The innovative approaches to learning regional project work with schools and teachers to develop innovative new student-centred approaches to learning in the classroom through 15 pilot partnerships connecting primary schools in the Near East and North Africa with the UK. It also aims to enrich pupils’ and teachers’ learning through intercultural dialogue via these international partnerships.

Who is involved?
Primary schools in Egypt, Jordan, Lebanon, Morocco and Palestine are participating with partner schools in Leeds, Manchester, North Yorkshire, Nottingham and Staffordshire in the UK. Around 5000 children and 200 teachers, heads and Ministry staff are currently working on joint curricular and extra-curricular projects.

Educational benefits:
The innovative approaches to education project aims to make a real contribution to education in the region and the UK to help deliver:

			a broader and richer curriculum, which will stimulate pupil’s imagination and excite their interest in learning
			a higher standard of attainment across the curriculum
			creativity and innovation in teaching across the curriculum
			improved teacher recruitment and retention
			a distinct school ethos (shared by all those participating) and strengthening the school’s place in the community
			skills that are in demand to young people in the creative and knowledge economy
			improved pupil self-confidence and attitudes to learning

Our main activities

			reciprocal visits by teachers to schools to share, plan, review, evaluate and disseminate new approaches
			reciprocal visits by regional Ministry of Education and UK Local Authority stakeholders to share best practice in new approaches
			innovative joint curriculum projects involving pupil virtual exchange developed by teachers in each school partnership
			regional and local workshops on Innovative Primary Practice to discuss innovation in curriculum development, planning and delivery and explore curriculum objectives, organising learning, leadership issues and managing change

The International School Award in the Near East and North Africa
Together with the Department for Children, Schools and Families (DCSF), participating schools to pilot the award in the region. The ISA is an accreditation scheme for curriculum-based international work in schools. It recognises and celebrates schools that develop a strong international ethos throughout the school.

Co-development networks with the Qualification and Curriculum Authority (QCA)
We are also offering participating schools the opportunity to become the first international QCA co-development networks. This will involve developing a plan for curriculum change and schools will also be able to access consultancy support to implement these plans. The QCA offers advice and support to English schools on the curriculum. It currently has 57 co-development networks in England.

Our work in Jordan

In Jordan, three primary school teachers and students were connected to schools in Leeds, under partnerships between the Ministry of Education in Jordan and Leeds Local Authority. Teachers and leaders from the schools have made exchange visits and developed a programme of joint activities and projects supported by e-mail and the internet. Representatives from the Jordanian Ministry of Education, headteachers and teachers involved in the project have recently attended the second Innovative Primary Practice workshop in Amman in July.

For more information about the project please contact

Projects and Programmes Managers

British Council, First Circle, Jabal Amman
PO Box 634, Amman 11118, Jordan

Telephone +962 6 4603420
Fax +962 6 4656413

E-mail info@britishcouncil.org.jo