From May 10–12, Search Associates Senior Consultant Jeremy Lewis joined over 650 delegates and 90 exhibitors in London for the 2025 Council of British International Schools (COBIS) Leadership Conference. Hosted at the dynamic Convene 155 venue, this year’s theme—Passion with Purpose—set the tone for an inspiring and future-focused event that brought together school leaders and student representatives from around the world.
COBIS CEO Colin Bell opened the conference with a powerful reminder that at the heart of all international education must be the students themselves. Reflecting this commitment, students from seven different countries actively participated in plenary sessions, contributing as speakers and thought partners. Following the opening address, COBIS Chair Lord Knight delivered a compelling keynote that called on educators to challenge traditional paradigms and embrace a more adaptive, future-ready approach to teaching and learning. He emphasized the need for curricula that are shaped by new intentions—ones that align with the demands of an evolving global landscape.
Jeremy was particularly impressed by the alignment between the exhibitor showcases and the conference’s central themes: recruitment, school, and personal development; wellbeing; inclusion; and the expanding role of artificial intelligence in education. While striving to be outstanding learning environments, many schools are now recognizing that agility and adaptability are becoming key traits for schools that aim to prepare students not just for academic success, but for lifelong resilience and relevance.
A standout moment came when students led a panel discussion on global citizenship and meaningful student leadership. With great eloquence, confidence, and poise they advocated for the importance of allowing student voice and choice. With equal passion, student delegates emphasized the imperative for the curricula to allow students to pursue their own passions and interests. When asked to identify the most important skills for the next 20 years, the students named empathy, emotional intelligence, creativity, and curiosity.
These ideas were echoed again on the second day, when students called for wellbeing and belonging to be fully integrated into the curriculum—not treated as supplemental or incidental. Jeremy noted, “The students rightly contended that students deserve to be seen and heard to enhance their overall sense of wellbeing.”
The conference concluded with a dinner and performance by a renowned harpist, at the magnificent Drapers Hall—famed for being bought from King Henry V111 in 1543 for £1,200. Jeremy says that the evening “brought an end to a highly enjoyable conference, characterized by the many invaluable networking opportunities I had with serving and aspiring school leaders, and exhibitors.” The dinner was a fitting way to end a very uplifting and inspiring conference.
COBIS 2025 left participants inspired and energized to continue building inclusive, forward-thinking school communities where student wellbeing is not only a focus, but a foundation.
