Connecting Classrooms through Global Learning (CCGL) was a programme for schools across the world, funded by the British Council and the UK government’s Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office. The GA was one of the leading partners helping to deliver the programme.

Project summary

Between 2018 and 2021, CCGL connected educators from the UK and around the world, to improve education for everyone and to explore global issues like climate change and gender equality. The programme:

• created school partnerships so young people could learn from each other and work together on sustainable development projects
• trained teachers to enrich and improve education
• trained school leaders to gain new leadership skills, develop their staff and lead school improvement
• brought policy makers together with experts from high-performing education systems worldwide to share ideas on effective practice.

The programme incorporated four themes:

Core skills: comprising creativity, critical thinking, digital literacy, communication and collaboration, citizenship and student leadership. In the UK, the GA led the work on critical thinking.

Global learning: exploring the big global issues that affect us all, such as climate change, gender equality and how to live sustainably.

Gender: advocacy for gender equality in education and the development of more inclusive teaching practices.

Inclusion: working with partners to create more inclusive classrooms and make sure all young people are able to participate, regardless of their gender, ethnicity, attainment, socio-economic background, health or medical condition.

Project activities and achievements

Across England and Wales, the GA’s work on the programme helped to give schools opportunities to:

• develop new or existing international school partnerships, and build a network of like-minded teachers to develop learning around global themes
• apply for British Council grants to support reciprocal visits between partner schools either as an individual school, or as part of a cluster
• access a suite of free high quality CPD courses
• access free curriculum and classroom resources for global learning
• support lead teachers to develop global learning in the school and cluster partner schools and to deliver training.

These activities helped schools across the UK embed global learning themes and helped students to develop the knowledge, skills and attitudes they need to thrive in an increasingly interconnected world. The programme was tailored to priorities in each of the UK nations, with the GA leading this work within England and Wales. During the lifetime of the programme, nearly 26,000 UK teachers received training and over 4,000 school partnerships were created.

Globally, the CCGL operated in over 30 countries, working with 55,000 teachers and 15,000 school leaders in 9,000 schools. Over 1,000 policy makers were engaged and the education of an estimated 10 million young people positively impacted. Survey evidence from the international programme demonstrated that:

• 71% of teachers felt their teaching practice was enhanced
• 83% of school leaders saw school partnerships as giving students the skills and confidence to contribute responsibly to society, locally and globally
• young people said they gained a better understanding of global issues, greater awareness of their responsibilities as global citizens and enhanced skills, such as critical thinking.

Download: Evidence of impact on classroom practice

Download: British Council Connecting Classrooms concise report

Further reading and resources:

GA Global Learning Programme summary includes free resources, guidance and research.

British Council classroom resources for global learning.