International school partnerships An introduction

Aims of international school partnerships To improve pupils’ knowledge of other countries and cultures and to foster attitudes of openness and respect for diversity (ESDGC agenda) To prepare them to take part in the economic and social development of their own region and the wider world To provide a vehicle for raising achievement in key skills, such as communication and ICT

The International Dimension: developing pupils’ attitudes and values Self-respect – Pupils prepare materials about self, family, school, community – Pupils investigate and celebrate ‘Welshness’

The International Dimension: developing pupils’ attitudes and values Value and celebrate cultural difference and diversity – Insularity of some communities – Link with school abroad helps pupils discover other people, cultures – ‘Foreigners’ become ‘friends’, partners in learning – Pupils learn to value difference as something to be enjoyed rather than a threat to be feared

The International Dimension: developing pupils’ skills Communication skills – Pupils write for an audience, including for those whose first language is not English – Pupils begin to learn simple words and phrases in foreign language Interpersonal skills – Opportunities to work in collaboration on joint projects

The International Dimension: developing pupils’ skills Empathise with others’ experiences and feelings – Direct contact and communication with peers in other countries – Interactive joint curriculum projects: allow pupils to express feelings and to respond to work produced by their partners

The International Dimension: benefits for teachers New opportunities for professional development Exploring new methods of teaching and learning A wider perspective and professional refreshment that comes from visiting schools abroad and making new contacts

‘ International Curriculum links’: What? How? Pupils exchange work with peers in schools abroad Work in various media Work exchanged based on existing curriculum Teachers meet to plan and review Funding available: European Lifelong Learning Programme; British Council; ‘Global School’ partnerships; ‘Connecting Classrooms’; Middle East links

‘ International Curriculum links’: What? How? Projects should lead to joint learning Materials received can be used as learning resource Pupils respond to what they receive in different form and medium

The partnership in practice Pupils work together on joint curriculum projects Use ICT for communication at all levels Staff meet regularly to plan and review progress Short staff exchanges and work shadowing Correspondence/ exchanges between classes Exchange and joint development of teaching materials Pupil exchanges?

International projects Some programmes

E-Twinning collaboration between schools in Europe using ICT to carry out a pedagogically relevant activity Build on existing link or develop new one Can be teacher-based, student-based or a combination Can be subject-specific or cross-curricular Use secure discussion forums and

E-Twinning Project examples: – Teenage tourist guide to students’ home towns – Exploring who we are and what it means to be European citizens – Values in school life and school celebrations – Comparison/sharing of local free newspapers – Crop circle challenge: collaborative Maths on the net – Advice – Good practice gallery – Access to e-twinning tools

European Programmes Comenius: School Partnerships – curriculum focus In partnership with at least two other eligible countries for 2 years Funding for materials and travel/subsistence Mobility for teachers, heads and pupils

East-West programme UK-Ireland school links Funding for preparatory meetings and curriculum projects Project-related field trips for pupils Job shadowing for teachers Further information: hips-ireland.htm

The International Dimension: Global School Partnerships Specific activities organised by the British Council and funded by DFID to promote the Global Dimension: Reciprocal Visit Grants Global Curriculum Grants plus opportunities created by the Regional EES Strategy (DFID funded)

New programmes Connecting classrooms – Small groups of schools from the UK partner with schools from two different countries in sub- Saharan Africa. – Purpose of links: intercultural dialogue to increase knowledge and understanding of each other's societies – Relationships based on mutual understanding and genuine equality – Further details: classrooms.htm

New programmes Middle East Links – Links between schools in UK and Bahrain, Iraq, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, United Arab Emirates and Yemen – Schools matched at partner-finding seminars – Further details and application forms: middle-east-school-partnerships.htm middle-east-school-partnerships.htm

The International Dimension Professional development EU programmes: Courses Job shadowing Primary teachers languages training Head teacher study visits

Other opportunities for teachers Fulbright teacher exchange programme – Job swap with an American colleague – Open to classroom teachers – Travel costs – Deadline: 30 November Commonwealth teacher exchange – 1 year job swap with colleague in Commonwealth country – Open to classroom teachers – Travel costs – Deadline: 30 November