The Global Gateway has been running for over
four years; it has more than 20,000 schools on its database and
works with other networks adding up to more than 350,000
schools in total across the world.
Finding the right partner for schools in the
UK is something that the Global Gateway team excels at. They will
send a free starter pack, make suggestions for link schools and
help you to search the database to find your ideal link. More than
2000 schools in the UK have been linked up and that is just the
beginning!
Links can start because of project ideas,
curriculum relevance, location or matched size or setting, but
they’ll only continue if friendships develop and the teachers are
in tune. Once the partnership is committed, funding can follow, and
the team helps schools to find the right place to apply.
Partner schools and clusters have grown twin
gardens on opposite sides of the world; they’ve exchanged recipes,
folk tales, family histories, heroes and photo-stories; they’ve
performed in video dramas, debated world issues, written chain
poems and even run mini-Olympics! What could you do?
Increasingly schools use ICT in creative ways
to develop virtual links and networks. The team help with this,
from podcasting and emailing to shared websites or wikis.
Schools and colleges are encouraged to think
about the impact on learning that the Global Dimension can bring.
The International School Award (ISA), is an accreditation scheme
recognising schools which are working to build a global
dimension into their curriculum, is in Part One of the Self
Evaluation Form for schools as a ‘significant award’.
You can access the ISA framework at
It is a fantastic way to show that
international links may include fun and friendship, but they can
also develop critical thinking skills, a broader outlook, higher
motivation for learning and a determination to make a difference
and a better future for the world.