How do you create an international dimension in your school and use it to raise achievement? Education secretary Ruth Kelly and Mick Waters, director of the Qualifications and Curriculum Authority, will be among a host of speakers answering that question on December 2 at the British Council’s Education and Training conference, “Add the world to your class: creating international opportunities for schools”, in the QEII Conference Hall, London. All speeches and papers will be available by the new year on www.britishcouncil.orglearning-addtheworld.htm
Find out more about how to bring a global dimension into teaching via the Department for International Development’s guide to books, videos, posters and websites on www.globaldimension.org.uk, or www.globalgateway.org.uk
Get staff interested in what they can learn from the world by sending them on overseas professional development visits:
* School leaders can take part in the International Placements for Headteachers programme which gives heads the opportunity to discuss, share and reflect on leadership practices: www.britishcouncil.orgiph
* Teachers can investigate a particular curriculum theme by visiting schools and sharing ideas with teachers in another country under the Teaches International Professional Development scheme: www.teachernet.gov.uktipd
* Or they can join professional staff development courses across Europe: www.britishcouncil.org.comenius Appoint an international co-ordinator for your school to expand international curriculum partnerships, then:
* Work with other European schools on joint curriculum projects through the Comenius programme, funded by the European Union: www.britishcouncil.orgcomenius
* Develop links with schools in Africa, Latin America or the Carribean through the Department of International Development’s Global Schools Partnership scheme. This provides guidance, professional development opportunities and grants to schools using partnerships to develop a global dimension to the curriculum: www.britishcouncil.org globalschools
* Encourage teachers to join the Global Teachers Scheme, run by Link Community Development, in which UK teachers spend five weeks teaching and sharing expertise in a school in Ghana, Malawi, South Africa or Uganda, www.lcd.org.ukukgtp, which often leads to the establishment of a long-term school link supported by Link
* Collobarate online and maintain electronic links via email with European schools through the eTwinning scheme, which helps you find a partner interested in the same project theme or subject: www.etwinning.net
* Send students doing vocational courses on international work placements to develop core work skills, life skills and intercultural awarness, whether in industry, leisure and tourism, or heritage and craft, to name a few areas, funded by the EU’s Leonardo programme: www.leonardo.org.uk
Once started, apply for an International School Award to gain accreditation: www.globalgateway.orgisa And when your links are highly developed, enter the TESHSBC Make the Link Awards for a chance to win a prize and funding for more link work: www.tes.co.ukMake the Link
