Latest news with #Cognita
Forbes
16-07-2025
- Business
- Forbes
Never Settle: Four Ways To Drive Continuous Improvement
Frank Maassen, Group CEO, Cognita. In today's fast-evolving work environments, continuous improvement isn't a luxury—it's a competitive necessity. This holds true whether you run a small business or, like me, lead a global education group with over 100 schools across Asia, Europe, Latin America, the Middle East, and the United States. Whether you're navigating rapid technological change or shifting workforce dynamics, staying still is falling behind. Here are four key ways to ensure your company keeps moving. 1. Start with purpose, not process. I didn't start out as an educator. In fact, I came from an engineering and economics background. But in the education sector, I saw the opportunity to make a tremendous positive impact on children at a global scale. That's why purpose is important—it's the driving force behind every worthwhile endeavor. Continuous improvement should therefore begin with a clear and shared sense of purpose—why your organization exists and what impact you want to make. For us, that's supporting young people to thrive in a rapidly evolving world. How can we support them academically, socially and emotionally, wherever they are in the world, and wherever they're starting from? When your teams understand the 'why,' they're more motivated to improve the 'how.' Rather than being process-obsessed, allow your regional teams to leverage the flexibility in our curricula, languages and pricing tiers to adapt to the unique needs of their communities. Doing this has ensured that our offerings align with local market and cultural needs, avoiding a "one-size-fits-all" approach. At the same time, however, it's equally critical to follow the data on what works and what doesn't in schools. This is where robust, centralized operational support can play a vital role. 2. Embed continuous improvement into the rhythm of work. According to McKinsey, companies that focus on improving their people's performance realize an average 30% higher revenue growth. But what are the right ways to focus on employees' performance? One important step is to create structured feedback loops as part of everyday operations. For instance, in the education sector, schools should engage in a range of quality assurance processes that support continual improvement. These include self-evaluation linked to the school's bespoke improvement plan, peer reviews in which leaders evaluate another school and engagement with external organizations that provide quality assurance through inspection, accreditation or authorization. Companies also need to foster environments where honest feedback is welcomed, not feared. One way my company facilitates this is by conducting an annual stakeholder survey, both qualitative and quantitative, of our pupils, parents and employees throughout the world. Although it's a major task to gather this feedback, it ensures accountability and upholds the highest standards in care and teaching excellence across the education sector. 3. Invest deeply in team growth. Growth-focused organizations create development-first cultures where one-on-one conversations include personal aspirations, not just project updates. Employees who grow tend to stay with companies that make their growth possible. For instance, according to LinkedIn's 2023 Workplace Learning Report, an employee who has made an internal move during the first two years of their employment has a 75% likelihood of staying with their company, while those who haven't moved internally only have a 56% likelihood of staying. I've also found that there are huge benefits in committing to ongoing learning through structured programs and microlearning platforms. At Cognita, for example, we partner with UCL's world-leading Institute of Education, Faculty of Education and Society to provide cutting-edge teacher training. We also provide teachers with access to a purpose-built learning platform that equips staff with tools for improving teaching, student wellbeing, classroom innovation and professional growth. This investment in learning also helps with staff retention. According to research presented in the Harvard Business Review, employees who have access to leadership development programs have a 34% higher retention rate than those who do not. 4. Make improvement a daily habit. The market opportunity for global players in education is clear, particularly in a fragmented sector ripe for consolidation, where we can unlock significant value by leveraging system-wide capabilities. But opportunity alone isn't enough. To truly be the best at getting better, organizations must treat continuous improvement as a daily habit, not an occasional effort. It's leaders—from the CEO to team managers—who must model this mindset: asking questions, learning openly and creating space for reflection and growth in everyday work. When continuous improvement is embedded into culture, systems and leadership, it drives performance and fuels engagement, innovation and long-term resilience that benefits the whole organization. Forbes Business Council is the foremost growth and networking organization for business owners and leaders. Do I qualify?
Malaysian Reserve
09-07-2025
- Business
- Malaysian Reserve
COGNITA LAUNCHES COGNITA AI: GLOBAL PLATFORM HARNESSING RESPONSIBLE AI TO TRANSFORM TEACHING AND LEARNING ACROSS ITS SCHOOLS
LONDON, July 9, 2025 /PRNewswire/ — Cognita, a leading global schools group, this week launched Cognita AI – a transformative new platform that integrates cutting-edge artificial intelligence with deep educational expertise to enhance teaching and learning across its global network. Designed to empower educators and personalise student learning at scale, Cognita AI marks a bold step in the group's mission to lead responsibly in educational innovation. As part of this initiative, Cognita has also announced a strategic partnership with Flint, an AI-powered personalised learning tool built specifically for schools. Following a successful pilot in six countries, Flint is now being rolled out across all Cognita schools – reaching over 95,000 students worldwide. Cognita AI will continue to evolve, driven by strategic partnerships, ongoing innovation, and a steadfast commitment to putting pedagogy and people first. Dr Simon Camby, Group Chief Education Officer at Cognita, said: 'Cognita AI is a bold step forward in our mission to lead thoughtfully in educational technology. This is just the beginning. Grounded in strong pedagogical principles, it's designed to give teachers more time to do what they do best – inspire, guide, and connect – while enabling students to benefit from more personalised and responsive support. And as technology continues to evolve, so will Cognita AI – bringing fresh innovations that empower our educators and help every learner thrive in a rapidly evolving world.' Key benefits for the classroom High-quality, tailored learning activities created in seconds Adaptive resources that meet each learner's pace and style Instant formative feedback to accelerate growth Guided practice that builds confidence and responsible AI literacy Evidence-led roll-out In line with its commitment to making evidence-informed decisions that enhance teaching and learning, Cognita took a careful approach to evaluating AI in its classrooms – starting small, studying results, and learning from real teacher and student experiences. Cognita's phased evaluation involved six diverse schools – spanning Spain, Mexico, Vietnam, the UAE and the UK – across subjects such as mathematics, languages and essay writing. Results showed deeper student engagement, stronger outcomes and greater capacity for teachers to personalise learning and respond to individual needs. Thoughtful AI adoption To ensure thoughtful and effective AI adoption, Cognita is providing: Bespoke professional development for teachers Student AI-literacy programmes that prepare learners for the future Family-engagement resources for transparency and trust 'We couldn't be more excited to be partnering with Cognita,' said Sohan Choudhury, CEO of Flint. 'Through our first partnership with a Cognita school during the 2023-24 school year and the pilot earlier in 2025, we've had the opportunity to work closely with educators at a number of Cognita schools. We've been amazed by their commitment to personalising learning for students, as well as by the focus from Cognita's leadership on embracing AI in a way that enhances, not replaces, the teacher's role in the classroom.' About Cognita Founded in 2004, Cognita is a leading global schools group with over 100 schools across 17 countries, which are united by a single purpose: empowering students to thrive in a rapidly evolving world. With more than 95,000 students and 21,000 dedicated staff across Asia, Europe, Latin America, the Middle East and the US, Cognita offers a truly global education experience. Our schools prioritise academic excellence and then go beyond, fostering resilience, adaptability, and a growth mindset to equip young people with the skills they need to succeed. For more information about Cognita please visit: About Flint Flint is an AI-powered learning platform built for K–12 classrooms. Designed to support both teachers and students, Flint enables personalized instruction, curriculum-aligned content generation, and real-time feedback, all with educator oversight of AI use. Today, Flint partners with hundreds of schools worldwide, helping thousands of teachers and students make AI learning more personalized, safe, and effective. To learn more about Flint visit Photo:
National Post
30-06-2025
- Business
- National Post
Cognita Partners with Flint to Roll Out Personalized AI Learning Across Global School Network
Article content NEW YORK — Flint, a leading AI platform built for K-12 personalized learning, announced today a new partnership with leading global K-12 schools group, Cognita. With over 100 schools and 95,000 students in 17 countries, Cognita provides world class education around the globe. This announcement of a phased rollout across Cognita schools follows a successful pilot across six schools, and marks a major commitment to responsible, personalized AI integration in K-12 learning environments. Article content 'I am thrilled that the pilot has been such a success, and we are excited to continue working together in a way that will bring the best of AI to our educators and students around the world.' —Dr. Simon Camby, Group Chief Education Officer at Cognita Article content The pilot program included Colegio Olinca in Mexico City, International School of Ho Chi Minh City (ISHCMC), The Royal Grammar School Guildford Dubai, Southbank International School in London, ISHCMC American Academy (AAVN), and The British School of Barcelona. Results showed significantly improved student learning outcomes across multiple areas from mathematics to languages and college essay feedback. Article content Flint enables Cognita teachers to generate custom, interactive activities, deliver differentiated learning materials, and provide instant formative feedback. Students can also use Flint to get additional practice problems, brainstorm ideas, and develop AI literacy with proper guardrails. Article content Dr. Simon Camby, Group Chief Education Officer at Cognita, commented: 'Our approach is to take a considered view about the most effective and impactful ways to integrate AI into our classrooms in order to ensure that it truly benefits our teachers and students. After a thorough selection process, we chose to work with Flint because of its flexibility and ability to align with how our schools teach and operate, while also delivering the personalized learning experience we want for every student. I am thrilled that the pilot has been such a success, and we are excited to continue working together in a way that will bring the best of AI to our educators and students around the world.' Article content 'We couldn't be more excited to be partnering with Cognita,' said Sohan Choudhury, CEO of Flint. 'Through our first partnership with a Cognita school during the 2023-24 school year and the pilot earlier in 2025, we've had the opportunity to work closely with educators at a number of Cognita schools. We've been amazed by their commitment to personalizing learning for students, as well as by the focus from Cognita's leadership on embracing AI in a way that enhances, not replaces, the teacher's role in the classroom.' Article content Onboarding will include custom professional learning sessions for faculty, student-facing AI literacy programming, and family engagement resources to ensure transparent implementation aligned with community values. The partnership positions both organizations at the forefront of ethical, effective AI use in education. Article content Flint is an AI-powered learning platform built for K-12 classrooms. Designed to support both teachers and students, Flint enables personalized instruction, curriculum-aligned content generation, and real-time feedback, all with educator oversight of AI use. Article content Article content Article content Article content Media Contact Article content Article content Article content
Business Wire
30-06-2025
- Business
- Business Wire
Cognita Partners with Flint to Roll Out Personalized AI Learning Across Global School Network
NEW YORK--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Flint, a leading AI platform built for K-12 personalized learning, announced today a new partnership with leading global K-12 schools group, Cognita. With over 100 schools and 95,000 students in 17 countries, Cognita provides world class education around the globe. This announcement of a phased rollout across Cognita schools follows a successful pilot across six schools, and marks a major commitment to responsible, personalized AI integration in K-12 learning environments. "I am thrilled that the pilot has been such a success, and we are excited to continue working together in a way that will bring the best of AI to our educators and students around the world." —Dr. Simon Camby, Group Chief Education Officer at Cognita Share The pilot program included Colegio Olinca in Mexico City, International School of Ho Chi Minh City (ISHCMC), The Royal Grammar School Guildford Dubai, Southbank International School in London, ISHCMC American Academy (AAVN), and The British School of Barcelona. Results showed significantly improved student learning outcomes across multiple areas from mathematics to languages and college essay feedback. Flint enables Cognita teachers to generate custom, interactive activities, deliver differentiated learning materials, and provide instant formative feedback. Students can also use Flint to get additional practice problems, brainstorm ideas, and develop AI literacy with proper guardrails. Dr. Simon Camby, Group Chief Education Officer at Cognita, commented: 'Our approach is to take a considered view about the most effective and impactful ways to integrate AI into our classrooms in order to ensure that it truly benefits our teachers and students. After a thorough selection process, we chose to work with Flint because of its flexibility and ability to align with how our schools teach and operate, while also delivering the personalized learning experience we want for every student. I am thrilled that the pilot has been such a success, and we are excited to continue working together in a way that will bring the best of AI to our educators and students around the world.' 'We couldn't be more excited to be partnering with Cognita,' said Sohan Choudhury, CEO of Flint. 'Through our first partnership with a Cognita school during the 2023-24 school year and the pilot earlier in 2025, we've had the opportunity to work closely with educators at a number of Cognita schools. We've been amazed by their commitment to personalizing learning for students, as well as by the focus from Cognita's leadership on embracing AI in a way that enhances, not replaces, the teacher's role in the classroom.' Onboarding will include custom professional learning sessions for faculty, student-facing AI literacy programming, and family engagement resources to ensure transparent implementation aligned with community values. The partnership positions both organizations at the forefront of ethical, effective AI use in education. About Flint Flint is an AI-powered learning platform built for K-12 classrooms. Designed to support both teachers and students, Flint enables personalized instruction, curriculum-aligned content generation, and real-time feedback, all with educator oversight of AI use. Today, Flint partners with hundreds of schools worldwide, helping thousands of teachers and students make AI learning more personalized, safe, and effective. To learn more about Flint visit
Wales Online
09-06-2025
- Business
- Wales Online
Parents confident they can save school after raising £1.3m
Parents confident they can save school after raising £1.3m The money was donated in a matter of weeks after the shock announcement by the owners of St Clare's School in Porthcawl St Clare's School, Porthcawl Parents who send their children to a private school threatened with closure say they're confident they can save it after raising their target £1.3m to do so. The money was donated in a matter of weeks after the shock announcement by the owners of St Clare's School in Porthcawl that they were closing it. Owners Cognita said the school was successful academically but "economic volatility" and "factors beyond our control" meant they would have to shut it at the end of the Christmas term this year. In a letter to parents Cognita also blamed the falling local birth rate. They said projected pupil numbers for next academic year make the school "unsustainable". Sign up for our free daily briefing on the biggest issues facing the nation sign up to the Wales Matters newsletter here. Parents determined to save the school disagree and say they now have a "viable" plan to keep the school open and hopefully in the same location. The building and grounds are owned by the Dalton family which leases them to Cognita, the group said. Natasha Bray, who has two children at the school was speaking on behalf of the campaign to save St Clare's. She said: "We have raised £1.3m which is phenomenal. We have had amazing support from parents and the local community. We have set up a charitable trust and are continuing to explore options." Helen Hier, head teacher of St Clare's School, Porthcawl Article continues below Talks are ongoing with Cognita as well as with Ffynone House, an independent school in Swansea which was also saved by parents. A trust the St Clare's Charitable Trust has been set up to run and manages the campaign funds and plan. "Everyone is still hopeful but with the longer time some parents are getting anxious and some students are leaving. But there are stil a lot of children who want to stay if we can fins a solution," said Natasha. "St Clare's is a fantastic school. It's more than a school, it's a family and a community. Everybody knows each other and children can be here from aged three to 18 so it's their whole young lives. "We are doing everything we can to keep the school open and we are very confident we have everything we need to move forward." In a statement on its website the Save St Clare's Trust said: "On Tuesday 6th May 2025, Cognita UK wrote to parents informing them that due to factors outside their control, they had begun a consultation with the staff about a proposal to close the school in December 2025. "The announcment left parents reeling, some having only started with the school at the beginning of the term or academic year. The news was particularly upsetting for our Year 10 and Year 12 students, who will be left without support for GCSE and A-Level courses not due to be completed until May/June 2026." St Clare's says on its website that it charges fees of between £2,000 and £6,000 a term for children aged from nursery to sixth form. The non-selective school, which is understood to have around 150 pupils, is run by education company Cognita UK, which operates a number of schools across the UK. In her letter announcing the news from St Clare's to parents in May Nicola Lambros, general manager of Cognita, UK said the school would do everything it could to help them find alternative places at a local school for their children should the decision be taken to close. St Clare's has entered into negotiations with staff affected. Ms Lambros said the decision was not a reflection of the school's academic success but of other factors. Article continues below Her letter added: "We recently carried out a full review of the school's sustainability in response to the rapidly-changing environment for independent schools. This included determining the demand for independent school places within the local catchment area both now and in the future. "Sadly the review has concluded that factors outside our control, including the falling local birth rate and economic volatility mean our pupil numbers are projected to be at an unsustainable level next academic year."
