Watch how eTwinning can support your international journey

Erasmus+ offers schools funding for life-changing international activities. €36 million is proposed for UK schools in 2019, up from €30 million in 2018. 

Through the funding:

• pupils can take part in international exchanges and study experiences to develop new skills, raise their aspirations and gain vital international experience
  
  
• staff can teach, train or job shadow abroad - to develop their professional practice, build relationships with international peers and gain fresh ideas
  
  
• schools can collaborate with international partners - to drive innovation, share best practice, and offer new opportunities to young people.

As part of the Erasmus+ programme, eTwinning plays an important part in giving schools access to this funding for life-changing international activities.

eTwinning is a free and secured online community, with over 600,000 schools and colleges from over 40 countries taking part. Through the eTwinning website, you can find partner schools abroad for Erasmus+ projects. The website also allows you to save and share your Erasmus+ project work for free! 

There are two key application deadlines: 

• Staff teaching / training / job shadowing abroad application deadline - 5 February 2019 at 11AM UK time.
• School partnerships and pupil exchanges application deadline - 21 March 2019 at 11AM UK time.

We advise you to get started as soon as possible! You can find out more, ask for support and search for a school partner here.

Watch these short films to see how UK schools from all education sectors have supported their Erasmus+ project through eTwinning.

Just over one year ago, Rocket Fund, the crowdfunding platform for schools, was launched by Nesta, the innovation foundation. Over this time, we’ve learnt what makes a successful school crowdfunding campaign, from creating a project to attracting donors.

As the external environment becomes more complex (law changes, penalty increases, more vocal and critical stakeholders, technology changes), more demands are placed on the leadership teams in schools. Coordinated crisis management in the short term is all very well. But is the training investment by the organisation keeping pace with the future needs of the school?

The team at Playforce work hard to help increase opportunities for physical activity and sport in schools and the wider community, and have been campaigning to tackle issues such as childhood obesity and the role sporting events play in inspiring children to live active lives for a number of years. In support of this goal, Playforce design equipment and outdoor spaces for schools and nurseries to encourage active play and exercise as part of a child’s daily routine.

How do schools go about using their allocated funds? Learnmaker co-founder James Hannam takes a look at the best methods available to school staff.

In the 2014-15 academic year, English schools will receive their biggest ever pot of pupil premium, the additional funding designated to disadvantaged pupils to help ‘narrow the gap’ in the classroom. For any child eligible for free schools meals in the last 6 years, primary schools have access to £1,300 per student, while secondary school pupil premium have risen to £935 per student. Each year this funding has steadily increased, and yet the numbers show that the gap between disadvantaged pupils and their peers is still as wide as ever in the diverging demographics of the classroom.

Schools want to offer the very best in education to their students, but funding is so often an issue. Rachel Gordon of The School Funding Service gives her 5 top tips on how to go about getting a grant for your school.

You have a great idea for a school project or innovative new practice, but the school budget is tight and you need a bit of cash to help you bring your idea to life. Does this scenario sound familiar? If so, my advice is don’t despair. Have you thought about applying for a grant to help you?