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One in six of the world’s population is currently a learner of English and 75% of these learn English as a foreign language (EFL). However, many governments around the world are now seeing a bilingual approach to education as a more effective way of preparing young people to meet the challenges of studying and working in an increasingly multilingual and integrated world.

What is 'Bilingual Schools'?

Bilingual Schools aims to change the way national governments approach language education policy and methods for teaching languages in state schools. The proposed policy change is designed to radically enhance the teaching of English in schools and embed best practice through the delivery of a content-based curriculum approach.

In a bilingual school, part of the curriculum is delivered through the medium of the English language. This means that while the children are learning a subject such as estudo de meio, they are also acquiring the English language.

Why Early Bilingual Education?

This type of teaching has been shown through many research studies to be highly successful not only in teaching English and the subject matter, but also in developing skills in the mother tongue and thinking skills.

“Contrary to the stereotype, teaching in a foreign language reinforces the mother tongue. It has been proven that bilingualism involves an element of mental exercise which increases one’s flexibility when faced with new situations. That mental exercise is equally important in learning languages as in learning other subjects. This tends to lead to higher levels of academic achievement”, Paulo Feytor Pinto, 46, chairman of the Associação de Professores de Português (the association of teachers of Portuguese), (quoted in Visão 12-18 November 2009)

Ultimately, Bilingual Schools aims to provide young people in school education with the very high level of English language skills demanded in an increasingly globalised labour market.

Project Background

The basis of Bilingual Schools is a pilot project in Spain that has demonstrated successful policy change over 14 years of British Council partnership with national and regional governments. For this pilot 80,000 young people (aged 3-16) spend up to 40% of their school timetable studying in English in subjects such as English literacy, science and geography.

The achievement of this pilot has been clear:

			British Council studies show it produces highly motivated students able to switch comfortably between the languages and use them to accomplish real tasks and learn real content.
			The project is highly visible and of positive interest to thousands of pupils, parents and educators and encourages the active engagement of policymakers.
			Media coverage has been enormous: in 2007 for example the project had media reach of 10 million appearing in 75 media features across Spain.

The success of the pilot project in Spain has led to a growing interest globally and more countries are looking to form partnerships with the British Council to take this project forward.

Project Publications

			An evaluation report commissioned by the British Council and the Spanish Ministry of Education on the Bilingual Schools pilot that: Validated the results to date Identified the good practice which has made the pilot project successful Provides information for other countries interested in participating see http://www.britishcouncil.org/spain-education-bilingual-project-evaluation
			A book commissioned by the British Council that provides an authoritative review of early years Bilingual Education in state schools by drawing on evidence from different global contexts

Bilingual schools in Portugal

			The British Council introduced the Bilingual schools project to the Câmara Municipal de Lisboa and the Ministry of Education.
			The Câmara Municipal de Lisboa and the five Direções Regionais da Educação then identified a number of school clusters to take part in a feasibility study.
			The British Council supported the feasibility study carried out in the designated school clusters by an independent team of researchers. The feasibility study was carried out from January to March 2010.
			The results of the feasibility study were presented to the Ministry of Education in May 2010.
			The Secretary of State for Education gave approval for a pilot project in Portugal to begin in September 2011.
			The school clusters selected are from all 5 regions – two in the North, two in the Centre, two in Lisbon, one in the Alentejo and one in the Algarve.

What They Say about Bilingual Schools

"[Bilingual Schools] is innovative and is setting the standards for language teaching across Europe. I look forward to seeing this inspirational project grow and develop."
Hugh Baldry, Head of Government Initiatives, UK Training and Development Agency for Schools

"The quality of the work shows what can be achieved with an integrated curriculum such as the Bilingual Project."
Mercedes Cabrera, Spanish Minister of Education

"I am deeply grateful to the children and teachers involved in this extraordinary project which has produced a powerful message."
Lord Kinnock, Chair of the British Council

Texto escrito conforme o Acordo Ortográfico - convertido pelo Lince.