An International Coordinator Course (ICC) and e-Languages Training was conducted for all Connecting Classrooms coordinators in Kuwait recently to improve skills and discuss ideas to enable teachers to take their partnerships with UK schools forward.

The Connecting Classrooms project aims to improve trust and understanding between students living in different societies, by linking schools around the world with schools in the UK.

By working on joint curriculum projects students have an engaging and motivating way to learn about the world in which they live, that helps prepare them for their future role as active global citizens, while teachers have the opportunity to share and learn new professional skills.

The course was attended by 10 main coordinators from the latest cohort of schools in the project and a second course was subsequently offered to the second coordinators from the same schools.

The second coordinators have been working with the main coordinators on the programme but had not previously had the opportunity for dedicated training or to meet counterparts from other schools involved in the project.

British Council's Education Manager, Rafat AbuTaleb said: 'This is part of the professional development training we support to enable them to introduce the international dimension into the curriculum and ethos of their schools'.

Connecting Classrooms is the British Council's flagship global schools programme that provides students with a powerful insight into the world around them, enabling a deeper awareness, understanding, and appreciation of fellow school-goers, cultures, and the opportunity to establish long-lasting relationships' said Denise Waddingham, British Council Assistant Director.

It is hoped that in 2010- 2011, further six schools from Kuwait will engage in a partnership with a UK school as part of the programme.