About the programme

Connecting Classrooms is a global education programme for schools, designed to support schools in developing core skills competencies in their students. Connecting Classrooms 4 builds on the success of the previous phase (CC2) which ran from June 2012 – June 2015. The new programme of Connecting Classrooms (CC4) builds on both phases and  helps young people to develop the knowledge, skills and values to live and work in a globalised economy, and contribute responsibly both locally and globally. 

In the Middle East and North Africa, over the last 3 years, Connecting Classrooms has engaged 125 policy and decision makers, provided professional development training to almost 3509 teachers and 1812 school leaders.

In Palestine, Connecting Classrooms (CC3) has engaged 10 policy and decision makers and provided training to 295 school teachers and leaders in core skills/transferable skills,  engaged  241 schools, 4 of which have run successful partnership  with schools in the UK. 152 schools have received International School Awards for starting, developing, and embedding international dimension in their schools through curriculum based international activities implemented by 47,000 students from 6-18 years. 

The British Council has a strategic alignment for the CC4 deliverables with the Ministry of Education and Higher Education as well as with the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees (UNRWA) to support system and curriculum reform, professional development, and improved inclusive learning outcomes for young people.

Connecting Classrooms is co-funded by the British Council and the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO).

How we're connecting classrooms

Classrooms are connected in a variety of ways, including face to face reciprocal visits, face to face meeting in a third country and virtual collaboration following priority themes identified with CC4 stakeholders.

Partnerships 

Is your school involved in a partnership between the UK and another country? If so, you could be eligible for funding from the Connecting Classrooms programme. Getting involved will help you develop your young people as global citizens and as a teacher, you will also benefit through sharing best practice with colleagues in other countries.

You can be part of this exciting initiative.

It’s free and simple to set up your first partnership, and we can help you incorporate global themes into your school’s curriculum and build lasting international relationships.

Grants are also available to help you set up visits with partner schools and to support projects.

If you’re interested or want to know more, check the British Council Schools Online website, or contact us to learn more.

More information on the programme components:

Continuing Professional Development (CPD)

Check our global learning resourses and online courses that are available to support teachers with digital learning and training. 

The new Connecting Classrooms programme aims to address the gap in global skills by continuing to build the capacity of teachers, school leaders, and policy makers to support them to integrate a range of core skills into the curriculum. Thereby, improving learning outcomes for young people in:

  • Critical thinking and problem solving. 
  • Creativity and imagination. 
  • Digital literacy. 
  • Citizenship.
  • Student leadership.
  • Collaboration and communication. 

We offer face-to-face workshops and online courses and leadership skills trainings for schools’ leaders. 

Our online courses

A wide range of professional development courses are available to help you develop your skills and learn new teaching approaches. 

Find out more information about our online courses from our Schools Online website 

International School Award

The International School Award is a prestigious badge of honour for schools that can bring an international dimension to teaching and learning.

The accreditation aims to introduce or develop your school’s international dimension by providing:

• A framework for international partnerships and global learning
• Recognition for teachers and their school
• Opportunities to raise the school’s profile through local and national media.

All schools are eligible to gain the International School Award. The accreditation framework helps you to record and evaluate international work and embed it into the curriculum and whole school ethos. For more information, check the handbook.

Your global partnership could help bring the school together and improve its sense of collective ethos and identity. British Council Schools Online web community can assist you in finding a partner and achieving the accreditation whilst supporting your school as they develop their international strategy or contact us here.

Policy dialogue

We are building relationships and networking, working with education policy makers, encouraging them to develop best practice in education and global citizenship and support Palestine's national priorities.

We’ll organise visits between participating countries, and inspire you to exchange and challenge ideas at international conferences. Contact us to learn more.

More information

Visit the British Council Schools Online website to find out more about the Connecting Classrooms programme and to learn how you can get involved.