International Education in Glasgow

Turin Festival of Education

Lesley Atkins

International Education Officer

Glasgow City Council

latkins@intoffice.ea.glasgow.sch.uk

Background to International Education

History- 23 years of activity

Lord Provost’s International Office

International Education Office – 2 staff

Purpose : ‘The IEO administers and develops the capacity of International Education across the Local Authority and is currently working in conjunction with a number of external partners including HMI, Education Scotland, the British Council and the University of Glasgow.’

International Education

Educating for a global education McMahon (2011)

International Education in Glasgow schools

Some Facts

83 schools have established links with international partners

Glasgow schools linked to 102 countries

Schools working within Global and EU Lifelong Learning Programmes in partnership with British Council: Connecting Classrooms, partnerships, Erasmus Plus and eTwinning

The Strategy

Developing International engagement with schools to secure school improvement

Maximising the benefits of Erasmus Plus and eTwinning within the school curriculum

Developing the European Education strategy to strengthen relations with twin cities

Supporting young people’s global citizenship skills

International opportunities for staff professional development.

Scottish National Context - Curriculum for Excellence Experiences and Outcomes

Planning learning experiences and positive outcomes

The experiences and outcomes are an essential component of Scotland’s new curriculum and apply wherever learning is planned. They signpost progression in learning and set challenging standards that will equip young people to meet the challenges of the 21st century.

The title 'experiences and outcomes' recognises the importance of the quality and nature of the learning experience in developing attributes and capabilities and in achieving active engagement, motivation and depth of learning. An outcome represents what is to be achieved.

Whole school approach to global citizenship

Whole school approach to global citizenship - video

International Education Office, Glasgow

British Council

Education Scotland

SUPPORTING SCHOOL IMPROVEMENT

THROUGH STRATEGIC PLANNING FOR THE

INTERNATIONAL DIMENSION

A Strategic Approach – using

the Glasgow eTwinning

Model for Change

Linking European cities

through education

Strategic planning – transforming education

• Developing eTwinning as part of a whole school model for change and innovation

• Shared discussion on introducing eTwinning to the curriculum

• Reflection on impact – worst case scenario ?

• How to take forward?

• Reflective assessment of current, short term and long term potential impact of eTwinning

• Design of action plan, identification of professional needs

• eTwinning Ambassador mentoring

• Embed in improvement plan

• On going evaluation of impact

International education is identified as a transformative action within the curriculum:

Classroom practitioners have greatly developed their leadership and higher order thinking skills

Positive curriculum changes have been brought about due to the pupil voice supporting the development of international learning

The pedagogical skills of teachers and quality of learning for pupils have been improved due to professional learning opportunities both locally and with colleagues based around Europe

Parental partnership has become embedded in international work

The use of ICT in the schools has been greatly enhanced Change has been facilitated by multi-agency scaffolded

support

Headline findings

Key components of an effective model for leading change through internationalisation

Partners

local national international

Equal access to broadening horizons

1. School inspection – Milton school, Glasgow 2. Reflection by school leaders and classroom practitioners 3. Identify required change and undertake strategic planning for change

improvement (5 year period) 4. Support to secure and lead change based on international education 5. Support from the local authority and British Council Ambassador Network

to provide mentoring, coaching, tools to lead change, and provision of relevant international education continuing professional learning

6. School reflection and self evaluation of impact 7. Formal HMI evaluation

Evolution of the model

Key elements to securing change, innovation and improvement

• Strategic planning with school leaders and teams

• Coordination of professional support to secure the identified proposed change and desired improvement

• Crucial role of British Council School Ambassadors to deliver the required professional learning in eTwinning and up-skill school teams to allow schools to take forward their agreed areas of change and development through the international dimension

Strategic Planning with school leaders

and teams

Coordination of professional

support

Crucial role of the British

Council School Ambassador to up-skill school

teams

Putting it into practice

School based evidence and self evaluations

Schools were asked to assess their eTwinning developments using

the following:

• Evaluation of the eTwinning work completed

• Priorities for future development

• Outcomes - sources of evidence

• Impact for stakeholders

• Quality of achievement

• Ethos and morale

• Establishment improvement

• Vision and leadership.

.

How the pilot project team measured impact

• Self-reflection by practitioners and school leaders (including pupil surveys etc.)

• Formal evaluations by school inspectors • Reports from British Council Ambassadors • Evaluation of professional learning sessions (by

participants) • Increased engagement in international education

opportunities

Recent Developments • New strategic planning approach being developed at Education Scotland;

Glasgow City Council/ British Council Scotland pilot has informed the international education action

• International Education for the first time formally identified as ‘a transformative action’ within the Curriculum

• Opportunity to pilot new model and input feedback

• British Council presentation at ‘Comparative and International Education Society’ conference in Washington

• eTwinning ‘Open Doors’ sessions -70 teachers

• Approach will be available to Ambassadors with suitable experience to lead and support change in schools through the international dimension.

• Pilot guidance documentation for Ambassadors is being produced

• Proposal to up skill European partners

Developing European Education with Glasgow’s twin cities

NUREMBERG

MARSEILLE

International Partnerships: Comenius Regio- Marseille

Funding: British Council 2 years

Linked Local Authorities: Glasgow City Council/ Ville de Marseille

Title ‘ Education for All’ ‘Education pour Tous’

Theme: enhancing second language support for newly arrived bilingual young people to Glasgow and Marseille

Marseille: formal twinned city with Glasgow – partnership capacity increased

Outcomes to date Professional study visits for EAL/ FAL teachers Glasgow/Marseille

Transition model for P7 to S1 for newly arrived young people

eTwinning links increased between the two cities

Input to Glasgow EAL service from Comenius in-service training providers: MIRACLE

2 day post graduate module ‘ Education for Diversity’ Glasgow University School of Education : 16 GCC teachers/ 2 Ville de Marseille teachers

Partnership input to launch of new BCScotland publication ‘ Sustainable International School Partnerships’

www.efaglasgowregio.org.uk

Glasgow City Council

Nuremberg

Maastricht

Act for Career Supporting Young People’s employability skills in

transition from school to work

3 Models

Skills Development GCC

SCHLAU

Opeduca

KA2 The action under KA2 makes it possible for organisations

from different participating countries to work together, to develop, share and transfer best practices and innovative approaches in the fields of education, training and youth.

Horizontal priority Employability and addressing the aims of the EU 2020 targets for youth .

According to the Programme Guide, the Erasmus Plus Programme aims to contribute to the Europe 2020 Strategy and provide participants with qualifications, skills and competencies that improve their employability.

Scottish Context

Background

In Scotland the reduction of youth unemployment has been identified as a key priority for the Scottish Government. In response The Commission for Developing Scotland’s Young Workforce was set up in 2013 to develop a strategic approach across 5 main themes (school, colleges, apprenticeships, employers and equality) to consider:

How a high-quality intermediate vocational education and training system, which

complements our world-class higher education system, can be developed to enhance sustainable economic growth with a skilled workforce.

How to achieve better connectivity and cooperation between education and the world of

work to ensure young people at all levels of education understand the expectations of employers, and that employers are properly engaged.

How to achieve a culture of real partnership between employers and education, where

employers view themselves as co-investors and co-designers rather than simply customers.

The Network Local Authorities: Nuremberg

Glasgow and Maastricht

School network across the partners

Colleges

Business

National Organisations: SCHLAU, Opeduca, Education Scotland

Key Factors in developing International School Partnerships

Imagination and a willingness to be different

Leadership

Developing International School Partnership experiences within the Curriculum

Partnership working – British Council, Education Scotland, Local Authority

Whole school approach – developing coherence by connecting international partnership outcomes with learning experiences across the curriculum

Supportive Global Citizenship team in schools

Accessing funding

International CPD

European Cities - building an eco system

Using the common framework of ERASMUS Plus and looking to the EU 2020 strategy for youth, we have the opportunity to build on the strengths of our individual international engagement and build unity between twinned cities with common goals and a strategic framework

Support for refugee learners is now an Erasmus Plus horizontal priority – we can learn from each other and support social cohesion and inclusion

Contacts and Publications ‘Developing Equality of Opportunity through

Comenius’ International Education Office, Glasgow City Council (2011)

‘INTERNATIONAL EDUCATION Educating for a global future’ McMahon (2011)

‘Sustainable International School Partnerships: Make the Difference’ British Council (2012)

Contacts: International Education Office, GCC 01415820320 latkins@intoffice.ea.glasgow.sch.uk