If your school is interested in applying for funding to undertake a curriculum project with your Portuguese partner school we would like to hear from you. This page gives you advice on who can apply, project guidelines, the availability of funding and how to apply.
Primary, secondary and special schools, as well as colleges of further education are eligible to participate in these programmes. Priority will be given to schools which have not previously received a joint curriculum project grant.
Download the guidelines (MS Word 119KB) and the application form (MS Word 188KB).
Applications will be put before an independent selection panel. Funding is limited and so it may not be possible to support all applications in any given year. The next deadline for receipt of applications is 9 October 2009. All mobility related to a project submitted at that deadline should be carried out before mid-March 2010.
This programme aims to increase understanding and to create strong working links between English schools/colleges and schools overseas.
The objectives of the programme are:
- To build on the opportunities for international co-operation between schools
- To promote school partnerships and mobility for pupils and teachers
- To contribute to the professional development of teachers and educational staff
- To contribute an added value of bilateral co-operation to the learning experience of pupils.
Joint curriculum projects enable schools to work collaboratively on a joint project of common interest. The general aim of the activities should be to promote mutual understanding between participants. Possible thematic areas for projects could include:
- Cultural heritage of participants
- Protection of the environment and related issues
- Arts and crafts education
- Music
- Science and technology
- Development of literary traditions
- Local and regional identities
- Links between the school and the world of work
- Promotion of equal opportunities for girls and boys
- Media studies
- Sport
This list is by no means exhaustive and is intended to illustrate some of the areas which could form the basis of a joint project.
A maximum grant of up to £5,000 will be awarded to successful schools. The funding can be used to cover the following costs:
- Pupil mobility (minimum 10 pupils with accompanying adults for 3+ days)
- Materials (incl. software and small items of hardware not exceeding £200)
- Communication
- Evaluation and dissemination costs
- Administration costs
- Staff time (not exceeding 25% of total project costs)
- Specialist inputs for the project (not exceeding £500, eg. specialist art input)
Funding from this programme cannot support the purchase of capital equipment, e.g. computers, video cameras. Equipment which is clearly essential may be hired for the duration of the project.
Matched funding from applicants is not required for this programme. Evidence of local support for the project in terms of staff time, materials, sponsorship or other contributions may assist the application and should be clearly identified on the application form.
Applications should fulfil the following criteria:
- A clear programme of collaborative work with partner school
- Activities based clearly within the curriculum, to the mutual benefit of the curricula of both participating institutions and to involve the maximum number of students, whether or not they are involved in any exchange activity
- Potential for long term sustainability
- Senior management support
- Carefully planned evaluation and dissemination of project outcomes.
Schools will be required to identify a contact person to be responsible for liaison with the British Council, for reporting on the project and reconciling expenditure. Each school will be issued with a contract and will be required to submit financial and narrative reports. 80% of the grant will be paid on receipt of the signed contract with the remaining 20% payable once the reports have been received.
The project should be subject to an ongoing review of progress in relation to the stated objectives of the original application. If an application is successful, any changes to the project must be agreed in writing with the British Council. The grant award is conditional upon the submission a final report and reconciliation. All related mobility should be carried out before mid-March 2010
For further information, please contact (0)20 7389 4916 or world.links@britishcouncil.org
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