Connecting Classrooms is a British Council managed programme working in over 50 countries that offers school partnerships, professional development courses, accreditation and the chance to share best practice with international counterparts.
Links through Connecting Classrooms to schools in the developing world are funded in partnership with the UK Government through the Department for International Development.
Through the programme South African schools are able to form valuable partnerships with the UK and other countries, equipping young people with the knowledge to become responsible global citizens.
These partnerships also allow local schools to expand the knowledge and capacity of their teachers, school leaders and policy makers to improve educational outcomes for young people and to help young people develop the skills, understanding and outlook to work in a global economy and contribute responsibly to society.
A programme overview guide is available for downloading to provide further insight into how the programme works.
Registration
In order for schools to gain access to support, project templates, resources, and be able to link with other schools, government recognised teachers must register on the Schools Online portal.
Registration is quick and easy, and all the details you provide when registering will be the details potential partnership schools are able to access in order to contact you. Your details can only be accessed by registered schools and may be hidden if you wish to do so.
The step-by-step guide explains how to register your school in more detail. It also has guidance to using the school linking service in 29 languages.
Get involved
Schools can get involved in one of four ways:
1.    Partnerships:  get the guidance and support you need to build a sustainable link up with other schools around the world.
Partnerships can either be one-to-one or between groups of three schools in each country. They usually involve two different countries but they can involve three. For more information, see the Application Guidance and the Global Citizenship Guidance.
There are also regular opportunities for partnerships and these can be accessed through the Connecting Classrooms monthly newsletter.
2.    Continuing Professional Development: Equip yourself to tackle global themes in the classroom and to develop the relevant skills and outlook in people.
Various face-to-face and online resources, e.g. online courses and workshops, will be made available to various programme-related topics.
3.    Accreditation and Awards: Submit evidence of your school’s commitment to international work and gain recognition for your school.
The ISA provides a framework for schools to record and demonstrate all of their international activities and a pathway in order to receive a prestigious full award.
4.    Policy Dialogue: Policymakers are invited to work with the British Council and its partners to further develop their understanding of international best practice in general education and global citizenship.
