Linking with a Chinese school
Why set up a school link?
School linking can enhance learning and teaching by providing a context for global citizenship which is underpinned by the four capacities of Curriculum for Excellence. Linking with another school will enable students to:
- develop knowledge and understanding of the world and Scotland’s place in it and understand different beliefs and cultures
- work in partnership and communicate in different ways and settings
- develop and communicate their own beliefs and view of the world
- develop an openness to new thinking and ideas. (Curriculum for Excellence)
A link school can bring the world outside the classroom inside, which, in turn, can develop students' knowledge, understanding, empathy, sensitivity and critical awareness. It can also motivate students to learn. A school link can be integrated into all parts of school life.
How do you set up a link?
There are many ways to set up a link with a school. You can use, for instance, school-linking charities or organisations, local businesses, church groups or personal contacts. Linking up with a school in China has particular difficulties due to the potentially immense language barrier. Consequently, using an organisation dedicated to finding Chinese partner schools helps make the process much easier.
The British Council is one such organisation that has a Chinese school-linking facility. It provides information, support, advice and expertise to find a suitable partner school, through the UK offices and the four offices in China.
The British Council has a lot of experience in school linking across the world and provides excellent resources, case studies and templates for curriculum projects or visits via its website. The British Council manages funding from the Scottish Government for the Scotland-China School Links Programme which includes funding for headteacher visits to China to establish new school links. Once a link is established, teachers and headteachers can apply for funding for a school-linking visit to develop the link. It also provides other Chinese experiences, such as the Chinese language immersion courses, gap year scholarships for students through HSBC, and Chinese language competitions.
Where do I start?
To find a Chinese school link is simple - all it takes is one phone call to the British Council expressing an interest in linking with a Chinese school.
Then there are two possible routes:
- The headteacher of the Scottish school could apply to take part in a group headteacher visit and a potential partner school would be identified in advance of the visit by British Council China.
- The Scottish school completes a school profile form to be matched up with a suitable Chinese school by the British Council. It is essential that someone from each school is willing to be the link co-ordinator and to take on the responsibility of overseeing the link.
However, it is important that the whole school supports the link, particularly the senior management team, as the link cannot be successfully managed by one person. Once a partner school has been identified, it is up to both schools to communicate directly and develop their own link. If the link co-ordinator or the headteacher from the Scottish school wants to visit the Chinese link school, an application can be made for funding through the British Council for a school-linking visit.