Cluster groups

FUNDING AVAILABLE: UP TO £3000 PER RECIPROCAL VISIT

Each partner school within the cluster can apply for up to £1500 to support a visit to their overseas partner. That’s up to £3000 per reciprocal visit — to help one teacher from the UK visit their partner school overseas and one teacher from overseas visit their partner school in the UK.

The grant should be used for flights, transfers to and from the airport in both countries, accommodation, subsistence, visa costs, essential vaccinations and travel insurance.

We equally welcome applications where a visit to the UK or a visit from the UK will take place first. 

In cluster groups, we often find schools are located in a similar area to one another, whether this be in the UK or overseas. If possible, it may be that you'd like to visit other schools within your cluster group during your visit. However, please remember, as each school is only eligible to receive funding for one visit, visits to any other schools within the cluster group must be carried out during that trip.

Visits can happen at any time during the partnership providing it’s term time where the visit is taking place. Schools within a cluster do not need to travel at the same time.  So, for example, some of the UK schools in a cluster may choose to travel overseas at the start of the year, and the remainder towards the end.  But it’s worth remembering that visits which take place sooner rather than later allow more time for collaborative working and to overcome any unexpected issues with visas etc.

During the visit, schools are expected to spend at least 3-4 days at their overseas partner school comparing global learning practice and share learning. They'll also need to spend at least one day planning, or starting to implement, the collaborative project that they have chosen to work on together.

Grants to fund one-way visits will be considered where conflict in a country prevents travel or visas become unavailable.

FUNDING AVAILABLE: UP TO £250 PER SCHOOL

Discretionary top-up travel grants may be available where a teacher needs extra support for their visit. For example, to cover additional costs relating to security, location or disability. This can only be requested after the initial grant application is successful. Evidence must be provided that the additional costs will take the schools' expenditure above the initial grant.

FUNDING AVAILABLE: UP TO £100 PER CLUSTER

To support overseas communication, cluster coordinators can utilise some money from the grant – up to the value of £100.  If the amount required is greater, please contact a member of the team at schools@britishcouncil.org

FUNDING AVAILABLE: UP TO £500 PER PROJECT (1-2 PROJECTS PER CLUSTER)

Partnerships in receipt of a grant are required to carry out a collaborative pupil project themed around the Global Goals for Sustainable Development. We’ve put together a series of free project templates to help you with this. Schools may also use resources from third parties for this purpose and grant funding can be used to support any costs associated with accessing these.

You can also apply for funding to support the collaborative design, management and delivery of your projects.

FUNDING AVAILABLE: UP TO £100 PER SCHOOL

Professional development is an important part of the Connecting Classrooms through Global Learning experience.

Cluster groups can access free Intermediate, Advanced and Advanced plus level training through our team of specialist providers across the UK. However, in order to receive any type of funding, cluster coordinators must commit to delivering any Introductory level training that is needed for their UK partner schools.

You will be asked to estimate the number of teachers you will train when you make your funding application. You will also be expected to help the teachers and leaders who attend training to share learning across their school.  Our local advisors can provide a bank of tailored resources to support cluster co-ordinators with Introductory level training.

You can also apply for funding to cover the planning and delivery of any training that is identified via self-assessment for UK partner schools that are applying for a grant. A minimum of two teachers must be trained per school. The money can be spent as the cluster co-ordinator sees fit to bring the schools’ understanding of international school partnership work to the appropriate level.

FUNDING AVAILABLE: UP TO £250 PER SCHOOL

Funding is also available to support the cluster co-ordinator in bringing any individual network schools in the cluster up to a good level of understanding on partnership work and global learning. Again the funds can be used as the cluster co-ordinator sees fit and may include paying for supply cover if necessary to attend training.

FUNDING AVAILABLE: UP TO £250 PER EVENT (1-2 EVENTS PER CLUSTER)

Getting parents and the wider local community involved can be a great way to build truly sustainable school partnerships. Holding a dissemination or celebration event can help attract local businesses, or individuals, groups or communities with links in the partner country who may be interested in supporting the partnership going forward.

Events can take whatever form you think will work best in your context, for example, an assembly or a conference. It's worth trying to get local press and media involved to help you share and spread the impact of what is being achieved by your cluster.

FUNDING AVAILABLE: UP TO £200 PER DAY (FOR A MAXIMUM OF SEVEN DAYS)

Cluster co-ordinators will need some time away from their own school role to support and manage the cluster and partnership visits, so you can apply for funding to put towards supply cover.

If your cluster has more than 10 UK schools, we may be able to offer more than the usual seven days. Please get in touch to discuss this prior to submitting your application.