These words from the then Secretary of State for Education, Charles Clarke are quoted in the foreword to “Putting the World into World-class Education,” a strategy for International Education published by the DfES in November 2004. One of the strategy’s main goals refers to the need to equip children, young people and adults for life in a global society and work in a global economy.

To this end, the strategy identifies two key priorities:

To instil a strong global dimension into the learning experience of all children and young people
To transform our capability to speak and use other languages

The geographical isolation of Norfolk – no-one passes through Norfolk on the way somewhere else – and the mainly mono-cultural nature of its inhabitants mean that we need to work harder on these two priorities to make sure that Norfolk’s young people are not disadvantaged in the global market.

In most inner city classrooms, the diverse and multi-cultura backgrounds of the children will be a natural introduction to different languages and cultures. In Norfolk we have to create that environment. For example, Norfolk Education for Action and Development (NEAD) which is support by Norfolk County Council, works with schools to show the links - environmental, economic, cultural and historic - that exist between people in the world. In partnership with the University of East Anglia they run Global Voices, a scheme whereby international students at UEA volunteer to visit schools to talk about their home countries.

What is Norfolk doing to support the international dimension?

There are three main strands to Norfolk’s support for schools.

Promotion of existing schemes and projects

There are a number of programmes administered by the British Council which give schools access to government or European funding. Some examples are:

The Teachers’ International Professional Development (TIPD) scheme offers a focussed and challenging learning experience in which teachers are immersed in the educational system of another country investigating a particular curriculum theme. Groups from Norfolk have visited New Zealand, Austria, Hungary, Malta, Turkey, Portugal and, most recently, China.
Comenius programme which aims to promote transnational cooperation within schools and colleges by providing the funding for schools to work collaboratively on a single project in 3 or more different European countries
Established partnerships with schools in France or China, can apply for funding to support Joint Curriculum Projects
Study visits for education specialists and decisions makers (previously called ARION visits).

We support the annual International Education Week supported by the DCSF and encourage schools to showcase some of the outstanding international work being undertaken. In 2008 International Education Week is the week beginning the 17 November. There will be a celebration event on the 19 November at 5pm at the Norwich Professional Development Centre (further details to follow).

Exploit local opportunities to encourage a global dimension

There are a number of local organisations which offer a range of activities for schools to contribute to the international dimension in schools.

Norfolk County Council is a core funder of NEAD whichis based in Norwich and works locally towards a more just and equal world by promoting awareness and action on global issues.

Every year we welcome a Zimbabwean Dance/Drama group called Grassroots to Norfolk. They hold workshops in schools using traditional music and culture to expore a variety of themes.

Rainbow Nations

Set up international partnerships at local authority level

Click on the links and find out more about our partnerships with Toulouse, Shanghai, Trondheim and the Accord.

Who is this information for?

Our aim is to increase the opportunities for children and adults from Norfolk to enjoy links with countries in the rest of Europe and further afield. All learners can benefit from these opportunities so this site is aimed at all teachers, in all phases of education across the county.

Advances in information and communication technology mean that our world is shrinking, and it is now very much easier for partnerships to be forged with schools and organisations throughout the world without necessarily leaving Norfolk! We will do our best to draw your attention to new developments, designed to promote a global dimension into the classroom and to further the teaching of modern foreign languages.

We also hope to use the website to share good practice and celebrate international links that already exist.

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Last Updated 9th February 2010