Primary school teacher with pupils © Mat Wright
First-hand experience of other countries opens young people’s eyes to the world and increases their self-confidence and enthusiasm for learning. Comenius can help your school to develop the European dimension in the curriculum.
Comenius offers a range of funding opportunities for UK schools, colleges, local authorities and individual education staff to work with partners in 32 countries around Europe.
Educators benefit from the range of professional development opportunities, while the exposure to different education systems offers fresh perspectives and new-found motivation.
Schools partner up within the EU and apply for funding for a project – this includes a planning visit and money to support a curriculum project. The whole school is involved – ideally learners and staff work together in different curriculum areas aiming for a cross-curricular approach.
Schools meet at specially arranged contact seminars during the autumn term to start the application process. They also meet on websites such as eTwinning or on School search on this website, and can arrange a preparatory visit to prepare their application.
Partnerships must include at least three schools or colleges (all types are eligible from nursery to FE colleges). Schools usually apply with at least five and up to seven or eight partner schools to allow for unsuccessful applications.
Comenius funding covers four main activities.
Work with other schools and colleges across Europe in bilateral or multilateral cross-curricular partnerships.
Comenius School Partnerships last for two years and include reciprocal exchange visits for staff and pupils.
Two types of partnership are available:
At least three schools from three countries work together on a cross-curricular project. Staff and pupils from nursery, primary, secondary and special schools, sixth form colleges and further education colleges are eligible to take part. Reciprocal visits can involve staff and pupils or just staff.
Two schools from two countries work together on a language-focused project. Staff and pupils over twelve years of age from secondary and special schools, sixth form colleges and further education colleges are eligible to take part. Reciprocal visits must include both staff and students.
Job-shadow a colleague, undertake a professional development course or attend a conference or seminar in Europe.
Comenius in-service training grants enable UK education staff to job shadow a colleague, undertake a professional development course or attend a conference or seminar in any of the other 32 Comenius Countries.
In-service training grants are available to both teaching and non teaching staff, as well as local authority staff working in school education, unemployed teachers re-entering the profession and staff in other specific areas of child education in the UK.
Comenius Preparatory Visits provide funding to meet your potential Comenius partners face to face to begin building personal relationships and developing project ideas. You can spend up to five days planning projects and preparing your Comenius School Partnership application.
Host a classroom assistant from one of 32 countries around Europe in your school or college.
Comenius Assistants are intending and trainee teachers from around Europe. They work across the curriculum, raising awareness of their own culture and language and enhancing the European dimension in the classroom.
UKeducation institutions can host a Comenius Assistant for a period of 13-45 weeks. Assistants are funded by the Comenius programme, so there is no cost to the host institution. They work for 12-16 hours per week.
4. Regio Partnerships (for local authorities)
Work with other education authorities across Europe in strategic partnerships, involving schools and local organisations.
Comenius Regio Partnerships are bilateral strategic partnerships between UK local authorities and equivalent local authorities in other Comenius Countries.
Partnerships explore topics of interest or concern to both regions, with a view to benefitting the whole community and achieving sustainable European cooperation.
Partnerships last for two years and involve, within each region, one education authority, at least one school and one relevant partner organisation.
Funding can be used for a wide range of activities during the partnership period, including project meetings, exchanges, work placements, research, training sessions and campaigns.
Schools report the following benefits:
How does it work?
Partner institutions agree a project to work on together over an agreed period involving one or a number of subject areas, for example 'How the schools manage waste'.
The schools select a coordinating institution to be responsible for the application and project management. Funding applications must be filled in, travel arrangements made; be aware the administrative side of collaboration can be a challenge. A lump sum is awarded based on the number of teachers and learners travelling throughout the two year duration.
UK Schools:
Applyvia the British Council, which is the National Agency for Comenius in the UK.
You can find application deadlines and download application documents on the British Council’s Comenius website.
Outside the UK:
Each Comenius country can get information and apply through their Comenius National Agency.
A list of Comenius National Agencies can be found on the European Commission website.
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