Who we are The United Kingdom’s international organisation for educational opportunities and cultural relations Education, Science and Society

DCFS International Strategy “Every English pupil will have an international experience while at school” What we do

DCSF International Strategy 3 goals:  Equipping our children, young people and adults for life in a global society and work in a global economy  Engaging with international partners to achieve their goals and ours  Maximising the contribution of our education and training sector, and university research to overseas training and inward investment “Every English pupil will have an international experience while at school” Every English school to have an International School Award

BC school partnership programmes Connecting Classrooms Africa Connecting Classrooms Middle East UK – India Connecting Classrooms Pakistan UK- South America

UK Study Visit, December 2007

What? Connecting ME and UK schools Working on joint projects that support the curriculum Bringing the international dimension into the classroom Why? Increase understanding between young people of different cultures Prepare young people for life in a global society Opportunities for teachers to share experience and best practice Enhance the learning and teaching experience School Partnerships

Year 1 CountrySchools Bahrain8 Iraq6 Kuwait7 Oman8 Qatar12 Saudi Arabia16 UAE12 UK53 Yemen24 Total146 CountrySchools Bahrain6 Iraq6 Kuwait6 Oman8 Qatar6 Saudi Arabia24 UAE8 UK43 Yemen16 Total123 Year 2 School Partnerships

Year 1 School Leadership, 2 days [ME Schools only] Making the most of an international partnership in your school Contact Seminar, 3 days Find a UK partner school, plan joint project work Project Grant, 2 years £1,200 joint funding for partnership schools to support project work Year 2 UK Study Visit, 5 days Visit your UK partner school, develop your partnership Project Grant £1,200 shared between partner schools The Programme

eLanguages

eLanguages Create project Invite partner to join project Discuss project plan Add project description and structure (stages) Upload class work

eLanguages Explore Login Personalise ‘Hello Page’ Create/join project page for your partnership

UK Education System

Phases of Education Key facts Key themes in Education Current Government Priorities Opportunity for discussion

Phases of Education PhaseAge of Pupils (years) Pre-school or NurseryUnder 5 Primary Schools5-11 Secondary Schools11-16 or Sixth Form Colleges16-18 Further Education Colleges 16+ Special Schools3-18

Characteristics of State Schools CharacteristicPrimarySecondary % pupils eligible for free school meals 16.9 (includes nursery) 14 % ethnic minorities % first language other than English Average class size

Three themes in education Centralisation of the curriculum, assessments and standards Delegation to schools of the means to deliver the national agenda but with very strong national framework for accountability and inspection Local Authorities responsible for quality of education locally and services for children and families

The National Curriculum Compulsory curriculum for pupils aged 5-14 (Key Stages 1-3) : English, Mathematics, Science History, Geography, Art, Music, Design and Technology, ICT, Physical Education, Religious Education Citizenship (not statutory at primary school) Sex and relationship education for pupils aged 8-14 Careers education at 14

The National Curriculum continued… Pupils aged (Key Stage 4) Compulsory: English, Mathematics, Science, ICT, PE, RE and citizenship Entitlement: the Arts, Design & Technology, Modern Languages, History or Geography Pupils aged (Key Stage 5) Pupils choose from a wide rande of academic and vocational subjects

National Assessment Framework Pupils are assessed at each Key Stage of the curriculum At age 7, 11 and 14 General Certificate of Secondary Education (GCSE) at age 16 » Pupils usually take 9 GCSE or equivalent Advanced Level GCE at age 17 and 18 » Pupils usually take 4-5 subjects in the first year of sixth form and 3-4 in their second year National, local authority & school targets

Autonomy of Schools The headteacher and senior leaders have freedom to determine school ethos They have full responsibility for the quality of education of pupils in their care Schools are responsible for Teaching and learning Appointment and management of all staff Buildings and site – including playing fields Budget

Accountability of Schools A headteacher is accountable to a Governing body which includes: parents, the community & often the local authority There are national standards for headteachers New headteachers must be accredited by the National Professional Qualification for Headship Schools are regularly inspected by the Office for Standards in Education

Responsibilities of Local Authorities standards in schools legally responsible for the actions of schools in their area enabling schools, social care and health services to work together in the interests of individual children ensuring education is appropriate to childrens’ needs admission of children to schools distributing government funding to schools

Government Priorities Every child matters: integration of children’s services Improving teaching & learning: focus on literacy & numeracy, particularly in primary schools Inclusion: integration of pupils with physical, learning or behavioural difficulties Personalisation: tailoring education to individual needs National skills strategy: skills for employability including basic skills training for adults National languages strategy: entitlement for primary pupils, no longer compulsory at Key Stage 4, new pathways for pursuing qualifications in languages International strategy: every child in England to have an international experience while at school

Government priorities continued Community cohesion: links between diaspora groups, supplementary schools etc Healthy Schools: improving dietary, physical and emotional health of young people More vocational pathways (diplomas from 2008) Expansion of specialist schools: >2/3 schools now have a subject specialism More partnerships between schools: sharing expertise & resources Increased participation in higher education: target 50% currently 44% Building schools for the future: rebuilding schools over 15 years Remodellling the workforce: reduce bureaucracy and allow teachers to focus on teaching and learning

Group Discussion Ages of transition between phases of education Examinations: at what age, time of year What are the similarities and differences in the curriculum? What choices do students have following compulsory education? What is the teaching style? Who runs the school? What is the role of the headteacher? How are teachers and headteachers trained? What are the current government priorities ?

Funding Plan

Dates and Activities: Now – Sept 08: schools to work on first round projects and grants Sept – Dec 08: schools to submit end of year report and financial report Jan – Mar 09: schools to propose for the second round projects and grants and get them approved by British Council Mar 09: British Council to pay second round fund to schools Schools which have already completed first round projects and funds will be able to apply for the second year projects and funds starting from April 2008 and to do that you need to submit an end of year report

After UK study visit Feedback from the teachers who attended the study tour to their schools Update teachers in your school about the project you will be working on Talk to your students about the experience Get in touch with your partner schools to discuss the outcomes of the visit and take the work forward

Frequently asked questions 1.Which of the partnership schools will submit the project proposal 2.Which of the partnership schools will submit the financial report 3.How the grant will be divided between the three schools in a partnership (1200 GBP) 4.What happens to the money left of the grant at end of each year 5.What are the expenses to be covered by the grant