COUNCIL OF BRITISH INTERNATIONAL SCHOOLS
COBIS
COUNCIL OF BRITISH INTERNATIONAL SCHOOLS
Representing over 400 members and supporting associates, COBIS is the global association for international British schools overseas. The organisation has developed markedly since its foundation, changing to meet the needs and aspirations of its growing global school membership base.
COBIS exists to serve, support and represent its member schools – their leaders, governors, staff and students by:
• Providing Quality Assurance in member schools via the Accreditation and Compliance scheme
• Representing member schools with the British Government, educational bodies and the corporate sector
• Providing effective professional development for senior leaders, governors, teachers and support staff
• Facilitating, coordinating and supporting professional networking opportunities for British International schools
• Promoting child protection and safer recruitment and employment practices
• Engaging, challenging and inspiring students of all ages and abilities by delivering excellent interschool student competitions and events
• Providing access to information about trends and developments in UK education
• Facilitating high impact ‘Member to Member’ professional networking
• Promoting career opportunities within the global COBIS network
• Connecting suppliers and companies operating in the education sector with international British schools overseas in its role as Trade Challenge Partner of the Department for International Trade (DIT)
COBIS Executive 2024–2025
Honorary President
The Rt Hon Baroness Evans of Bowes Park
Honorary Vice Presidents
Prof Dame Alison Peacock
The Rt Hon Lord Andrew Adonis
Michael Cooper OBE
Lesley Davies OBE FCFE
Priya Lakhani OBE
Dr Andreas Schleicher
Jean Scott
Trevor Rowell
Jennifer Bray MBE
COBIS Head Office
CEO: Colin Bell
COBIS Board
Elected:
Chairman: The Rt Hon Lord Knight of Weymouth
Vice Chairman: Dr Steffen Sommer, Director General Misk Schools
Fiona Cottam, Principal, Hartland International School, Dubai (Treasurer)
Craig Heaton, Headteacher, St Saviour’s School Ikoyi, Nigeria
Simon O’Connor, Director, Deira International School, Dubai
David Tongue, Principal and CEO, St George’s British International School, Rome, Italy
Kai Vacher, Principal, British School Muscat, Oman
Raymond Williams, Principal of the Colegio Anglo Colombiano
Natasha Hilton, Head of Primary, Park House English School, Qatar
Andrew Prosser, Headmaster, The British School of Vilnius, Lithuania
Co-opted:
Adeola Arofin, Principal Temple Schools & Chair AISEN
Milena Prodanić Tišma, Principal & Founder Bright Horizons – International British School of Zagreb
Council of British International Schools
55–56 Russell Square, Bloomsbury, London WC1B 4HP