COBIS Annual Conference Programme 2018

Annual Conference 2018
Annual Conference 2018
7. How to Build a School Culture to Support Positive Mental Health and Wellbeing in Young People
Nicola Lambros, Deputy Head, King’s College Madrid
This workshop addresses the need for educators to have a better understanding of how their school
culture is contributing to the current mental health crisis we are seeing in our young people. It will provide
leaders with the opportunity to explore how their school culture is influencing student mental health and
wellbeing and how they can make changes to support positive mental health in their school community
and, simultaneously, improve academic outcomes. Anxiety, disillusionment and depression emerge,
sometimes with devastating outcomes, as conflicts between school expectations and students’ abilities
persist. Unprecedented insights from human brain research now reveal that environment not only affects
adolescent identity but shapes the brain itself. For all our students, striking the right balance has crucial
lifelong implications. Many strategies being adopted in schools are reactive; they deal with the mental
health issues when they arise. This session will support leaders in their work by providing them with the
knowledge, tools and understanding to build a positive school culture which prevents mental health issues
developing in young people and boosts mental wellbeing so that our schools can truly live up to their
mission statements and develop confident, respectful, capable and academically successful individuals who
are able to reach their true full potential.
Nicola believes wholeheartedly that a strong pastoral programme and positive school culture underpins
academic success and can support positive mental wellbeing in young people. She is passionate
about spreading the importance of focusing on student attitudes rather than grades in our schools. An
experienced senior leader in education, she developed and established an International Secondary School
in Kuala Lumpur. An innovative curriculum based on an outstanding pastoral care system with positive
education at its core enabled all students to achieve and realise their full potential leading to outstanding
IGCSE and A-level results. Now the Deputy Head, Whole School at King’s College, Soto in Madrid, Nicola
is keen to work with other educators to place student attitudes as the top priority in schools as she has
proven from her experience and MA research that this is the key to developing lifelong learners who
achieve great academic success.
Monday 14 May 2018
Monday Morning Seminars
1. Coaching in Islamic Culture
Professor Christian van Nieuwerburgh, Professor of Coaching and Positive Psychology,
University of East London
In this session, we will explore the newly-developed Ershad Coaching model. Based on a book on this topic,
Coaching in Islamic Culture: The Principles and Practice of Ershad (van Nieuwerburgh & Allaho, 2017), this
seminar will give an overview of the Ershad Coaching model. Three key components of the model will be
outlined: the partnership conditions, the conversational process and the alignment wheel. The approach
is designed to support people who wish to grow, develop and flourish within Islamic culture. This seminar
is ideal for those who have an understanding of coaching and some experience of using this in Islamic
contexts. Delegates who are interested in values-based coaching may also find this session relevant.
Prof. Christian van Nieuwerburgh is a highly sought-after executive coach, researcher and consultant with
many years of experience. He is Professor of Coaching and Positive Psychology in the College for Applied
Health and Communities at the University of East London and Director of Growth Coaching International
(GCI). Christian is consistently curious about the fields of coaching and positive psychology. He is
particularly interested in interculturally-sensitive coaching, the creation of coaching cultures and the use of
coaching and positive psychology in educational settings. Having published extensively in the field, he is
the author of the bestselling An Introduction to Coaching Skills: A Practical Guide (2014; 2016) and the editor
of Coaching in Education: Getting Better Results for Students, Educators and Parents (2012) and Coaching in
Professional Contexts (2016). He is also a co-author of Coaching in Islamic Culture: The Principles and Practice
of Ershad (Karnac, 2017) and The School Leader’s Guide to Coaching in Schools (Corwin, 2017).
2. How Can International Schools Identify and Respond to Adults Who Pose a Risk of Harm to
Students?
Katie Rigg, Associate and Jane Foster, Consultant, Safeguarding Unit, Farrer & Co
This session will look at safeguarding risks and vulnerabilities in the international school context, and
preventing and identifying abuse within schools. The session will also review a new international protocol
for responding to allegations of abuse.
Katie Rigg is an Associate in the Safeguarding Unit at Farrer & Co. Her practice spans safeguarding and child
protection, education and employment law. Katie advises and delivers training to a range of organisations
(including schools, charities, sports clubs, universities and religious organisations) on safeguarding and
child protection matters. This includes advice on the design and implementation of effective safeguarding
policies and practices, responding to concerns or allegations against adults or other children and creating
and maintaining a safe organisational culture. Katie has a particular interest in international children’s rights
and child protection and regularly advises schools and other organisations based outside the United
Kingdom. She is also undertaking a professional doctorate at the International Centre for Research into Child
Sexual Exploitation, Violence and Trafficking, focusing on peer-on-peer abuse, and the external challenges
faced by international schools operating in environments without effective law enforcement and/or child
protection agencies.
Jane Foster was, until July 2016, the Tri-Borough (Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea, London
Borough of Hammersmith and Fulham and City of Westminster) Safe Organisations Manager and Local
Authority Designated Officer (LADO). As Tri-Borough LADO and co-ordinator of the Pan-London LADO
network Jane played a key role in keeping many of London’s children safe and is a well-known figure to
many private, public and third sector organisations working with children, including state, independent and
international schools. Jane has considerable experience in delivering training to professionals working with
children, having designed and delivered safeguarding training for Local Children Safeguarding Boards in
both England and Wales; she is also an accredited Safer Recruitment trainer. Jane was a panel member on
Dame Moira Gibb’s 2016 Serious Case Review and is working (alongside other members of the Farrer and Co
Safeguarding Unit) with the International Task Force for Child Protection
3. Assessment Data for Leadership: How School Leaders are Driving Improvement Through
Effective Use of Assessment Data
Panel chaired by James Neill, International Director, GL Education Group
Three senior leaders will outline how effective use of assessment data is essential to enable them to address
the demands of internal and external stakeholders including students, parents and inspectors to ensure that
their school continues to exceed expectations academically and pastorally whilst building their reputation.
A panel discussion and general Q&A will then address specific challenges such as: self-evaluation
and accreditations; inclusion and student wellbeing; personalised learning and student ownership of
expectations; staff engagement and development.
The panel will explain how data has informed specific changes to the way teaching and learning takes
place in their classrooms, and the impact these changes have had, providing delegates with practical ideas
to take away and implement in their own schools. Panellists will include Matthew Savage, Principal, The
International Community School, Amman; Karen Jones, Academic Director, Intuitive Education Consultants;
and Matthew Dagan, Primary Deputy Principal, Riverside School, Prague.
James Neill is the International Director at the GL Education Group. He has taught Physics and Science in
both UK and International schools. Upon leaving teaching James joined Pearson Edexcel where he worked
with schools and stakeholders in England and in the Middle East to support curriculum development, as
well as supporting teachers in using data and technology to raise attainment. James has also worked with
organisations to develop admissions tests for university courses, as well as developing online assessment
solutions for professional organisations.
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COBIS
COBIS
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