The British Council supports primary schools delivering languages through an exciting range of varied international school partnership and in-service training opportunities. 

School partnerships

Funding is available under the EU Comenius scheme to support primary schools across Europe working together on a range of joint partnerships. The partnerships can help develop language and other skills amongst primary-age pupils. Funding can also support preparatory visits to set up partnerships. 

eTwinning projects are online, virtual collaboration projects which enable you to find partners around Europe and take part in a variety of activities involving ICT. Register your school to take part on the British Council website

World Links projects fund primary schools to take part in a range of language-based activities, including joint curriculum projects with China, France, Germany, Japan, Portugal, Russia, the Middle East and Spain. Further details

Professional Development

The Two-Week Primary Teachers’ Project funds teachers in England and in Wales at Key Stage 2 to take part in training activities consisting of one week’s language tuition and one week’s job-shadowing. Teachers are recruited by regional co-ordinators, and receive a contribution from their National Authority towards supply cover costs, as well as an In-Service Training grant from the EU Comenius scheme. The British Council are currently looking for regional co-ordinators for this project. If you are interested in finding out more, visit the British Council website or email chris.souvlis@britishcouncil.org

Teachers across the UK can access Comenius in-service training funding for a variety of training and workshadowing activities across Europe. For further information visit the British Council website

Assistants

Primary schools can employ Foreign Language Assistants, who teach their own language in school. You can apply to host a language assistant singly, or to share a language assistant with up to two other local primary or secondary schools. More information

Comenius Assistants support a European dimension across your school curriculum and help teach their own language.  They are paid a monthly grant through the EU Comenius scheme, so come at no cost to the host school. Comenius Assistants cannot be placed in schools who already teach their native language on the curriculum. More information  

International Opportunities

For information and guidance on school linking, international projects, accreditation and curriculum development, visit the DCSF Global Gateway website

On the Global Gateway you can also find our about the DCSF International School Award which accredits and recognises international work in the curriculum. Whatever level of international work you’re doing within your school, you could apply for accreditation at either the Foundation, Intermediate or Full Award stage of the scheme. To see how you could become involved in the ISA, go to the Global Gateway website

European Award for Languages

The European Award for Languages recognises creative ways to improve the quality of language teaching, motivate students and make the best of available resources. If you are involved in an innovative language-learning project, which could benefit others, you may eligible for an Award. Full details of this year’s winners and details of how to apply can be found on the CILT website.