The Recognition of an International Dimension in Schools Programme (RIDS, formerly ISA/IDS)

The Recognition of an International Dimension in Schools (RIDS) programme aims to support schools that are committed to embedding international awareness and global citizenship within their school curriculum and processes. We encourage this by supporting schools in completing collaborative, curriculum-based work with partner schools and the involvement of the wider community.

The RIDS programme works across the whole school, with schools submitting clear plans of activity, delivering classroom activities and using impact assessments to demonstrate the quality of international education achieved. 

The RIDS programme is designed for schools that:

• are keen to embed an international ethos within and across the whole school

• wish to enhance their school’s curriculum, teaching and learning 

• want to work with partner(s) on a range of projects throughout the school year, and share best educational practices.

Schools which successfully meet the standards of the RIDS programme receive the RIDS certification to demonstrate that they have embedded international learning across the school and curriculum.

The RIDS certification* is valid for three years, following which re-application is required.

*Please note that RIDS certification does not assure non-RIDS quality standards such as school pedagogy, quality of teaching, school infrastructure or health and safety.

Schools that achieve the RIDS certification receive the following benefits:

• the RIDS certificate
• a RIDS logo/kitemark to display on the school website and other communications
• a British Council and RIDS branded plaque to display on the school premises
• certificates of achievement for the principal and coordinators who have led the RIDS programme in the school
• media packs to help raise awareness of your school's international work and achievements
• continuing expert guidance on sustaining and further improving your international work.

The programme is coordinated by the BC Education India team. Programme activities are led and facilitated by our network of British Council School Ambassadors (BCSAs). They are our network of expert and experienced programme facilitators from schools across India who have many years of experience in leading school development activities and supporting teachers. All of our BCSAs have extensive experience with the ISA, IDS and RIDS programmes and a strong commitment to enabling the success of RIDS-participating schools.

Each RIDS participating school needs to identify a RIDS Programme Coordinator to coordinate the programme and its various elements. We would normally expect a wide range of teachers and classes to engage in the programme and strongly encourage School Principals, Leaders, and parents to get involved.

The RIDS April 2025 programme cycle fee is INR 64,000 (plus GST) which covers all programme inputs, access to learning resources, and participation in activities and events, webinars, networking including the certification benefits, valid for three years. The fee is payable in full, by bank transfer, at the time of acceptance onto the programme.

The RIDS programme has three core elements: the Action Plan, the School Activities (arising from the Action Plan) and the Impact Evaluation. The three elements are mandatory, and evidence of achievement needs to be submitted, and then assessed, by our BCSAs, to achieve the RIDS certification.

The core RIDS programme activities are:

• new school onboarding and orientation webinar
• attendance at the initial action planning workshop (in person/online)
• ongoing BCSA support to develop and deliver the school activities
• support with submission of the Impact Evaluation
• assessment of portfolio and, if required, support to improve the submission
• certification benefits to the successful schools
• certificate ceremony to be held at the end of the RIDS programme cycle.

 RIDS also provides an extensive range of teacher and school support and professional development activities, such as:

• an extensive range of RIDS classroom project resources and materials
• access to an extensive range of online teacher professional development resources to suit all levels of experience and interests
• Language Assessment Literacy (LAL) workshops for English teachers to build understanding of assessment principles in language education, with certification
• an opportunity to participate in the highly-regarded British Council Core Skills training courses 

The RIDS programme has three core elements: the Action Plan, Implementation of the Action Plan, and the Impact Evaluation. The three elements are mandatory, and evidence of achievement needs to be submitted, and then assessed by our BCSAs, to achieve RIDS certification.

Action Plan: Schools submit a RIDS activity action plan to be completed over the school year. The action plan describes the activities they intend to undertake for the RIDS certification.

Schools will attend an action planning workshop within one month of the RIDS programme cycle before developing and finalising their plan. Action plan submission deadlines are normally two months after the start of the RIDS programme cycle. Schools will receive feedback on the plan within six weeks of the submission deadline.

The action plan must include:

• a number of curriculum-based international dimension activities
• several activities should be completed in partnership with other schools
• activities should be spread throughout the school year and cover a range of subjects
• students across various age ranges should have participated in activities, not only students in a single-year group.

Implementation of the Action Plan: Implementation of the Action Plan is a crucial phase in which the schools will implement their respective approved action plans within a time frame of six to seven months.

Impact Evaluation: At the end of the school year, each school submits an Impact Evaluation. The evaluation demonstrates the impact of the RIDS programme activities on learners, teachers, and the community.

Impact Evaluation submission deadlines are normally ten to eleven months after the start of the RIDS programme cycle. If successful, you will receive confirmation of certification within six weeks of the submission deadline. If your submission requires further work, you will receive feedback and have an opportunity to re-submit the application within a further three weeks for a final decision.

The RIDS April 2025 programme cycle – key dates and deadlines: 

• April 2025 –  Application window open
• April 2025 – Orientation and onboarding
• May/June 2025 – Action Planning workshops
• July 2025 – Schools submit an action plan
• July/August 2025 – Feedback and approval of action plans
• August 2025 to March 2026 – School activities
• April 2026 – Submission of Impact Evaluation
• May 2026 – Confirmation of the RIDS certification or resubmission of impact evaluation
• May 2026 – Resubmission of Impact Evaluation and result
• July 2026 – Certificate ceremony

We will announce the next cycle of the RIDS programme later in this year. To get the announcement by email please fill up your contact details in the form: https://forms.office.com/e/pGZFwyAYVN

Please note that the schools that had filled up the application form for the RIDS April 2025 programme cycle but were not included, will get preference for registration in the next RIDS cycle. 

 Schools should meet the following criteria:

• have been operational for at least three academic years
• can demonstrate that they have the capacity and sufficient teacher engagement to support the implementation of the RIDS programme in the school
• should have a secondary level of education or above
• can pay the RIDS April 2025 programme cycle fee INR 64,000 (plus GST) in full, by bank transfer, at the time of acceptance onto the programme.

If your application is successful, we will send you information on how to pay the RIDS fee by bank transfer. Once payment is received, we will send you an information pack including links to all of the RIDS programme resources.

If your application is not successful, we will give you feedback on how to prepare yourselves to re-apply in a future cycle.

The key dates and deadlines for the RIDS June 2024 programme cycle are:

• June 2024 – Announcement and application window open
• July 2024 – Orientation and onboarding
• August 2024 – Action Planning workshops
• August/September 2024 – Schools submit an action plan
• September 2024 – Feedback and approval of action plans
• October 2024 to May 2025 – School activities
• July 2025 – Submission of Impact Evaluation
• August 2025 – Confirmation of the RIDS certification
• September 2025 – Certificate ceremonies

Please write to us at RIDS@britishcouncil.org