If your school is interested in applying for funding to undertake a curriculum project with your Spanish 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.

Who can 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.

What are the aims of the programme?
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.

What types of activity are supported?
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. Click here to read case studies of previous projects.

Funding
Successful projects will be funded up to a maximum of £5000 per project. 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.

Selection criteria
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.
			Read an example of a previous successful project application

How do I apply?
Download the guidelines (MS Word 83KB) and the application form (MS Word 100KB).

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. If you are interesting in applying to visit Spain, the next deadline for receipt of applications is 9 October 2009.

Management of projects
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. Eighty percent of the grant will be paid on receipt of the signed contract with the remaining twenty percent 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 mobility should be carried out before mid- March 2010

Who can I contact for more information?
For further information, please contact (0)20 7389 4665 or world.links@britishcouncil.org