ABA Oman International School successfully hosted the third annual International Schools Conference of Oman (ISCO) on 5 November, bringing together over 850 teachers, support staff, independent educators and school leaders from across the Sultanate. Held under the theme ‘Connected Practice: From Vision to Impact’, ISCO 2026 provided a platform for professional learning, collaboration and knowledge-sharing, enabling educators to share best practices to strengthen school communities. Launched by ABA in 2024, ISCO continues to grow as an important professional learning platform for Oman’s education sector.

ABA Head of School, Mr Craig Williamson, commented: “ISCO was established with a clear vision: to create a forum where educators across Oman could come together to share knowledge and strengthen professional practice. It has been incredibly rewarding to see this vision grow into a meaningful professional learning community. By investing in our educators and equipping them with new perspectives and skills, we ultimately invest in better learning experiences and outcomes for our students. We are grateful to the Ministry of Education for its continued encouragement and tremendous support over the years, which has been invaluable in helping ISCO grow and thrive.”

The keynote address was delivered by Erin Kent, founder of Erin Kent Consulting, whose session, ‘The Global Landscape of Literacy: Where We Were. Where We Are. What’s Next’, examined the changing landscape of literacy education. Drawing on EKC’s work with schools across more than 80 countries, the keynote explored emerging research, evolving approaches to reading and writing, and their implications for international schools.

ISCO Coordinator Laila Al Maawali said: “The overwhelmingly positive feedback from delegates has been extremely encouraging. We are grateful to our speakers, sponsors, partners and participating schools for coming together to make ISCO 2026 a success. Their involvement reflects a shared commitment to investing in educators and strengthening Oman’s education community.” ISCO 2026 was made possible through the support of its sponsors and education partners: Global Edventure Travel, Toddle, Faria Education Group, Renaissance, ABX Intelligence, Monster Phonics, Orion Gymnastics, ProTennis Oman, Zaks Uniforms, Edpuzzle, PreventionEd, Royal Academy, Vita 10 Medical and COMO.

The conference also showcased student innovation through the ISCO app, designed and developed by ABA high school students Advaith and Burhanuddin, founders of the startup ABX Intelligence. Their work brought classroom learning to life, applying their creativity and technical skills to a large-scale event.

Participating schools included ABA Oman International School, British School Muscat, Al Sahwa Schools, Cheltenham Muscat, Ruwaad Muscat International School, Royal Grammar School Guildford Muscat, Hay Al-Sharooq International School, Royal Flight School, Jebel Al Maarifah International School, Al Batinah International School, International Digital Private School and The Sultan’s School among others..

Extending the professional learning programme, ABA also hosted Oman’s first-ever International Baccalaureate (IB) cluster workshops, offering programme-specific professional development across the Primary Years Programme (PYP), Middle Years Programme (MYP) and Diploma Programme (DP). Commenting on this milestone, Samantha Cole, DP Coordinator, said: “We are proud to host Oman’s first-ever IB cluster workshops at ABA. At the heart of the IB is a commitment to developing curious, critical and reflective thinkers who become lifelong learners and responsible global citizens. These workshops provide a valuable opportunity for IB educators to strengthen their understanding of teaching and learning, ultimately enriching the educational experiences we offer our students.”

Together, ISCO and the IB workshops provided educators with opportunities to deepen their professional knowledge, engage with international best practices and strengthen their approaches to teaching and learning. 

Established in 1987, ABA Oman International School is a not-for-profit International Baccalaureate (IB) Continuum School in Muscat, Oman, offering the PYP, MYP and DP from Early Childhood through Grade 12. Visit  www.abaoman.org to discover The ABA Way.