Colourful buildings by harbour
The harbour in Helsinki, Finland ©

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Global Education Dialogues helping head teachers in Wales bring an international focus to educational leadership

Head teachers across Wales will have the chance to learn about education systems abroad and share their skills and knowledge with partners overseas as part of a new programme.

We have developed ‘Global Education Dialogues‘ (GED) to help head teachers internationalise Welsh schools.

GED is part of the Welsh Government’s new initiative, The National Academy for Educational Leadership (NAEL), which aims to ensure the quality of educational leadership in Wales.

The first associates of the NAEL have chosen the focus of their international visits, their aims and location. They will also use the visits to inform a report on the future of educational leadership in Wales which the Welsh Government has commissioned.

The associates will share best practice with educationalists in the host country and on their return to Wales they will take part in a variety of events to share what they have learnt.

We hope that high quality international experiences will give school leaders the tools, reference points, personal professional networks and confidence to prepare Welsh schools for a global future.

2018 visits

Finland, November 2018

  • Gillian Ellis, Head teacher, The Blenheim Road Community and Coed Eva Primary Federation
  • Huw Powell, Head teacher, Mary Immaculate High School
  • Janet Hayward, Head teacher, Cadoxton Primary School
  • Clive Williams, Head teacher, Ysgol Gymraeg Aberystwyth
  • Gwyn Tudur, Head teacher, Ysgol Tryfan

Canada, November 2018

  • Chris Jackson, Head teacher, Glasllwch Primary School
  • Emma Coates, Head teacher, Llanhari Primary School
  • Janet Waldron, Head teacher, Pontarddulais Comprehensive School
  • Jeremy Griffiths, Head teacher, Ysgol Gwynedd
  • John Kendall, Head teacher, Risca Community Comprehensive School
  • Karen Lawrence, Head teacher, Llanfaes C P School
  • Sue Roberts, Head teacher, Ysgol Ffordd Dyffryn,

Other ways we support teachers in Wales

Through our International Professional Learning Communities programme we take Welsh teachers overseas to see the very best international practice so that they can create important impact across Wales. Visits take place in different countries each year, depending on Welsh Government education priorities.

We recently supported a group developing the new curriculum for Wales in the Languages, Literacy and Communication area of learning and experience, offering up-close experience of international models to inform their important work. Separate groups have spent time in Ontario, Canada and Jyvaskyla, Finland in 2018, looking at innovative approaches to curriculums and teaching.

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