The British Council, the UK’s international organisation for cultural relations and educational opportunities is holding a week-long series of events around school education culminating with the International Schools Awards Ceremony at Hotel Kempinski Ambience Delhi on Thursday 4 December 2014. The schools’ week began on 28 November with the launch of the British Council’s global publication Innovation in the Continuing Professional Development of English Language Teachers. On 29 November a conference was held on Quality Standards in Education. The week progresses with an engaging teacher accreditation conference themed, Teacher Researchers: The Agents of Change on 2 and 3 December. The last day, 4 December, will witness a stimulating roundtable discussion on Creating Schools for Future Citizens followed by the International School Award Ceremony.
The key note address at the Teacher Accreditation Conference will be made by Sam Freedman, Director of Research, Evaluation and Impact at Teach First – a charity that recruits and supports teachers working in disadvantaged communities. He will explore the role of research within school-based education, the importance of evidence-based decision making and the role that teachers can play in creating and using that research.
The final key note will be made by Andy Buck, Trustee for the Teacher Development Trust and the Teaching Awards on Schools of the Future: Time for Change. He will challenge the participants to consider what changes school systems will need to make in the future if they are to meet the needs of a rapidly changing world and workplace.
The participants for the roundtable will include policy implementers from Vietnam, Taiwan, Saudi Arabia and India, senior bureaucrats, heads of associations of schools, school heads of corporates opening chains of schools, teacher educators and various education experts from the UK.
Rob Lynes, Director India, British Council said, “Over a week a range of issues have been discussed including the continuous professional development of teachers, the quality standards in schools, the role of research and what it can achieve in schools. Policy makers from other countries have contributed to the discussions. Schools in India and UK, both in the private and public sector, have strong links, which have deepened over the years, contributing to each other’s development. The week’s celebration reaches a final crescendo with the International School Awards ceremony where we have teachers and schools represented from across India. I hope these associations continue to grow, ensuring deeper understanding between UK and India.”
The week will end with a brilliant International School Award Ceremony that will be attended by close to 850 people from about 300 schools across India who will be accredited with the International School Award. The International School Award (ISA) is an accreditation scheme that recognises and celebrates exemplary practices of internationalism in schools. ISA provides a framework for schools to develop an action plan and implement international activities throughout the year, and encourages schools to collaborate with overseas schools to create a rich learning experience for students through use of ICT, creative pedagogical practices and real context for learning.