What are the benefits?
Visits between partner schools can help to consolidate a partnership, providing teachers with the opportunity to develop stronger professional relationships through personal contact.

Reciprocal visits allow teachers to experience their partner’s educational systems at first hand. This can help strengthen an understanding of how best to develop a partnership that benefits both schools.

Visits are also beneficial on a personal level, as teachers and pupils can gain first hand experience of different countries and cultures.

How do we make the most of our visit?
The main purpose of visits funded by DFID Global School Partnerships is to identify the potential for developing joint curricular work. Whether you’re hosting a visitor or visiting your partner school it’s important that all schools in the partnership work together to plan a programme of educational and professional development activities.

Before your visit

• exchange school and community profiles and as much background information as possible
• exchange draft plans and objectives
• familiarise yourself with background information about the country and culture
• learn as much of the local language as you can and at least be able to greet people
• the host school should draw up a provisional programme and share it with the visiting school for their comments and approval
• ask pupils to prepare material that you can take with you e.g. a guide of their local area, questions they would like to ask pupils in their partner school
• ask colleagues what information they would like you to collect for them and how they would like you to record and present it
• make sure you know what formalities you need to address in terms of visas, passports, formal invitations and so on
• check what the weather is likely to be like and pack accordingly, e.g. October to April in the UK can be cold, wet and windy – so warm and waterproof clothing is essential.

Possible activities for during your visit include

• developing the Partnership Agreement and resolving any issues that have arisen
• observing lessons
• meeting with senior management
• attending staff meetings
• planning joint curricular work
• shadowing pupils
• teaching lessons – team teaching or solo teaching - and taking assemblies. Check that teachers are happy with teaching in a set-up that may be very different from their usual experience e.g. chalk and talk/small group work, and where there may be different relationship between teachers and pupils e.g. the level of respect pupils show teachers
• planning for the next reciprocal visit
• evaluating the visit or the partnership itself
• taking photos and collecting artefacts and resources for use back home (involve the pupils in selecting what they would like you to take back with you e.g. photos, artefacts etc).

Some practical advice

Local conditions can change so every time you visit your partner school we strongly advise you to:

• Prepare well in advance, make sure you know what formalities you need to address in terms of visas, passports, formal invitations and so on. Check with the local High Commission or Embassy to see if you need a visa.
• Check the UK Government’s Foreign and Commonwealth Office website for relevant travel advice for your destination.
• Check the Travel Safe guide published by the Foreign and Commonwealth Office and Lonely Planet for practical travel advice.
• Make an appointment with your doctor in plenty of time before your trip to check what health precautions you should take. Some inoculations need to be taken some weeks before you travel, so make sure you allow enough time before your visit.
• Make sure your hosts are aware of any dietary, religious or health needs that might affect your programme, e.g. safe drinking water, vegetarian etc.
• Buy comprehensive travel insurance for everyone who is travelling.
• Find out what the weather is going to be like and whether there is any special clothing or equipment you need to take with you.
• Make sure you discuss accommodation with your partner school.  Will you be staying with a colleague or in a hotel? It can often be a very rewarding experience to be welcomed into the home of a local teacher, however their standard of living might be different to what you are used to.
• Try to discuss any expectations or concerns that you may have. If you are staying in a hotel, how will you travel to the school each day? Staying in a hotel might make you feel slightly more removed from the school community.
• Get advice on the best way to take cash and how to top up your supply during your visit.
• Check with your partners what arrangements they can provide for you to keep in touch with your home and school on a day-to-day basis and in an emergency. Share this information with your school and home and ensure they have a copy of your programme.
• Contact us to find out if there is a Partnership Co-ordinator at the local British Council office and let them know the dates of your visit.
• Make sure you take any equipment you need such as cameras, tape recorders and notebooks, and a supply of batteries and tapes. Ask colleagues in your partner school if film, batteries and blank tapes are readily available so you can be sure you won't run out.
• Try to speak to colleagues who have direct experience of making a visit to the same location and discuss your expectations, anxieties and possible preconceptions.  If you contact our office, we may be able to put you in contact with a suitable person.
• Give other members of the school community the opportunity to send greetings that you can deliver on their behalf.