Linking – Global Schools Partnerships
Funding
YHGSA
North South Partnerships Programme has a small amount of funding that
schools can access to help them develop their curriculum to incorporate
their Partnership Link.
DFID Global School Partnerships (D-GSP)
D-GSP administer grants for schools developing Global School Partnerships
(North South Links)
• Reciprocal visit grants – schools can apply for these in
the early stages of developing their Link. This grant provides the opportunity
for one teacher from each end of the Link to visit their partner school
• Curriculum development grants – this grant enables schools
to develop curriculum projects that are of mutual benefit to both partners
in the Link. And can be for up to 3 years.
See Funding section on www.britishcouncil.org/globalschools
British Council
1 World Links (England and Wales only)
Funding for short visits to a partner school in any country to set up
a curriculum based partnership or develop an existing link is available
for teachers and head teachers in England and Wales. Travel, board and
lodging costs can be funded. Applications for funding must be submitted
by 15 July, 15 December or 15 March for visits taking place in the following
term. Please contact the World Links and Partnerships team for further
information and application forms.
2 TIPD Study Visits Programme (England only)
The Teachers’ International Professional Development (TIPD) programme,
funded by the Department for Education and Skills, provides an opportunity
for teachers to act as reflective practitioners in partnership with colleagues
abroad, and to discuss effective methods for enhancing classroom performance.
The TIPD school-determined visits programme is aimed at schools that already
have an existing partnership with a school in another country and wish
to develop the partnership further through a study visit. This part of
the TIPD programme is administered exclusively by the Specialist Schools
Trust (http://www.specialistschools.org.uk/LandingPage/s) . It is different
to the Study Visits programme in that it is run independently of local
education authorities.
3 League for the Exchange of Commonwealth Teacher
(UK)
Teachers and schools in the UK developing school partnerships within
the Commonwealth may also be able to access grants from the League for
the Exchange of Commonwealth Teachers (www.lect.org.uk/lect/)
• Pre-arranged visits for UK teachers to study a particular theme in education through visiting schools, and meeting overseas teachers and educational officials during half-terms and holidays.
• Travel grants of up to £500 are available for teachers from England, Scotland and Northern Ireland wishing to travel overseas for the purpose of professional development. 4 International Placement for Head teachers (England only)
4 The British Council
This British Council programme has been in operation for two years; in
the first year 150 head teachers from primary, secondary and special schools
in England were places on international study visits. During 2003/04 over
350 head teachers from primary, secondary and special schools in England
were placed. Although the main focus of all the visits is leadership,
there are also parallel themes such as creative leadership, thinking skills,
accelerated learning, headteacher mentoring and inclusion. Please contact
the Leadership Team for further information on international placements
for head teachers.
5 Commonwealth Youth Exchange Council (CYEC) (UK)
CYEC is involved in youth work and exchange partnerships between the UK
and Commonwealth nations and provide reciprocal grants for group visits
involving local groups of 16-25 year olds to share ideas and explore issues
of mutual interest to them and their communities. For more information,
visit the CYEC website: http://www.lect.org.uk/lect/
6 Regional Funding (UK)
Support can also be accessed through Local Authority International Officers.
You could contact your local education authority for more information.
Note: not all authorities have someone such a role.
Self Funding
Many schools have raised substantial funds to support their partner school
or for a visit.
For example Upper Wharfedale School near Grassington held a cultural evening
in their local village hall and raised a £1000. Other schools have
managed to attract sponsorship from local businesses. City School in Sheffield
has produced and sold a calender with photos of young people from Sheffield
and the community in Malealea, Lesotho. Proceeds from this go to The Malealea
Development Trust.
Aston School, Rotherham raises funds to support their ‘Fair Trade Link’ through the sale of products from the community in Makunduchi, Zanzibar. It has also produced a CDROM on the partnership.
If you have examples of how you’ve raised funds to support a North South partnership, please send them to c.dell@yorksj.ac.uk
A note on charitable funding
The YHGSA does not encourage schools to form links solely based around
charity. While the Association recognises that support for a partner in
the South may be an element in the relationship, we feel that the best
approach is to base a link around the educational benefits it will offer
the young people involved.
Many schools point out the danger of reinforcing negative attitudes and
prejudices in the North, particularly given the fairly recent colonial
experience of many countries in the South.
This area can be contentious and the line between what is good practice and what may ultimately do more harm than good is not always clear. For more advice on this see the publications list, or contact your local DEC, UKOWLA, or Global Schools Partnerships.
