We’re pleased to welcome you back to another edition of IH World News!
As we welcome in the new year, we’re sharing inspiring success stories, projects, and achievements from across our schools, as well as some updates and upcoming webinars from IHWO. Join us in celebrating these milestones and discover new ways to elevate your own practice!
Read on to get inspired!
Table of Contents
A Golden Legacy: Celebrating 50 Years of the British School International House Taranto
On a bright October morning, at the elegant Hotel Delfino, teachers, trainers, and guests gathered to mark the 50th anniversary of IH Taranto.
For half a century, this institution has been much more than a language school. It has been a bridge connecting cultures, generations, and dreams through the power of the English language.
The celebration opened with warm greetings from Anna Ancona and Roberta Buono, the school’s directors, and Nick Beer, Italy Director at Cambridge University Press & Assessment, who spoke of a partnership built on trust, quality, and shared vision.
One of the most touching moments was the speech by Suzanne Marchington, who in 1975 left Toronto for Taranto and had the courage to found an English school in the city centre, believing in education and in the potential of her new community. Her story moved everyone, reminding guests that great change begins with a single brave idea.
Inspiring talks by Fari Greenaway (IHWO), Lindsay Clandfield, and Sarah Ellis brought fresh energy and creativity to the day, filling the room with enthusiasm and purpose. The celebration ended with lunch and a toast to friendship, learning, and a bright future.
Don’t Miss the IH Language Teacher Training Festival - 7th February
On Saturday 7th February, IH World is hosting the annual online event for teachers of Arabic, French, German, Italian and Spanish. There will be four sessions per language covering a range of topics specific to teaching in that particular language. Attendance is free and open to everyone, spread the word with your teacher friends. You can view the full programme and event details here.
Education Without Borders: Supporting Peru’s High Performance Schools
Picture a rural public school in a developing nation. Is there running water? Desks? Comfortable chairs? That’s why what the High Performance School programme does in Peru is so unique. There are 25 High Performance Schools (HPS) in Peru, one per region. The brightest students in national schools can apply to an HPS, and if they get in, it’s an opportunity to change their lives. In 2025 alone, almost 24,000 students applied for only 2,634 spots.
HPS only cover the last 3 years of secondary education with an intensive English program, which tries to take kids from a Pre-A1 to B2, while balancing the increased expectations of the IB Programme.
IH Lima had the privilege to be selected as the Cambridge Exam Centre in charge of conducting their English assessment. We assessed over 500 exams in 23 cities all over Peru, crossing mountains, rivers, and jungle, to reach the most remote cities and be a small part in changing the lives of these children.
IH Galway Language Centre Awarded Fund for 2026 Inclusion Conference
IH Galway Language Centre is delighted to have become a recipient of the Eaquals Member Event Fund Scheme 2026 after applying for funds to run a small conference / day of workshops in Dublin on Saturday 28th February, 2026.
Bringing together professionals from across the language education sector, the day will offer a valuable opportunity to learn about inclusive schooling, support for LGBTQ+ students in the language classroom, and to engage in professional development, idea-sharing, and collaboration.
The workshop sessions will look firstly to review existing materials used in the adult language learning classroom, think about the extent those materials represent LGBTQ+ learners and deliver some training that could be used to help make materials more inclusive so that LGBTQ+ learners can see themselves reflected in learning materials, class discussions, as well as around the school.
IH Galway Language Centre has been leading an Erasmus+ project, part of which included the Language for All workshop series. The conference builds on the key themes developed through that initiative and the school is excited to be partnering with ATC Dublin for the conference.
For further information or to register for the conference contact [email protected]
Learning English Across the Lifespan: IH Reggio Calabria in an International Research Project
IH Reggio Calabria school is participating in an international research project coordinated by the University of Leeds, which examines the longitudinal development of English language acquisition in formal educational contexts. The study focuses on how learners of different age groups acquire English over time through sustained classroom instruction, with the aim of identifying patterns and variables that influence language development across the lifespan.
The project seeks to establish a comprehensive longitudinal archive of linguistic data that will support both research and pedagogical practice, contributing to a deeper understanding of English language learning at various educational stages. The research is led by Dr Tom Hammond, Principal Investigator and former teacher at our school, a connection that adds particular significance to our involvement.
Within our institution, the project is overseen by Lisa Phillips, Director of Studies, who coordinates all research activities and liaises directly with Dr Hammond to ensure methodological consistency and effective implementation. A limited number of schools worldwide have been selected to participate, and our inclusion reflects our strong organisational framework and high student retention rate, indicative of sustained engagement and learning continuity. We are proud to contribute to an international research initiative aimed at advancing the field of English language education.
The IH Community Gathers in London for the 2026 IH AMT Conference
We started 2026 off in style with our conference for IH Academic Managers and Teacher Trainers. It was a fabulous three days of enlightening workshops and sessions touching on a range of topics such as staff wellbeing, using counselling skills in management, the concept of ghost management and much more.
We were thrilled to see such high levels of engagement at this year’s AMT conference, thanks in part to a fresh, interactive format. Drawing inspiration from previous hackathons, “The Big Question” invited attendees to co-create solutions and share insights in real-time. This emphasis on collective wisdom was further bolstered by new “Quick Learning Bites” sessions, reinforcing our commitment to sharing expertise and strengthening our global educational standards in a way that is uniquely IH.
The plenary speakers left us full of reflections and ideas and it was incredibly special to witness the conversations being sparked in IH members’ sessions. It wasn’t all work and no play however, on Saturday night we were treated to dinner, a Mr Wilden quiz special and we rounded the night off with dancing.
IH Santiago de Chile Signs with Cambridge English
In November, new affiliates IH Santiago de Chile welcomed senior representatives from Cambridge English to its offices as part of its ongoing institutional engagement and international development activities. The meeting represents an important milestone in the centre’s early trajectory and reflects its commitment to establishing strong academic partnerships aligned with the values and standards of the International House World Organisation.
The meeting was attended by (from left to right, as shown in the accompanying photograph):
Felipe Ruz, Key Account Manager, Cambridge Chile, Fabián García, Senior Business Development Manager Southern Cone & Andes – English, Gonzalo Miranda, Country Manager, IH Santiago
Discussions focused on current initiatives, potential areas for collaboration, and the development of joint projects looking ahead to 2026, with a shared emphasis on academic quality, innovation, and long-term cooperation.
This engagement with Cambridge English reinforces IH Santiago’s international outlook and its commitment to contributing actively to the wider IH global network. IH Santiago looks forward to further strengthening this relationship in support of students, teachers, and the broader international education community.
IH Bucharest - 500+ Graduates, One Standard of Excellence
Over the past years, IH Bucharest has proudly trained more than 500 CELTA and DELTA graduates, maintaining a 100% pass rate across all courses. This milestone reflects not only candidate commitment, but also the strength of our academic standards, mentoring culture, and rigorous quality assurance.
As part of the International House World Organisation, and a Cambridge-accredited Teacher Training Centre, IH Bucharest has become a reference point for serious teacher development in the region. We are also the only approved DELTA provider in Romania, supporting teachers who aim to move beyond the classroom into roles such as academic management, teacher training, course design, and leadership.
Our graduates work in schools and institutions across Romania and internationally, carrying forward a shared standard: reflective practice, methodological depth, and professional integrity.
Next opportunity: Our DELTA Module 2 (Developing Professional Practice) starts in February, part-time and fully online—designed for experienced teachers ready to take the next decisive step in their careers.
Applications are now open.
A Year of Growth and Milestones at IH Amman
This year has marked a significant period of growth and achievement for IH Amman, particularly in the area of teacher development and programme expansion.
One of our key milestones was becoming an accredited centre for Cambridge TKT. We successfully delivered our first TKT exam this year and are now preparing to launch dedicated TKT preparation courses in 2026, further strengthening our teacher training pathway.
We also built on our existing accreditation for Cambridge DELTA, which we obtained in 2023. This year, we proudly ran our largest DELTA preparation course to date, welcoming candidates from Jordan and beyond. The scale and diversity of the cohort reflect both the growing demand for advanced teacher qualifications and the trust placed in IH Amman as a regional training hub.
In addition, we are excited to share the development of our own IHC Arabic programme, designed in line with IH quality standards. The first IHC Arabic course is scheduled to run in 2026, marking an important step in expanding our academic portfolio beyond English.
Together, these achievements highlight our commitment to quality, innovation, and continuous professional development within the IH network.
IH Bogotá Celebrates Completion of Programme with Colombia’s Ministry of National Defence
IH Bogotá is pleased to acknowledge the successful completion of the B2 General English programme delivered in partnership with the Ministry of National Defence of Colombia.
This achievement reflects the strong commitment, discipline, and dedication demonstrated by all participants, who reached a new milestone in their professional and personal development through the programme.
We were honoured by the presence of Dr Carmen Doncel, Country Manager for Colombia, as well as the teaching team from IH Bogotá responsible for the delivery of the course, whose expertise and guidance were instrumental throughout the training process.
At International House Bogotá, we continue to strengthen strategic partnerships with public institutions, supporting language education initiatives that contribute to professional excellence and long-term institutional development.
IHWO Highlights
2025 was a record year for schools affiliating to International House! Please join us in sharing a warm welcome to our affiliates who have joined the network in the past year:
Bridge Mills IH Galway Language Centre: The IH Network Expands in Ireland: 2 New Schools in Galway
British School IH Pisa: Welcome IH Pisa! A New Addition to the IHWO Network
British School IH San Giuseppe | Scafati: A New IH Affiliate: British School IH San Giuseppe | Scafati!
GCI IH Galway: The IH Network Expands in Ireland: 2 New Schools in Galway
IH Barcelona Spanish School: International House Welcomes IH Barcelona Spanish School to the Global Network
IH Belgrade: Welcome IH Belgrade | International House
IH Istanbul: Welcome IH Istanbul! Joins the IH Network
IH Lahore, IH Islamabad, and IH Karachi: Welcome IH Lahore, Islamabad, and Karachi
IH Naples: New IH Affiliate: IH Naples
IH Riyadh: Welcome IH Riyadh
IH Taranto: A New IH School in Puglia, Italy: Welcome IH Taranto
IH Tashkent, IH Fergana, and IH Navoi: International House Welcomes Three New Affiliates in Uzbekistan
- IH Santiago de Chile: IH Comes to Chile! – International House World Organisation
Other Highlights and Reminders:
One Step Greener: In collaboration with Green Standard Schools, One Step Greener focuses on small, manageable actions that build on the green initiatives you already have in place. To learn more visit the Green Hub in the Members’ Area.
Recruitment Service: Reminder that the IH World recruitment service is now completely free for our member schools.
Events Calendar: Don’t forget that the IH Events Calendar can be added to your calendar to keep you looped in on upcoming webinars, conferences, and deadlines.
Don’t miss out:
- IH Language Teacher Training Festival (7th Feb): Join us online for a full day of professional development. Sessions are available in Arabic, French, German, Italian, and Spanish, as well as English.
- Gamification: how to use game-design elements in non-game contexts (13th Feb): We’ll explore aspects of game-design theory, from board games to video games. We’ll look at how gamification can improve the engagement in class and the learning environment. This session is suitable for teachers of all age levels!
- Rediscovering Reading in the Digital Age (18th March): Explore new ways to engage students with text.
- Tune Up Your Teaching: Creative Uses of Music and Songs (25th March): Refresh your classroom toolkit with melodic inspiration.
- IH Toruń Teacher Training Day (11th April): Featuring guest plenaries from Dorothy Zemach, Marjorie Rosenberg and Rob Howard, plus workshops, prizes, and the legendary after-party. Tickets are free for all current IH staff!
