What is Connecting Classrooms?
Clusters of three schools from the UK will partner with clusters of schools from two different countries in sub-Saharan Africa.
The schools will link for intercultural dialogue, to increase knowledge and understanding of each other's societies.
Connecting Classrooms is a new scheme launched by the British Council this year. It aims to reach 1.5 million young people in the UK and Africa over the next five years.
Why get involved?
Connecting Classrooms develops school partnerships based on mutual respect and learning.
Pupils share learning and friendship.
Teachers work together to meet their educational priorities and exchange professional expertise and experience with colleagues in other countries. You can gain recognition with the International School Award.
Schools learn from others teaching approaches and reflect upon their own expertise.
How will the partnerships come together?
A series of seminars will bring teachers together to meet and start planning.
How much funding is available?
Connecting Classrooms provides funding to enable partner schools to work together, take part in study visits, purchase materials, and meet certain other costs associated with the project.
Each partnership is entitled to £15000 per year, for up to three years. This might mean, for example, that each country cluster will use £5000 each year. It will be up to the partnership to decide how best to manage the grant.
What do I do next?
Clusters of UK schools are invited to apply for a project grant. The partnerships with clusters of African schools will be formed at the project planning seminars.
For information on how to find other UK schools to form a cluster, we recommend you contact your local authority. To find a contact at your authority, go to the Global Gateway.
For more information and an application form go to http://www.britishcouncil.org/learning-connecting-classrooms.htm.
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