There are a number of options available to you to help you find a suitable partner school.

Through Global Gateway
The Global Gateway website includes a database of schools that are interested in establishing school partnerships. There is no charge to use the database and you can search for schools that meet any number of your requirements, from pupil age range to location to specific project activities.  You can also register a profile of your school on this site, so that other schools can search for your details.

Once you’ve registered on Global Gateway we’ll also be able to pass your details on to British Council colleagues in Africa, Asia and the Caribbean who may be in contact with potential partner schools.

Within your own community
Some Local Authorities in the UK have established partnerships with particular towns or regions in Africa, Asia, Latin America and the Caribbean. Contact your Local Authority to see what links already exist and see if they can help your find a suitable partner school.

Staff and students in your own school may already have personal contact with a suitable partner school, through friends, relatives or even from being on holiday somewhere.

There may be local community, faith or Diaspora groups in your local area who could help you identify a suitable partner school. UK schools can find out which town they are twinned with through the Local Government International Bureau.

Ask around, include staff, students and members of the community in the early stages of your partnership and you may find that you soon have a choice of potential partner schools.

Read more about involving the community in your school partnership or contact UKOWLA.

Through other school partnerships
Do other schools in your area already have a partner school? If so, their partner school may well be in contact with a school that you could partner with.

To find out which schools in your area already have a partner school try contacting your Local Authority, contact us or have a look on the BBC World Class map of school partnerships.

Through Other Organisations
Other organisations may also be able to assist your search for a partner school. Your local Development Education Centre may be aware of specific opportunities. Visit BBC World Class to find out more about other organisations involved in school partnerships.