Teachers, Schools and Colleges
[The Prime Minister's Global Fellowship] has supported
us in our drive to raise awareness of the significance of the
international dimension and has motivated many of our younger
pupils to take advantage of the international opportunities we
offer (from exchanges and visits to Comenius and Connecting
Classrooms Projects). Many of our 6th Form students have already
shown an interest in applying in future years ... The Prime
Minister's Global Fellowship has definitely given our students
something to aim for and aspire to.
Simon, Assistant Principal,
Brigshaw High School & Language
College

Clare (2008) and Carl
Ward (Sinnott Fellow) on the panel at
Global
Jake (09) and a year 8 science
class thinking about
Conversations
Conference, discussing the best ways to
make global the
ethics and practicalities of biodegradable materials
issues real in the classroom
It's true, we send 'only' 100 young people overseas every
year. BUT, we also work hard with our Alumni network and
colleges, schools and teachers around the country to make sure that
their experience is translated into resources benefiting a much
wider community. We believe strongly in the role of each and every
Fellow to act as an inspriation for others in their community and
their responsibility to engage with the education
sector. More information and resources
available here.
If this scheme is
only open to school and college leavers, why should you
encourage your students to apply?
The British Council works hard to support schools
implement and develop an international dimension. Global
Fellows are individual examples of what schools can achieve by
opening their students' eyes to the wider world, engaging in
meaningful and mutual dialogue with another country.
Many schools report an increased level of interest in
international links and work from their students in year groups, as
a result perhaps of having had a student achieve a place on the
scheme.
The majority of Fellows return to their schools, colleges and
local communities to tell their story and share their experiences,
giving a first-hand perspective of globalisation and global issues.
This is their chance to engage their peers in asking new questions
about what they need to do to respond to a rapidly-changing
world.
The British Council is working ever more closely with
schools and colleges, exploring themes that run through both the
national curriculum and the PMGF and investigating ways in which we
can make the experience more relevant to as many young people as
possible. The engagement of young people in global issues,
outside the boundaries of traditional community or regional
networks is not a luxury ... it is both a right and a
necessity. The world around us is changing so fast that
surely one of the biggest challenges faced by teachers today is the
need to equip all our young poeple with the skills and confidence
to adapt to change, if not direct it themselves.
The Prime Minister's Global Fellowship aims to engage with young
people to confront this issue head on.
The role of teachers and referees
The Acting Headteacher at my school called me into her
office one fateful day with something along the lines of "Tom, I
think you should have a look at this".
The role of teachers in supporting the PMGF is certainly
not limited to encouraging their students to apply, leaving them to
their own devices. A reference is required in support of all
applications to the programme, usually from a teacher, headteacher
or principal who knows the candidate well. This is
not an academic reference as the programme has no
specific academic requirements, but should comment on other
attibutes including initiative, communication skills and
maturity/attitide. For more information about the role of a
referee, please see our page on applying for the fellowship.
If you are a teacher in a school or college
interested in working with The Prime Minister's Global Fellowship
please do not hesitate to get in touch with us, info@global-fellowship.org,
or call and speak to one of the team +44 (0)20 7389 4826/4465.