What is Connecting Classrooms Middle East-UK?
Connecting Classrooms Middle East-UK aims to enhance mutual awareness and understanding amongst student peers – particularly the 11-14 age group - and their schools and families, and to break down stereotypes and uninformed negative perceptions between the region and the UK.

The British Council is working with Ministries of Education and other agencies in the Middle East to explore why internationalism in education is particularly important in the early 21st century, what it can offer students, and what makes a good international school partnership.

This programme will enable more schools in the region to link with UK institutions and will be framed by our wider educational activity in the region, including school leadership training and workshops on the use of ICT in schools. We are delighted to be able to offer schools in the UK the opportunity to establish international dimension activity with counterparts in an exciting and significant part of the world which is taking strides to develop educational co-operation at school level.

The British Council will provide support to schools participating in the programme through the first two years of the partnership, with possible activities in year three for student interaction. Participating schools will be provided with funding to cover a visit to a contact seminar where they will establish a partnership with two schools in the Middle East. Once a partnership is established schools will be able to apply for further funding to undertake a joint curriculum project. Support is also given to schools to allow them to attend a UK Study Visit at a later stage in the project.

Which countries are participating?
The programme involves the four countries of the UK, and Bahrain, Iraq, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (KSA), Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, United Arab Emirates (UAE), and Yemen.

How will school partnerships come together?
A series of partner-finding and project-planning events will be followed by funding for curriculum-based projects. Participating schools will engage in an inspiring partnership based on mutual respect and collaborative learning.  

What is a UK Study Visit?
The UK Study Visit aims to reunite UK teachers with their partner teachers from the Middle East as well as other teachers involved in the programme in order to share experiences, learn about future plans for the programme and meet with British Council staff to celebrate achievements and receive guidance.  The reciprocal visit from the Middle Eastern teachers to the UK will also involve time at their UK partner school to meet the students and staff involved in the project and for further planning.

How do I get involved?
You are invited to apply for a place at a contact seminar to find a partner. Funding for project activity will be granted later and may be used for study visits, the purchase of materials, and certain other costs associated with the project.