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Education: An Overview of Our Work
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Education: An Overview of Our Work
Core themes:
- The British Council delivers education programmes worldwide, building inclusion, skills and opportunities aligned with the Sustainable Development Goals.
Tools and frameworks:
- Key initiatives include EDGE (girls’ education), 21st Century Schools, Connecting Classrooms, Aawaz II, BIRAX and Women in STEM.
Why it matters:
- With nearly 90 years’ experience in 100+ countries, the British Council strengthens individuals, institutions and systems for sustainable global development.
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Foundational learning brochure
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Foundational learning and language(s) of education
Core themes
- Mother-tongue-based, multilingual education for early years.
- Language-in-education policy aligned to literacy goals.
- Teacher support for transition between languages.
Tools and frameworks
- Curriculum/assessment alignment; materials for bilingual classrooms.
Examples / case studies
- Adaptations in African and Asian contexts to improve early literacy.
Why it matters
- Using familiar languages boosts foundational reading and learning.
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Schools Connect — Creating more inclusive schooling (Mar 2024)
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- Schools Connect — Creating more inclusive schooling (March 2024)
Core themes
Belonging, wellbeing and equity embedded in school culture.
Teacher agency + collaborative inquiry.
Community partnerships to reduce exclusion.
Tools and frameworks
Practical inclusion toolkit; action-research cycles.
Examples / case studies
Multi-country vignettes showing improved participation and climate.
Why it matters
Inclusive schools raise engagement and outcomes for all learners.
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Leading Inclusion and Belonging in Schools
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- Leading inclusion and belonging in schools
Core themes
Move beyond access to belonging — where all learners feel safe, valued and included.
Leadership is central to embedding inclusion and equity.
Key focus areas: disability (SEND), gender equality and language of instruction.
Tools and frameworks
Five Principles of Belonging: Safety, Presence, Voice, Connectivity, Agency.
Prism of Place and Belonging: tool for understanding students’ lived experiences.
Learning Teams: collaborative model reshaping teacher-student support.
Examples / case studies
India – NEP 2020 reforms embedding inclusion.
Kenya – National SEND policies into practice.
Nigeria – Gender-responsive pedagogy in schools.
Ethiopia – Leadership initiatives advancing gender equality.
Iraq – Integrating disabled learners into mainstream schools.
Egypt – Adapting instruction for diverse learners.
Why it matters
Belonging boosts student confidence and learning, strengthens teacher practice and fosters positive family-school relationships — making it a cornerstone of effective, equitable education.
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Leading for Change: School Leadership Standards and Practices in a Global Context
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- Leading for Change: School Leadership Standards and Practices (Jan 2025)
Core themes
Clear leadership standards lift teaching quality and equity.
Instructional and inclusive leadership drive learning.
Global lessons adapted to local context.
Tools and frameworks
Standards and practice guides; actionable strategies for heads.
Examples / case studies
Pakistan, Lebanon, Kenya — leadership improving collaboration and outcomes.
Why it matters
Empowered leaders create safe, high-performing schools where all belong.
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System strengthening brochure
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- System strengthening: Teacher professional development
Core themes
National PD frameworks; standards and progression pathways.
Coaching/mentoring and professional communities.
Data-informed, scalable PD models.
Tools and frameworks
Modular PD; blended delivery; QA for training providers.
Examples / case studies
Country partnerships aligning PD with policy and school needs.
Why it matters
Sustained PD improves classroom practice and student results at scale.
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Artificial intelligence and ELT: Preparing for the future (2nd ed., Jul 2024)
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- Artificial intelligence and ELT: Preparing for the future (2nd ed., Jul 2024)
Core themes
AI use-cases in ELT (feedback, adaptive practice, admin).
Safeguarding, ethics and data privacy.
Teacher digital competence and change management.
Tools and frameworks
Practical classroom scenarios; evaluation checklists for AI tools.
Examples / case studies
Global snapshots of AI adoption in schools and language centres.
Why it matters
Responsible AI can personalise learning and reduce teacher workload.
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Supporting English language teaching and learning worldwide (2024)
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- Supporting English language teaching and learning worldwide (2024)
Core themes
National English reforms: policy, curriculum, assessment alignment.
Teacher professional development at scale (in-service + pre-service).
Inclusion: girls, refugees and marginalised learners.
Tools and frameworks
End-to-end ELT system support; digital and blended PD models.
Examples / case studies
Multi-region English programmes integrated with ministries.
Why it matters
Coherent ELT systems improve equity, outcomes and workforce skills.
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Insights into English language teaching, learning and assessment (Aug 2024)
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- Insights into English language teaching, learning and assessment (Aug 2024)
Core themes
Evidence on effective ELT practice and assessment.
Digital/blended learning and classroom-based assessment.
Equity and inclusion across ELT contexts.
Tools and frameworks
Practitioner briefs summarising research to practice.
Examples / case studies
Curated insights for system leaders and teachers.
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Teaching for All — Mainstreaming Inclusive Education in South Africa
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- Teaching for All — Mainstreaming Inclusive Education in South Africa
Core themes
Despite progressive policies, inequality persists and many learners face exclusion.
Teachers often lack preparation for inclusive practice due to weak pre- and in-service training.
Inclusive education must address intersecting factors (race, income, language, gender, disability, etc.).
Tools and frameworks
Accredited 240-hour inclusive education module embedded in teacher education.
Social justice and human-rights-based approach centred on the social model of disability.
Teachers positioned as change agents in tackling learner differences (neurodiversity, dyslexia, language barriers).
Examples / case studies
Partnership with South African national/provincial departments and 10 of 24 teacher training universities, including UNISA (training 50% of new teachers).
Research by the South African Research Chair for Teacher Education (2020, 2022) confirms programme’s efficacy.
Why it matters
Over 50% of new teachers trained in inclusive practices; expansion planned to remaining universities and provinces, with potential for adaptation in countries like Nigeria and Zimbabwe.
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Teaching for All — Mainstreaming Inclusive Education in South Africa
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- Teaching for All — Mainstreaming Inclusive Education in South Africa
Core themes
Despite progressive policies, inequality persists and many learners face exclusion.
Teachers often lack preparation for inclusive practice due to weak pre- and in-service training.
Inclusive education must address intersecting factors (race, income, language, gender, disability, etc.).
Tools and frameworks
Accredited 240-hour inclusive education module embedded in teacher education.
Social justice and human-rights-based approach centred on the social model of disability.
Teachers positioned as change agents in tackling learner differences (neurodiversity, dyslexia, language barriers).
Examples / case studies
Partnership with South African national/provincial departments and 10 of 24 teacher training universities, including UNISA (training 50% of new teachers).
Research by the South African Research Chair for Teacher Education (2020, 2022) confirms programme’s efficacy.
Why it matters
Over 50% of new teachers trained in inclusive practices; expansion planned to remaining universities and provinces, with potential for adaptation in countries like Nigeria and Zimbabwe.
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Teaching for All — South Africa
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- Teaching for All — South Africa
Core themes
Inclusive education embedded in ITE and in-service CPD.
Teachers as change agents; reduction of exclusion.
Province-level rollout with monitoring and evaluation.
Tools and frameworks
Open OER modules; SACE-endorsed CPD; multi-stakeholder governance.
Examples / case studies
10 universities delivering; Western and Eastern Cape implementations scaling nationally.
Why it matters
Systematic IE training shifts practice at scale across provinces.
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LEAP — Learn English Audio Programme (Sub-Saharan Africa)
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- LEAP — Learn English Audio Programme (Sub-Saharan Africa)
Core themes
Low-cost audio for foundational literacy (L1 + English).
Reaching multi-grade/under-resourced schools and homes.
Curriculum-mapped content and bilingual storybooks.
Tools and frameworks
WhatsApp/chatbot, radio/TV, offline devices; teacher guides.
Examples / case studies
South Africa (DBE-aligned), mapped to Botswana/Lesotho/Namibia/Zimbabwe curricula.
Why it matters
Scalable audio boosts listening/speaking and access in low-connectivity contexts.
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STELIR — Rwanda (Secondary Teachers’ English Language Improvement)
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- STELIR — Rwanda (Secondary Teachers’ English Language Improvement)
Core themes
Raise lower-secondary teachers’ English to B1+.
Blended model: intensive, online, school-based mentoring.
Gender-responsive design and local trainer cadre.
Tools and frameworks
Aptis placement; 30/60-hour intensives; 60/90-hour online + weekly live sessions.
Examples / case studies
6,000 in-service + 1,000 pre-service teachers across 14 districts; URCE integration.
Why it matters
Better teacher English → clearer subject teaching → improved student learning.
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