. One of the areas which Colin Bell, COBIS CEO has been asked to present to Chinese Government Officials is the COBIS Patron's Accreditation. As we represent the best of British education overseas, this key milestone of recognition is something which collectively, we can all be proud of.
For more information relating to the COBIS Patron's Accreditation, please click here.
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Revised standards for BSOs published by DfE
COBIS Chairman Trevor Rowell responds to the publication of the DFE's revised standards for BSOs.
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COBIS MUN to take place in Prague - 31 March - 1 April 2017
The COBIS MUN is a wonderful opportunity for students from around the world to come together to discuss important current world issues. It is an excellent forum for students to develop their key skills such as problem solving, critical and creative thinking, debating and more.
Student Eligibility
The COBIS MUN is open to students in Year 9 (or equivalent) upwards.
Committees
The Committees students will be able to participate in at the COBIS MUN are listed below:
- Disarmament and International Security Committee (DISEC) - Security in International Waters and Response to Piracy
- Economic and Financial (ECOFIN) - Global Currency Shift and International Regulation over Tax Havens
- Social, Cultural and Humanitarian (SOCHUM) - Assurance of Rights of Migrants Workers
- United Nations Environmental Programme (UNEP) - Deforestation and Loss of Biodiversity in Indian Rainforests
Schedule
Thursday 30 March 2017
- Arrive
- Attend the International Evening at The Prague British School (transfers to and from the Top Hotel)
Friday 31 March 2017
- Leave hotel at 09:00 for The Prague British School
- Conference from 09:30 - 16:30
- Boat Trip on the Vltava from 19:30
Saturday 1 April 2017
- Leave hotel at 09:00 for The Prague British School
- Conference from 09:30 - 16:30
- TBC - Social Event from 16:30
For more information or to register your interest, please go to www.cobis.org.uk/mun.
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English International College Retains COBIS Debate Cup
English International College has retained the Cup for a second year running in the COBIS Student World Debate Competition.
Two days of exciting debating led to a quarter-final between The Edron Academy and English International College (White) in what coincidentally was a repeat of 2016's nail-biting final. After an intense 45 minutes, the judges awarded the debate to English International College (White). This resulted in an all-EIC semi-final as well as a Dubai College versus Rygaards International School semi-final for the Cup competition. In the semi-finals of the Plate competition, International School of Moscow met King's College Madrid and British School of Amsterdam met Dubai College 2.
With English International College (Blue) having beaten English International College (White) - their schoolmates and reigning champions! - and Dubai College having beaten Rygaards International School, the Cup competition final was set.
In the Plate competition, King's College Madrid gained a victory over International School of Moscow and Dubai College 2 beat The British School of Amsterdam, giving Dubai College a team in both finals of the COBIS Student World Debate Competition.
The final motion was "This house believes that countries' borders should be eradicated". All four teams fought valiantly with English International College (Blue) winning the Cup competition and Dubai College 2 winning the Plate competition.
COBIS would like to thank the staff, students and parents at English International College for hosting a wonderful event, including cultural excursions, a gala dinner, an informal Latin-themed party and two days of great debates.
COBIS would also like to thank all who attended and those who supported the staff and students to ensure they were able to participate.
For information on the schools that took part, please click here.
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Three Successful COBIS Conferences in Portugal, Romania and Belgium
Over the course of two weeks in February, three successful COBIS conferences took place in Portugal, Romania, and Belgium, catering to many different aspects of the school workforce.
The COBIS Conference for Bursars, Business Managers and HR Staff was held at St Julian's School in Portugal, 10-11 February. Around 50 Bursars, Business Managers and HR Professionals from COBIS Member and Non-Member Schools in more than 15 countries participated in two days of workshops and discussion around the topic of Sustainability in Schools.
The following week, two conferences took place simultaneously, in Romania and Belgium. The COBIS Conference for EAL Staff was held at the British School of Bucharest, 16-17 February. More than 50 participants travelled from schools in 15 different countries including Japan, Saudi Arabia, Luxembourg and Italy, to hear from distinguished EAL experts over the course of the conference.Delegates were also able to take advantage of one-to-one sessions with the speakers to discuss issues specific to their schools.
At the same time in Brussels, the COBIS Conference for PAs and School Secretaries was taking place at the British School of Brussels. This conference was a wonderful opportunity for more than 45 Personal Assistants, Office Managers, and Secretaries to share expertise, gain new skills, and develop an international network. The programme included sessions on Happiness at Work; Personal Effectiveness; Effective Working Relationships Between Heads and PAs; Office Efficiency; International Mindedness; and more.
COBIS would like to thank all who attended these conferences, the speakers and facilitators, and staff at St Julian's School, British School of Bucharest, and British School of Brussels for making these conferences such a success.
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