How teachers can make the most of British Council Partner Schools support 

Today's educators face several challenges, including managing relationships with parents and keeping up with new teaching methods. They must also make sure their students develop the skills needed for success in our fast-changing, global world. The British Council offers extensive support to its Partner Schools worldwide. 

Here, we share insights and steps to making the most out of teaching at a British Council Partner School. But first, let’s highlight what our support is and the value it can add to your school.  

What does partnering with the British Council involve? 

Our goal is to enhance the quality of education in schools offering UK international school qualifications. We provide comprehensive assistance, including: 

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Professional development and global networking for teachers and school leaders

We provide ongoing professional development through extensive high-quality training programmes, both face-to-face and online through our online platform Online Support for Schools (OSS). We also provide access to exclusive networking opportunities involving educational experts and other Partner Schools. The Schools Now! conference, for instance, is a global conference that fosters educational innovation and helps exchange best practices across British Council Partner Schools.

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Support for students and parents 

Our network aids in equipping students with essential skills through initiatives like the Your World competition and the Partner Schools Connect, offering international collaboration opportunities. We also deliver up-to-date safeguarding guidance and e-safety support for teachers, parents, and students. 

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Collaboration with UK-based awarding bodies

We work closely with UK-based awarding bodies to help Partner Schools apply the latest curriculum and standards. Along with ensuring teaching is current and comprehensive, our collective expertise helps schools grow. 

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Exams delivery

Partner Schools receive direct operational support in administering UK-based awarding bodies' exams. That way, schools and teachers can focus less on the complex task of managing exams and more on teaching. 

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How the British Council has helped Partner Schools succeed

To learn more about the benefits of being a British Council Partner School, read our ebook, “How the British Council has helped Partner Schools succeed”.

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1. Use the Online Support for Schools (OSS) platform 

The British Council's Online Support for Schools (OSS) platform is a comprehensive resource designed to aid educators in their professional development.

The OSS platform's resources and training modules are developed by the British Council and in collaboration with educational specialists. This ensures content is relevant, trusted, and of the highest quality. 

Key benefits of the OSS platform include: 

  • Tailored learning: Educators can tailor their professional development journey to their schedules and preferences. This flexibility ensures the platform not only brings value but also accommodates teacher schedules.
  • Rich, diverse content: Textbooks and lectures aren’t the only way to gain knowledge. OSS recognises the importance of diverse learning materials. The platform integrates multimedia elements such as videos, audio, and case studies, creating a dynamic learning environment that caters to varied learning styles. For more active learning, educators can join interactive webinars and discussions that enable collaboration with peers worldwide.  
  • Personalised professional pathways: Whether an educator is at the beginning of their career or a seasoned professional, OSS provides targeted content to address individual development goals. For example, the Self-Assessment Tool, is a great resource to identify your development pathway.
  • Learn independently and flexibly: Teachers can work independently at their own pace, and from any location. This autonomy supports a self-directed learning experience, allowing educators to integrate professional development into their lives without constraints.
  • Courses on the latest educational trends: Stay informed about the latest in teaching methods, and technological advancements through our real-time webinars, led by experts in the field. You’re also able to share completion badges of modules and courses that you can share with your network.  
  • Monthly webinars: Stay up to date with evolving educational strategies through monthly webinars that provide a dynamic platform for educators worldwide to exchange insights and best practices.

How to use the OSS platform

The OSS platform offers over 150 teacher training modules that cover a range of topics, including: 

  • Classroom management 
  • Assessment for learning 
  • Safeguarding 
  • Teaching English as a foreign language  
  • Leadership training 
  • Core skills

To use this platform efficiently, focus on areas you wish to improve. For instance, do you struggle with student behaviour in your class? Using the OSS, you can learn more about classroom management and gain the tools to assist in classroom behaviour.  

The platform is for more than recognising and improving areas you struggle with. The resources also provide pathways to accelerate professional development, ensuring continuous improvements for both strengths and weaknesses. 

Try different training modules

Take advantage of the OSS platform's multi-faceted training modules that go beyond traditional approaches to static texts. Everyone learns differently, so try different types of learning content to see what works for you. The OSS platform offers:

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Interactive audio and visual content 

The OSS training modules use audio and video content to create a dynamic and engaging learning environment. Videos help bring concepts to life, helping educators further understand the content. Audio components enhance the learning experience, providing audio cues and additional context to reinforce critical concepts. 

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Discussion forums

Educators from around the globe come together to share best practices, discuss challenges, and collaborate on innovative solutions. This interactive aspect fosters a vibrant learning community where educators can converse with like-minded individuals.

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Downloadable resources

The platform emphasises self-paced learning by offering a library of resources. The available resources include lesson plans, assessment tools, and case studies that teachers can integrate into their teaching practices.  

The platform allows educators to absorb information through reading, watching, listening, and discussing—offering a holistic approach that ensures a deeper understanding of the content so they can effectively use it in the real world. 

2. Encourage students to join the Your World competition

The Your World competition is an effective way to improve student engagement and boost creativity. UK international school qualifications focus on building critical thinking skills and transferable skills for students, and this competition provides a unique opportunity for students to showcase what they’ve learned through a chosen social action project in their community.

This competition is a springboard for students to share their ideas, solutions, and visions with the world, fostering a sense of pride and accomplishment beyond the classroom.

The benefits of student participation 

By participating in the Your World competition, students gain the opportunity to:
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Enhance university applications

Participation in the competition demonstrates to admissions committees the student's ability to apply classroom knowledge to real-world challenges. It showcases their problem-solving skills, creativity, and global awareness. This highlights a student's commitment to personal growth and social responsibility, offering an advantage for those aspiring to attend prestigious universities, both locally and internationally. Such engagement aligns with the values of higher education institutions that prioritise well-rounded candidates with a proven track record of initiative and impact.

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Apply knowledge to real-world situations

The competition enables students to prepare for the workforce and real-world scenarios. It helps them apply what they've learned in class to actual situations, fostering a deeper understanding of their subjects and facilitating the application of their knowledge outside the academic environment.

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Downloadable resources

The platform emphasises self-paced learning by offering a library of resources. The available resources include lesson plans, assessment tools, and case studies that teachers can integrate into their teaching practices.  

The platform allows educators to absorb information through reading, watching, listening, and discussing—offering a holistic approach that ensures a deeper understanding of the content so they can effectively use it in the real world. 

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Develop critical thinking and problem-solving skills 

The competition challenges students to think critically about global issues, promoting problem-solving skills, innovative thinking, and creativity. 

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Develop a global perspective and cultural awareness 

The Your World competition motivates students to channel their creativity and passion into meaningful social action projects. By aligning our annual competition themes with specific UN Sustainable Development Goals, we ensure our students have an understanding of global perspectives and diverse cultures. This approach is crucial for developing global citizens and problem-solvers who can apply their skills to generate sustainable solutions addressing worldwide issues. Through the competition, we aim to foster a generation of thinkers and doers who aren’t afraid to tackle global challenges with confidence. 

3. Join Partner Schools Connect

Partner Schools Connect brings together teachers and students from across the vast network of Partner Schools worldwide. This facilitates joint classroom-based projects, encouraging participants to exchange ideas and engage with students from countries including Nigeria, Colombia, Peru, Saudi Arabia, Pakistan, Ghana, Jordan, Spain, and more. 

Partner Schools Connect supports students and teachers to gain a global perspective and increase cultural awareness by connecting with peers worldwide. Being able to navigate different cultures and viewpoints is key to developing confident students who can thrive in any setting. The project zone also provides teachers with easy access to a range of ready-to-use projects. Designed for ease of use, it allows teachers to quickly integrate global perspectives and diverse resources into their curriculum, enhancing the learning experience without the need for extensive preparation.

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4. Attend the Schools Now! conference

Professional growth is essential in education, not only for students but also for school leaders. British Council’s Schools Now! for school leaders is a global conference that fosters educational innovation across British Council Partner Schools. The Schools Now! conference offers a vital platform for educators to:

  • Learn from expert educators: Gain the opportunity to interact and learn from expert educators, who can share their experiences, insights and techniques. This networking will help educators navigate their individual classrooms better.
  • Share knowledge: Engage in collaborative learning by sharing experiences and insights. This exchange fosters innovative teaching methods and offers fresh perspectives drawn from the successes and challenges faced by peers.
  • Professional growth: Interact with fellow educators to stay abreast of new teaching techniques, technologies, and research. Such interactions at conferences and workshops are pivotal for continuous professional growth.
  • Find a support system: Education is a demanding field and having a supportive network is invaluable to overcoming the challenges of leading a school. Sharing experiences and challenges with colleagues provides emotional support and practical advice, helping educators navigate their roles effectively.
  • Build professional networks: Forming connections with other educators can lead to collaborative projects and partnerships.
  • Create community: Networking with educators cultivates a sense of belonging, enhancing job satisfaction and well-being. This counters the isolation some teachers might experience in their professional journey.
  • Gain a global perspective: Interacting with educators from diverse regions enriches understanding of global educational trends. It also broadens perspectives on teaching and learning, helping participants adapt to a connected educational landscape.

5. Apply for Action Research Support

Research comes with many challenges, often with financial limitations and access to expert knowledge and resources. Partner Schools can apply to the ‘Action Research Grants’, which is designed to aid action research initiatives through financial assistance and expert guidance. 

The grants offer financial support and professional development opportunities to teachers and school leaders, focusing on: 

  • Enhancing educational standards through innovative methods 
  • Improving student learning experiences 
  • Building community knowledge and skills through training, events, and publications. 

The benefits of securing a grant

Our support extends far beyond funding research. We also provide expert guidance through online tutoring, mentorship with academic experts, a platform for collaborating and discussing your research, and assistance publishing your research. We then offer support in sharing research findings through conferences and training.

By publishing original research, your school helps promote innovation while also improving the visibility and prestige of both your school and the publishing author. 

6. Leverage child safeguarding training and support

The British Council Partner Schools network offers a unique opportunity for schools to align with global standards and best practices in safeguarding. This partnership ensures a safe and nurturing environment for students while also significantly enhancing the reputation of involved schools.

Our approach to safeguarding involves engaging with the school community, valuing, and actively listening to both children and adults. A key aspect is the effective management of any potential risks of abuse, which is achieved through careful planning and the implementation of robust safeguarding systems. Sharing best practices and safeguarding information with relevant stakeholders is also a critical component, as is the commitment to taking prompt action and conducting investigations when suspected abuse is reported.

We also provide resources and training to ensure student online safety and well-being. This includes training for teachers, parents, and students to identify and understand the effects of cyberbullying — along with other forms of online harm. 

Safeguarding implementation strategies

Here’s how our safeguarding support can help:  

  • We can support your school's safeguarding policy with expert resources and guides.
  • We can offer expert guidance in training your staff on how to identify and respond to safeguarding issues, child protection, and online safety.

A safe and secure learning environment is essential for effective education. By ensuring students feel protected, valued, and heard, schools can focus more on delivering high-quality education, leading to improved academic and developmental outcomes. 

Enhance educational outcomes with the British Council 

British Council Partner Schools have access to an array of enriching resources. You can take advantage of being a Partner School by: 

  • Diving into our OSS platform for innovative teaching strategies and professional development. 
  • Participating in events like the Your World competition 
  • Taking part in global inter-school projects under Partner Schools Connect 
  • Joining the Schools Now! conference for unique learning and networking opportunities 
  • Ensuring learner safety with robust safeguarding policies, mechanisms, and expert guidance 
  • Engaging in action research to continuously improve classroom experiences. 

Finally, our webinars, online resources, and individualised learning pathways support the continuous growth of teachers and school leaders — ensuring your school stays at the forefront of educational excellence. 

To learn more about the benefits of being a British Council Partner School, read our ebook, “How the British Council has helped Partner Schools succeed”. Or, if you aren’t a Partner School yet and want to begin your journey with us, we encourage you to join the British Council Partner Schools global community and access a wide range of resources designed to enrich your teaching and learning experience.

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Why being a British Council Partner School
improves educational outcomes 

To learn more about how being a British Council Partner School can improve educational outcomes, read our detailed guide.

Read our guide