1. Getting Started! Lowri Wyn Jones WiMi Conference, Murcia, October 2009

2. What is Comenius? Comenius provides funding for:  School Partnerships  Professional Development  Language Learning  Mobility (Staff and Pupils)  Comenius Classroom Assistants  Area Linking (Regio) Jan Amos Comenius (1592-1670)

3. EU Liechtenstein Norway Iceland Participating Countries EFTA Associated Turkey possibly others (e.g. Western Balkans) AustriaGermanyNetherlands BelgiumGreecePoland BulgariaHungaryPortugal CyprusIrelandRomania Czech RepublicItalySlovakia DenmarkLatviaSlovenia EstoniaLithuania Spain FranceLuxembourg Sweden FinlandMaltaUK

4. Comenius Partnerships Bilateral  Language Focus  Reciprocal 10-day pupil mobility  Joint Curriculum work  Exposure to new languages  Up to €22,000  Secondary and FE institutions eligible Multilateral  Minimum of 3 countries (aim for 5 or 6)  Joint Curriculum work  No thematic criteria – flexible  Up to €22,000  Primary, Secondary and FE eligible

5. Points to consider  Cross curricular activities  Language learning (CLIL)  Whole school approach  Common and relevant themes  Flexibility and compromise  Pupil involvement  Innovation  Have fun!

6. Comenius Partnerships Funding  Funding awarded depending on the number of mobilities (i.e the number of individuals travelling per project - staff/pupil travel to partners)  Funding should fully fund mobility and contribute towards project-related materials and equipment  Next application deadline: February 2010 (tbc) Funding options over 2 years: MobilitiesFunding (2009 UK Rates) 4€ 9,000 8€ 14,000 12€ 17,000 24€ 22,000

7. What is the life cycle of a partnership? Administrative Cycle 1 Submission of Grant Applications 2 Assessment of Proposals 3 Selection Results 4 Contracting Phase 80% Payment 5 Eligibility Period for Activities 6 Ongoing Monitoring of Activity 7 Submission of Progress Report 8 Submission of Final Report 20% Payment or less

8. Added Value

9. What is eTwinning?  Strand of the European Commission’s Lifelong Learning Programme that allows European schools to engage in collaborative projects using the internet and ICT  eTwinning began in 2005 and became an sub-programme of Comenius in 2007  Does not offer funding to schools, but provides tools and support to make project work possible  32 European Countries; over 66,000 European teachers; over 6,500 UK teachers  Centrepiece is the eTwinning Portal - www.etwinning.net

13. Comenius & eTwinning  Communication tool: teachers and pupils  A planning tool  A safe virtual environment to store and share your work  Dissemination tool  Evaluation tool: teachers and pupils  Sustainable way to keep the momentum after the project finishes  Inspiration & ideas for project activities

14. Activity:  Structured Training Courses (language or non-language)  Job-shadowing an European colleague  European conference or seminar Who’s Eligible?  Teachers  School Staff  Educational Advisors (LA)  Educational Experts  Trainers Comenius In Service Training

15. Comenius Assistants  Open to intending and trainee teachers from across 30 European countries  Work across the curriculum to provide a FREE cultural resource to the school  13-45 weeks/12-16 contact hours per week  At secondary level, language must not already be taught on curriculum  Up to 3 schools can share (cluster applications)  Adds value and complements existing Comenius projects within the school  Contact: comenius.assistants@britishcouncil.org

16. Any Questions?

17. Gracias Diolch Thank You