This opportunity is now closed. Please check the open guided partnerships page to register interest for future rounds.
In support of the Welsh Government’s Wales in France year, British Council Wales is launching an opportunity for schools in Wales to build their international links with schools in France. These guided partnerships will enable schools to internationalise their curriculum, spark students’ curiosity for international cooperation around global moments such and build linguistic links, supporting the teaching of international languages.
Whether you are new to international collaboration, or already have a link in France or elsewhere in the world, this British Council-guided partnership could open the door to a world of opportunities for your school.
With the Rugby World Cup 2023 having been hosted in France, and the 2024 Olympics being held in Paris next summer, the guided partnerships will be centred around building international connections through sports-related activity. A dedicated partnership facilitator will guide you through a short-term, collaborative, curriculum-based online project with a partner school in France. You will discuss the topic of sport with students in your partner school and work together to discuss commonalities, address challenges and find solutions.
The project will start in January 2024 and run through the winter term.
British Council will advise schools participating in a British Council Wales-France partnership on ways to maintain your partnership beyond 2024, including possible funding opportunities for those schools wishing to plan an overseas visit to their partner school. During the partnership information will be provided on how schools could apply for further funding opportunities such as the Taith programme.
“There is such power in working with colleagues in other countries. It inspires us, helps us appreciate our fortune, but also makes us think of what we could do differently. If you can, connect!”
Jeremy Barnes, headteacher, All Saints Catholic Primary School, Liverpool
Opportunity closed: The deadline for applications was 11 December.
On a guided partnership, you can:
- Broaden your students’ horizons and provide exciting new learning opportunities
- Give your learners the opportunity to share work with students in schools in another country
- Be matched with a suitable partner school who you will work with online for three months
- Focus on a global learning topic, such as Sport
- Get targeted support from an expert practitioner with first-hand experience of global learning projects
- Exchange ideas with teachers in the UK and around the world while you gain transferable skills and discover new teaching approaches
- Gain accreditation through the International School Award
Guidance for your application:
- Submit a short application with some information about your school (and showing you’ve secured agreement from your school leadership)
- Eligible schools: Welsh state-funded schools providing full-time general, vocational, technical and special needs education. Alternative provision settings are also welcome to apply. Primary and secondary accepted.
- Priority will be given to schools that have not previously had an international partnership
- Only one teacher per eligible UK school can apply
All schools taking part will be awarded a certificate of participation
These partnerships are part of our wider work, in support of the Welsh Government’s Wales in France year. In addition to our work in education, the British Council has supported several arts projects linking Wales and France, most recently supporting the BBC National Orchestra of Wales and the Orchestre National de Bretagne in a series of joint concerts in 2022 and 2023. This support will continue beyond 2023 with the British Council France upcoming cultural season (UK-France Spotlight on Culture 2024) that will feature many Wales-France cultural collaborations.